Who Goes Higher In The Draft: Gabby or Kia?

[RockyMTblue2]

I posited the issue of Gabby's hip, but I don't think that effort garnered a response. Couple of months ago Gabby was projected higher and I believe she still is (4th) to Kia's then 6th/9th-11th. Kia's the better shooter with more range. Gabby is superwoman and we don't have to beat that to death, but I wonder if that is somewhat discounted in the WNBA because of general superiority of the athleticism and speed. Kia has been almost injury free. Gabby has surgically repaired knee(s?) aand she certainly taxes her physique in her style of play. Kia has a better a/to ratio. Gabby may be a better passer.

I'm just throwing out food for thought. I don't chose to chose between my heroines, but I'd sure like reading the thought of those that do.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Gabby. She is a fine scorer, an explosive athlete, and a great jumper. I think Gabby has the opportunity of being an All-Star from year one. Kia should be solid, but I'm not convinced that she's a top echelon pro. The pros look for scoring and individual excellence. Kia is more a team player. I think, as we saw with Kelly Faris, that sort of player tends to get lost in the shuffle.

 

[EricLA]

I also agree that Gabby will go higher. She has more upside. Not only does she have the otherworldly athleticism, but she's turned herself into an elite all around hoops player. Having said that, the reason I believe her upside is higher is that she needs ONLY to work on her mid range and deep shooting game (and turnovers)...

Kia is already an elite shooter - both mid range, pull up and 3 point shooting. But Gabby is better at virtually every other guard type aspect - she's a better defender (tho not by much), passer, rebounder, etc. I think ball handling is about equal - yeah I know Kia is more "guard", but I've seen Gabby go coast to coast, faking out defenders with the ball to make a layup with her off hand. So I do think her ball handling is at least as good as Kia's...

Gabby's other problem, besides deep shooting, is her turnovers. She's a truly terrific passer, but often she tries to make a pass that is just too difficult, resulting in a TO. She's shown she can play against elite and big post players, but that was few and far between in college, In the pros it's virtually on every team.

So I do believe Gabby needs to develop even more guard skills and fashion herself as more of a 3, or small forward type instead of a post player. If she can do that, the sky's the limit for her in the pros. IMHO...

 

[Hongster]

Gabby will go in as a number 1 draft. She does it all.

 

[VAMike23]

Gabby's other problem, besides deep shooting, is her turnovers. She's a truly terrific passer, but often she tries to make a pass that is just too difficult, resulting in a TO. She's shown she can play against elite and big post players, but that was few and far between in college, In the pros it's virtually on every team.

So I do believe Gabby needs to develop even more guard skills and fashion herself as more of a 3, or small forward type instead of a post player. If she can do that, the sky's the limit for her in the pros. IMHO...

I wonder if she might have a little less trouble on passes to the interior since in the pros, there is the defensive 3-second rule and not so much of the packed-lane syndrome that you get in college at times. Those seem to be the times that Gabulous gets her passes lifted: trying to fit between 2 defenders when she has no business doing so. (When she makes it work anyway, it's magical!)

Not saying this is a a 'yuuuge' difference at the pro level, but there is a little more spacing in the W which could make it easier.

OTOH, most of the defenders are better, too...

 

[Jaybird65]

Most of the mock drafts have Gabby going in the top 8 picks of the 1st round & Kia going in the 2nd round -several have her going to the Sun...

 

[chrissaran]

Gabby doesn't have to shoot the 3; however, she needs to extend her range on the 2.

 

[Bascomfan]

If the Toronto raptors get to pick first Kia will go higher than Gabby in the draft. Oh wait, that's an NBA team! My bad.

 

[JoePgh]

If it weren't for the injury concern, then (IMHO) Gabby would clearly go higher in the draft. But WNBA teams have to be concerned with how long Gabby will be able to play at or above the level that she has at UConn. If she is going to miss 5-10 games a year because of physical issues, and maybe only be able to play for a few years, that would be a big problem for her team (compared to others whom they might draft).

Except for a better 3-point shot, Kia appears to me to be a clone of Kelly Faris from the standpoint of a WNBA GM. She won't be able to get her own shot in the WNBA (she really hasn't done that at UConn), and that is an expectation for a high draft choice. Kelly went late in the first round, and I would expect the same for Kia.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

She won't be able to get her own shot in the WNBA (she really hasn't done that at UConn)

I have read this several times from several people and I don't understand it. How do you define "get her own shot"?

 

[JoePgh]

I have read this several times from several people and I don't understand it. How do you define "get her own shot"?

"Getting her own shot" means not needing a screen or a scoring threat elsewhere on the court to get open. When Kia scores in UConn games, it is either on the fast break because the opponent turned the ball over or failed to cover the court in transition defense (which will happen a lot less in the WNBA), or she takes a 3-point shot after somebody else has drawn two or three defenders, including her defender who helped off her to stop KLS / Napheesa / Azura, so that when Kia gets the pass from that besieged teammate, she has a wide open shot.

Whereas Gabby (and really everyone else among the Top 6) can wriggle through a slight crevice in the defense, blow by a taller/slower post player, or fake a defender out of her gym shoes to get open, Kia has to rely on the play of teammates to get herself open. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is something that distinguishes Top 6 WNBA draft choices from those slightly lower in the draft sweepstakes.

 

[oldude]

The Pros are salivating over Gabby’s athleticism and all around game. She gets drafted in the top 5. Kia goes off the board a few spots later.

 

[DishNSwish]

Most of the mock drafts have Gabby going in the top 8 picks of the 1st round & Kia going in the 2nd round -several have her going to the Sun...

I haven't seen any speculation Nurse lasts until the second round. She's a first rounder.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

"Getting her own shot" means not needing a screen or a scoring threat elsewhere on the court to get open. When Kia scores in UConn games, it is either on the fast break because the opponent turned the ball over or failed to cover the court in transition defense (which will happen a lot less in the WNBA), or she takes a 3-point shot after somebody else has drawn two or three defenders, including her defender who helped off her to stop KLS / Napheesa / Azura, so that when Kia gets the pass from that besieged teammate, she has a wide open shot.

Whereas Gabby (and really everyone else among the Top 6) can wriggle through a slight crevice in the defense, blow by a taller/slower post player, or fake a defender out of her gym shoes to get open, Kia has to rely on the play of teammates to get herself open. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is something that distinguishes Top 6 WNBA draft choices from those slightly lower in the draft sweepstakes.

Thanks for the clarification. I saw a video just recently involving the coach of Team Canada (might have been a year old for all I know) and she was talking about Kia being able to create her own shot and being good at it "but I realize that is not her role at UConn". If I run into it again I'll throw it up here.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

January Mock Draft. Supposedly to be updated. Haven't seen an update. This one made me a little air sick:

A mock WNBA draft chosen by panel of league's coaches, GMs

 

[RockyMTblue2]

This one does have Gabby 4th and Kia in the second round. You know what they say about opinions and anatomy:

2018 WNBA Mock Draft - WNBA - DraftSite.com

 

[Vowelguy]

A mock WNBA draft chosen by panel of league's coaches, GMs

WNBA GMs:

1. Aja
2. Mitchell
3. DeShields
4. Vadeeva
5. Lexie
6. Mercedes
7. Gabby
8. Canada
9. Nurse
10. Vivians
11. Billings
12. Shakayla Thomas

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Gabby 7 Kia 9 : My DraftSite - 2018 WNBA Mock Draft - galaking86 - DraftSite.com

It's all click bait.

 

[DishNSwish]

A mock WNBA draft chosen by panel of league's coaches, GMs

WNBA GMs:

1. Aja
2. Mitchell
3. DeShields
4. Vadeeva
5. Lexie
6. Mercedes
7. Gabby
8. Canada
9. Nurse
10. Vivians
11. Billings
12. Shakayla Thomas

From what I've been hearing that draft goes off the rails at #4 most likely.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

A mock WNBA draft chosen by panel of league's coaches, GMs

WNBA GMs:

1. Aja
2. Mitchell
3. DeShields
4. Vadeeva
5. Lexie
6. Mercedes
7. Gabby
8. Canada
9. Nurse
10. Vivians
11. Billings
12. Shakayla Thomas

Thief! Thanks. I lack the patience and talent, but otherwise I do alright.

 

[DishNSwish]

Gabby 7 Kia 9 : My DraftSite - 2018 WNBA Mock Draft - galaking86 - DraftSite.com

It's all click bait.

This one just doesn't even make sense. Why would Chicago with Vandersloot and Faulkner under contract draft a PG at #4?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

This one just doesn't even make sense. Why would Chicago with Vandersloot and Faulkner under contract draft a PG at #4?

Inside info on a trade for ... but that is why we'll know when we know. Things get strange in the draft. Why did they take Plum in Dallas last year and become team turmoil?

 

[DishNSwish]

Inside info on a trade for ... but that is why we'll know when we know. Things get strange in the draft. Why did they take Plum in Dallas last year and become team turmoil?

I've seen that site before, and I find it reaaaaaally doubtful they have any inside information.

Plum went to San Antonio. They just weren't very good, not really in turmoil.

 

[Orangutan]

Gabby. She is a fine scorer, an explosive athlete, and a great jumper. I think Gabby has the opportunity of being an All-Star from year one. Kia should be solid, but I'm not convinced that she's a top echelon pro. The pros look for scoring and individual excellence. Kia is more a team player. I think, as we saw with Kelly Faris, that sort of player tends to get lost in the shuffle.

But Kia is a better scorer than Gabby so I'm not following your logic here.

 

[Orangutan]

Gabby doesn't have to shoot the 3; however, she needs to extend her range on the 2.

She's probably a 3 in the WNBA and most 4s (and plenty of 5s) shoot three-pointers in the WNBA.