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I’m soooo eager to see what LA does with #2. Paige was a given, but do you still go with a PG like Olivia Miles (if she leaves) or do you take the best player available in Kiki?
 
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So much for the conspiracy theories that were guaranteeing the #1 pick to LA.
i thought for sure the temptation to rig would be too great.

but tbh. dallas needs paige more than LA does. LA has Brink and Rickea as exciting building blocks. Dallas really doesn't have anything like that.
 
Disappointed. I really detest the wings but love Paige.

Really intrigued to see how Arike and Paige play together. Can Paige be the person to finally reel in Arike?
 
i thought for sure the temptation to rig would be too great.

but tbh. dallas needs paige more than LA does. LA has Brink and Rickea as exciting building blocks. Dallas really doesn't have anything like that.
If they can keep Satou, she and Ogunbowale are better at this point than the young duo from LA.
 
Dallas is more set up to win right now. I agree with that. They were a semifinalist a year ago.
 
Sparks really thought they had Paige after Curt did all that tanking for her?? Curt said "Now watch this!"
 
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I’m soooo eager to see what LA does with #2. Paige was a given, but do you still go with a PG like Olivia Miles (if she leaves) or do you take the best player available in Kiki?
If Flau'jae enters the draft, then they draft her, grab a vet PG, and go with it.
 
So much for the conspiracy theories that were guaranteeing the #1 pick to LA.
Now we will get new conspiracy theories on a trade.

With picks #4 and #6, Mystics have a nice opportunity.
 
Booo. Here's praying they bring in a good coach because until the deck clearing this Off-Season, I'd say Dallas was about the worst place Paige could land, and I'm still not convinced the ownership understands how to manage a roster.
Well, as you probably know since you've been reading my frequent barrages of Greg Bibb, I didn't/don't think highly of Dallas ownership because of Greg Bibb's general managership - or lack thereof - over the years. And for all that mediocrity (at best), he's allowed to escape by kicking himself upstairs. Great career move if you can pull it off, no? :rolleyes:;)

That said, he did hire Curt Miller to take over the GM controls. And while Miller was canned by the LA Sparks, his primary checkbox was with the Connecticut Sun. While he never put them on top, his coaching and GM performance had them in the running consistently.

So, I've got to think he's fully not going to mess up writing Paige's name on the piece of paper that is run up to the commish.
Hell, even Bibb chose the right person from time to time. The questions are:
  • What does he do with the rest of the roster?
  • When they all arrive, who is kept or discarded? (See many Wings doing well elsewhere).
  • And, will Bibb let Miller do what he was hired to do?

Stay tuned.
 
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ESPN's Mock Draft - Nov 17

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Kiki Iriafen
3. Chicago Sky: Azzi Fudd
4. Washington Mystics: Olivia Miles
5. Golden State Valkyries: Lauren Betts
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Sedona Prince
7. New York Liberty (from Phoenix): Dominique Malonga
8. Indiana Fever: Aneesah Morrow
9. Seattle Storm: Te-Hina Paopao
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut): Rori Harmon
11. Minnesota Lynx: Janiah Barker
12. Phoenix Mercury (from New York): Sonia Citron
 
ESPN's Mock Draft - Nov 17

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Kiki Iriafen
3. Chicago Sky: Azzi Fudd
4. Washington Mystics: Olivia Miles
5. Golden State Valkyries: Lauren Betts
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Sedona Prince
7. New York Liberty (from Phoenix): Dominique Malonga
8. Indiana Fever: Aneesah Morrow
9. Seattle Storm: Te-Hina Paopao
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut): Rori Harmon
11. Minnesota Lynx: Janiah Barker
12. Phoenix Mercury (from New York): Sonia Citron
I question some of those choices, specifically Azzi Fudd, Sedona Prince and Janiah Barker.

Azzi still has a lot to prove at the college level. Can she stay healthy? Can she maintain her performance level through an entire season? Will she be a step slower after all these injuries?

Sedona and Janiah have had inconsistent careers at the college level and I don't see that getting any better in the W. But I understand the reason to draft them early -- the hope that they blossom in the league and players of their size don't come around that often. I just don't see that happening. Sedona, while tall, is a step slow and has had effort/injury issues to boot. Barker while known for her effort is very inefficient and foul prone. Same as Sedona, I don't see that changing.

Kiki to the Sparks is intriguing -- reuniting her with her old teammate. A 3-4-5 lineup of Jackson, Iriafen, and Brink is a solid foundation to build on but they'll need the guards to get to balance the play on the court and I don't know who that would be.
 
ESPN's Mock Draft - Nov 17

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Kiki Iriafen
3. Chicago Sky: Azzi Fudd
4. Washington Mystics: Olivia Miles
5. Golden State Valkyries: Lauren Betts
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Sedona Prince
7. New York Liberty (from Phoenix): Dominique Malonga
8. Indiana Fever: Aneesah Morrow
9. Seattle Storm: Te-Hina Paopao
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut): Rori Harmon
11. Minnesota Lynx: Janiah Barker
12. Phoenix Mercury (from New York): Sonia Citron
I personally don’t see any world in which Lauren Betts is in this draft. Her sister will be a freshman at UCLA next year and I’d assume they are really looking forward to playing together.
 
I agree with some posters that this list is interesting. I think that Fudd, Miles, Betts, Harmon (got waiver for 25-26), Barker, and Citron could all come back next year.
 
I agree with some posters that this list is interesting. I think that Fudd, Miles, Betts, Harmon (got waiver for 25-26), Barker, and Citron could all come back next year.
Isn't Citron part of the 2021 class? I don't think she has any eligibility after this season.
 
Isn't Citron part of the 2021 class? I don't think she has any eligibility after this season.
The ND website classifies her as a junior so I thought she might be in the covid extra year, but perhaps not.
 
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The ND website classifies her as a junior so I thought she might be in the covid extra year, but perhaps not.

Yes they do, but they also list her accomplishments during her career. It has 2023-2024 listed as her junior season. I can understand why there's confusion.
 
I question some of those choices, specifically Azzi Fudd, Sedona Prince and Janiah Barker.

Azzi still has a lot to prove at the college level. Can she stay healthy? Can she maintain her performance level through an entire season? Will she be a step slower after all these injuries?

Sedona and Janiah have had inconsistent careers at the college level and I don't see that getting any better in the W. But I understand the reason to draft them early -- the hope that they blossom in the league and players of their size don't come around that often. I just don't see that happening. Sedona, while tall, is a step slow and has had effort/injury issues to boot. Barker while known for her effort is very inefficient and foul prone. Same as Sedona, I don't see that changing.

Kiki to the Sparks is intriguing -- reuniting her with her old teammate. A 3-4-5 lineup of Jackson, Iriafen, and Brink is a solid foundation to build on but they'll need the guards to get to balance the play on the court and I don't know who that would be.

Watching TCU/NC State, Prince was far and away the best player on the floor IMO (though James was great for NC State). She's a true 6-7 with better handles, mobility, and coordination than any other player I've seen at her size. She's a very good rebounder and an excellent shot blocker. Really smooth perimeter shot, especially mid range and finishes well around the basket. Much less afraid of contact compared to her Oregon days. If not for the ample off court drama and injury history, she'd be a lock as a lottery pick.

 
The ND website classifies her as a junior so I thought she might be in the covid extra year, but perhaps not.
ND vested interest checking in. Sonia Citron has no covid eligibility and has no medical redshirt years. She's done (and the roster on und.com indicates she's a senior in both terms of academic and athletic standing.)

The interesting one is Miles, who has already graduated and is taking grad courses. However, she has an extra year due to missing last season. She could, theoretically, do so. However, I don't see her doing so in that the two ND players she closest to -- Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld -- are both moving on.
 
I question some of those choices, specifically Azzi Fudd, Sedona Prince and Janiah Barker.

Azzi still has a lot to prove at the college level. Can she stay healthy? Can she maintain her performance level through an entire season? Will she be a step slower after all these injuries?

Sedona and Janiah have had inconsistent careers at the college level and I don't see that getting any better in the W. But I understand the reason to draft them early -- the hope that they blossom in the league and players of their size don't come around that often. I just don't see that happening. Sedona, while tall, is a step slow and has had effort/injury issues to boot. Barker while known for her effort is very inefficient and foul prone. Same as Sedona, I don't see that changing.

Kiki to the Sparks is intriguing -- reuniting her with her old teammate. A 3-4-5 lineup of Jackson, Iriafen, and Brink is a solid foundation to build on but they'll need the guards to get to balance the play on the court and I don't know who that would be.
- Agree with you on Fudd and Prince. Slotting Fudd at #3 given her lack of time on the court just doesn't seem prudent. If the Mystics want to try one oversize center who is a bit on the older side, try Aoki Lee.

- The Iriafen choice could/would make sense given the Brink-Kiki connection, as well as the fact that she's a local young woman finishing her career at an LA school. The Sparks currently have a pretty darn good forward in Dearica Hamby and have a big shortage of guards. Do you go need (guard) or add Iriafen to the fold, which gives LA a solid rotation of bigs?

- I've seen nothing outside of athletic promise to this point that justifies Barker being a first-round pick. What is she going to do that Smith already does very well for the Lynx? Remember, Jess Shepard might come back to that team, as well. I could very easily see Reeve selecting Sonia Citron who checks so many of the Lynx boxes, staring with defense and technical proficiency (and I just saw her in person yesterday. Even when she isn't hitting, she adds so very much to any team.)
 
ND vested interest checking in. Sonia Citron has no covid eligibility and has no medical redshirt years. She's done (and the roster on und.com indicates she's a senior in both terms of academic and athletic standing.)

The interesting one is Miles, who has already graduated and is taking grad courses. However, she has an extra year due to missing last season. She could, theoretically, do so. However, I don't see her doing so in that the two ND players she closest to -- Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld -- are both moving on.
Ok, the main bio page says junior. I didn't dig into actual roster. Thanks for update!
 
The Athletic chimes in:
1. Dallas Wings - Paige Bueckers | 6-foot guard | UConn
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Olivia Miles | 5-10 guard | Notre Dame
3. Chicago Sky - Kiki Iriafen | 6-3 forward/center | USC
4. Washington Mystics - Dominique Malonga | 6-6 center | Lyon (France)
5. Golden State Valkyries - Georgia Amoore | 5-6 guard | Kentucky
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream via Dallas) - Sonia Citron | 6-1 wing | Notre Dame
7. New York Liberty (swap with Phoenix Mercury) - Maddy Westbeld | 6-3 forward | Notre Dame
8. Indiana Fever - Te-Hina Paopao | 5-9 guard | South Carolina
9. Seattle Storm - Shyanne Sellers | 6-2 guard/wing | Maryland
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun) - Saniya Rivers | 6-1 guard/wing | NC State
11. Minnesota Lynx - Charlisse Leger-Walker | 5-10 guard | UCLA
12. Phoenix Mercury (swap with New York) - Aneesah Morrow | 6-1 forward | LSU
Also in consideration: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee and Ole Miss’ Madison Scott.
 
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