WNBA Off-Season

[cancontent]

I have no idea if these cored players who were free agents, or players who make trade demands, have any say in where they get traded to.

Per this post, they confirm the deal had to be done via trade. So for as much as Sabally wanted to be with the Liberty or another contender, it looks like Dallas had all the cards in deciding where she went.

 

[nwhoopfan]

All fair enough, but both Plum and Young were really able to be themselves when one Chelsea Gray came aboard to take over the lead guard duties once and for all.

Laimbeer's last season had all 3 of those players, and it still didn't come together til the next year.

edit--in all his wisdom, this was the season he brought Plum off the bench for every game

 

[Stagnant]

Puzzling trade by the fever. The wings and mercury seem to have done pretty well.

Maybe Paige won't be the only UConn player headed to Dallas next season?

 

[Geew1992]

Atlanta has a new coaching situation for one thing. And who knows how much recruiting Rhyne Howard has done while hanging with Griner in Miami for Unrivaled?

With Sabally, how much control did she have in choosing where she went? She was cored wasn't she? Anything would have had to be done via trade if I understand coring correctly.

Looks like Ogumike is going back to Seattle. When your sister makes the announcement, it should be a done deal I assume.

This was no breaking…

 

[cancontent]

This was no breaking…

How so? Technically it was because Chine got to announce it first.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

My feeling is he was a contributor to those slow starts for both.

He was which is why he should be a front office peace. But he scouted them well, Jackie was a very controversial pick at the time.

 

[cancontent]

 

[sivad40]

Per this post, they confirm the deal had to be done via trade. So for as much as Sabally wanted to be with the Liberty or another contender, it looks like Dallas had all the cards in deciding where she went.

No, Dallas didn't hold all of the cards.

Phoenix Mercury address need for guards in signing of Sami Whitcomb

The Phoenix Mercury addressed a need in the signing of guard Sami Whitcomb from the Seattle Storm.

www.azcentral.com

"Sabally agreed with Dallas to be sent to the Mercury via sign-and-trade, one day before players can officially sign with teams in free agency on Saturday. Sabally and the Wings had to agree on the sign-and-trade deal after they extended a core qualifying offer for her earlier this month.

Dallas retained exclusive negotiating rights as she met with teams in the free-agent market, so an agreement had to be reached with Sabally regarding her next destination."

Satou is cored player and she could have just sat out the whole season and became an unrestricted free agent.

 

[Dillon77]

Laimbeer's last season had all 3 of those players, and it still didn't come together til the next year.

edit--in all his wisdom, this was the season he brought Plum off the bench for every game

Thanks for that clarification.
I'll leave this that we discussed the contributions on the administrative/personnel end (aok), but agreed that as a coach, the team needed Becky Hammons. And Plum did well under her until she decided she wanted to go elsewhere, for whatever reasons.

Enough on Bill (who, btw, lived in the same dorm I did at Notre Dame, but a few years behind me). Time to move on....

p.s. He is very tall....

 

[Dillon77]

Puzzling trade by the fever. The wings and mercury seem to have done pretty well.

Maybe Paige won't be the only UConn player headed to Dallas next season?

Yup, I tbought about that a bit, too.
Did they want Cunningham because she signed that extension? Otherwise, those big guard/wing positions just got even more crowded.

On the other hand, they might've wanted to have addition via subtraction with Smith....

We'll see what happens with next round of signings ....

 

[Geew1992]

 

[cancontent]

Dang - this is nuts. And for those who end up remaining, the locker room is going to be hella different.

 

[TheFarmFan]

Dang - this is nuts. And for those who end up remaining, the locker room is going to be hella different.

This is how I'm feeling as a Valkyries fan. Seems we're going to land no one in free agency and I'm not even sure we have enough signed players to field a starting lineup.

 

[cancontent]

This is how I'm feeling as a Valkyries fan. Seems we're going to land no one in free agency and I'm not even sure we have enough signed players to field a starting lineup.

Yeah, it's been really quiet on their front.

 

[Dillon77]

So, could there be some "and the for the next shoe to fall" in Dallas and Connecticut.
Some pondering from Kevin Pelton of ESPN:

"Besides banking on Smith improving, Dallas might get her some help on the defensive end. Per league sources, the Wings are pursuing Connecticut restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington, Smith's girlfriend and former teammate at nearby Baylor. Carrington, an All-Defensive first team pick in 2024, would be an enormous help to a Dallas team that finished last in defensive rating.

"The Wings might offer the No. 8 pick to the Sun for Carrington, who is likely to move via sign-and-trade because the CBA stipulates that all offer sheets to restricted free agents must be a minimum of two years. Signing a two-year deal would take Carrington out of the running for a bigger raise as an unrestricted free agent in 2026."

Druthers from Dillon:
- If I'm Connecticut, I'd play a little hardball with Kirk M. who knows (and probably wants) Carrington. Go not only for the #8 draft choice, but see if he'll throw in Maddy Siegrist, Lou Lopez Senechal or Jacy Sheldon as well. Connecticut is going through a total rebuild, so you might as well throw it all against a wall.

- Call me crazy, but I'm certain Morgan Tuck has been burning phone lines to Turkey to get Emma Meesseman to join her former Belgian National Coach in eastern Connecticut.

 

[cancontent]

 

[cancontent]

 

[Dillon77]

Bingo....Way to go, Morgan.

Now, if The Sun is really lucky, someone like Soni Citron lasts until #8.

 

[Stagnant]

I think the urgency to move the Sun out of Connecticut has ramped up. That has to happen ASAP.

 

[cancontent]

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Geew1992]

 

[cancontent]

I think the urgency to move the Sun out of Connecticut has ramped up. That has to happen ASAP.

A rebuilding year isn't justification to move a team. They've been successful there even with their shortcomings. If that were the case, Indiana should have moved years ago while they were floundering.

 

[cancontent]

Not surprised by this one bit. Even if they hadn't landed who they have in free agency.

 

[baggerbob]

Yea, but more draft opportunities for kids leaving college. Some of the least mentioned sometimes turn out to really shine in the pros. Also there'd be a big influx of foreign players.

There are a lot of foreign players who don't come because tha salaries are so low. With the new contract boosting salaries, and the new Universal league more of them will come to play.

 

[ConnMotors]

I think the urgency to move the Sun out of Connecticut has ramped up. That has to happen ASAP.

Thought that I said something similar to this earlier.

 

[Stagnant]

A rebuilding year isn't justification to move a team. They've been successful there even with their shortcomings. If that were the case, Indiana should have moved years ago while they were floundering.

there is going to be a collective bargaining conversation. and one of the main things players will seek is franchise investment. arenas, practice facilities, etc. Those things will become huge. And Connecticut will be a problem during that conversation. I thought they were in trouble and needed to move the team even bringing back the roster from last year. Now they are in full on tank mode. They are going to present a terrible product. And no free agents will want to go there. Probably ever again tbh.

Move the team. The WNBA should hit the owners hard and use all levers at their disposal to make it happen.

 

[hoopsdiva]

A rebuilding year isn't justification to move a team. They've been successful there even with their shortcomings. If that were the case, Indiana should have moved years ago while they were floundering.

The problem isn't that it's a rebuilding year. The problem is that they can't attract anyone to rebuild with or keep anyone to rebuild around.

 

[Stagnant]

This isn't a rebuilding year. This is a rebuilding decade. Poor Juju. Poor Lauren Betts. Poor Hannah Hidalgo. Maybe poor Sarah Strong. Lottery picks will be forced to go there. Even though that franchise is frankly no longer operating (maybe they never were) in good faith.

 

[Dillon77]

Not surprised by this one bit. Even if they hadn't landed who they have in free agency.

A rebuilding year isn't justification to move a team. They've been successful there even with their shortcomings. If that were the case, Indiana should have moved years ago while they were floundering.

Tend to agree.
Bonner is what -- 37? Jones had been cored before and was going to test the market. The big decision came with AT. They cored her and decided to get something (anything?) back.

As for Carrington, there's probably a lot behind closed doors we don't know about in terms of whether she asked out to be with her partner, Smith.

Long story short: they're doing a total rehaul. I think they've got to make a big move to get Meesseman; otherwise it will be long year.
Let's see who they get in the rest of the free agency period, including folks to fill out the roster; then see what they get in the draft.