WNBA Off-Season

[bballnut90]

As a Gamecock who has grown attached to the Fever because of my girl Boston, I'm very conflicted about the acquisition of Cunningham. She is public enemy #1 to many Gamecock WBB fans for all the dirty play she did against the Gamecocks while at Missouri. If I had to pick a least favorite player in the W, it would probably be her just because of that history. With that said, all your points are valid, and I guess I'll have to grow to tolerate her if I am going to watch all the Fever games.

I feel like she’s toned down her dirty play quite a bit in the pros though? I think it’s a good fit personnel wise. A backcourt rotation of Clark/Mitchell/Hull/Cunningham is excellent, and front court is bolstered too with Howard/Boston/Dantas. Indiana should be really good this year.

 

[bballnut90]

Phoenix’s whole roster is blown up from what it was just a year or two ago. If Satou can stay healthy, a big 3 of her, Thomas and Copper should be lethal.

 

[nwhoopfan]

As a Gamecock who has grown attached to the Fever because of my girl Boston, I'm very conflicted about the acquisition of Cunningham. She is public enemy #1 to many Gamecock WBB fans for all the dirty play she did against the Gamecocks while at Missouri. If I had to pick a least favorite player in the W, it would probably be her just because of that history. With that said, all your points are valid, and I guess I'll have to grow to tolerate her if I am going to watch all the Fever games.

I could see that. You have to like the pairing of Boston and Howard though, right?

 

[cancontent]

As a Gamecock who has grown attached to the Fever because of my girl Boston, I'm very conflicted about the acquisition of Cunningham. She is public enemy #1 to many Gamecock WBB fans for all the dirty play she did against the Gamecocks while at Missouri. If I had to pick a least favorite player in the W, it would probably be her just because of that history. With that said, all your points are valid, and I guess I'll have to grow to tolerate her if I am going to watch all the Fever games.

Some Connecticut Sun fans felt like that after the Mabrey trade. Maybe there's a support group you can join?

 

[cancontent]

I'm trying to figure out why Atlanta and Phoenix seem to be desirable destinations during the free agent sweepstakes. Sabally going from Dallas to the Merc...just wow. I thought she was destined to be joining a title contender.

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.

 

[Dillon77]

Here are the details of the Sabally Three-Way Trade:

• Harris has gone all the way around the WNBA board back to Dallas.
• One of Dallas twin towers -- Brown -- heads to Phoenix.
• Sophie Cunningham -- the ever-feisty one -- will fit right in with the Fever.
• And Indiana decides they don't want Smith to be mentored...just gone....to Dallas. Along with the #8 pick. If Paige was freaked about playing with Arike and Satou, she probably just paid room and board in Storrs for next season.

 

[cancontent]

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

 

[nwhoopfan]

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.

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.

 

[Dillon77]

I definitely give him some credit for gathering the pieces, but as you point out he didn't figure out how to use them together very well.

I guess most of it stems from my bias as fan of Plum, but I feel like he mismanaged her at every step for what, 4 years? It wasn't as bad, but I felt like he did similar with Young. Both of those players thrived instantly once he was gone and Hammon let them be the players they are and utlized their strengths.

Having two potentially dominant posts together can be a confounding problem, he wasn't the first coach to fail at it, but the Wilson/Cambage pairing certainly didn't flourish together.

Just generally speaking I think during his tenure players' roles either weren't very well defined, or were changed constantly which is really hard to adapt to. And like I said earlier he didn't play to their strengths in my view.

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.

I'll also give him credit for assembling and coaching the Detroit Shock to the championship "back in the day" with Ruth Riley, Deanna Nolan, et al.

 

[GamecockFam]

I feel like she’s toned down her dirty play quite a bit in the pros though? I think it’s a good fit personnel wise. A backcourt rotation of Clark/Mitchell/Hull/Cunningham is excellent, and front court is bolstered too with Howard/Boston/Dantas. Indiana should be really good this year.

Yeah, she is an aggressive player who toes the line but I agree. From what I have seen she has gained some wisdom since going pro. I also think she is a good fit. The Fever desperately needed a energy player off the bench and Hull or Cunningham would be perfect for that role.

I could see that. You have to like the pairing of Boston and Howard though, right?

I love the pairing of Boston and Howard! As good as Boston is, she could use some veteran mentorship and take a few things from Howard's game. That should be a great defensive duo!

Some Connecticut Sun fans felt like that after the Mabrey trade. Maybe there's a support group you can join?

Sign me up!

 

[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 land Dallas Wings star; Sophie Cunningham to Indiana Fever in 3-team trade

The Phoenix Mercury acquired Dallas Wings' Satou Sabally and sent Sophie Cunningham to the Indiana Fever in a three-team trade on Friday.

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.

 

[Reypl21]

I think Dallas and Phoenix made out great in this trade. Indiana seems like the losers. Cunningham is a good player, but not moving the needle that. The draft pick was the biggest loss.

 

[Dillon77]

I think Dallas and Phoenix made out great in this trade. Indiana seems like the losers. Cunningham is a good player, but not moving the needle that. The draft pick was the biggest loss.

Don't know if I'd call them "losers." Cunningham can help them because of her ability to play two positions and her contract is very inexpensive due to the extension she just signed while at Phoenix. Plus, she can stick the three and adds some serious grit to the lineup. But, as you and Kevin Pelton of ESPNw noted, giving up the #8 pick was a lot. At the end of the day, is Cunningham all that much better than Lexie Hull? Plus, you have just as big a logjam at that small forward position as ever.