Also shows why some teams are in the lottery, seems like pretty slim pickings after getting past the protected players. Maybe the strategy is you look at the top 4 or 5 teams (in overall talent) first, build out your starters, and then look at the Dallas's of the world and think about what players would be complimentary depth pieces.
Hey, only two more weeks of armchair GM until they pick for real.
One extra twist is that GSV is allowed to negotiate trades with teams. For instance, in the last expansion, ATL in 2008 did this:
[[ Additionally, Atlanta immediately orchestrated three trades involving players in the expansion draft. The Dream traded the fourth overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and guard Roneeka Hodges to Seattle in exchange for the eighth pick in the draft and veteran guard Iziane Castro Marques. They also traded the 18th draft pick and forward LaToya Thomas to Detroit in exchange for second-year guard Ivory Latta. In the third trade, the Dream acquired the 24th overall draft pick from Indiana, in exchange for agreeing not to select specific unprotected Fever players. ]]
That third trade is interesting... a mild extortion.
Anyway, ATL proceeded to lose their first 17 games, so maybe they are a negative example. But the point remains that trades are fair game and knowing Lacob and Co, they will investigate every such option.
Some interesting names here. Brown is really solid, and really big. If the goal is to field a credible team in year one, having a center who can hold her own must surely be a high priority.
Awak Kuier is super long and lean, kind of in the Kevin Garnett / Ezi Magbegor mold, with good athleticism (she has dunked in-game), but hasn’t really played or produced much to my knowledge. I think she sat out last season for what sounded like personal or mental health reasons, and I wonder if she might just prefer to play in Europe longterm (she grew up in Finland).
Also shows why some teams are in the lottery, seems like pretty slim pickings after getting past the protected players. Maybe the strategy is you look at the top 4 or 5 teams (in overall talent) first, build out your starters, and then look at the Dallas's of the world and think about what players would be complimentary depth pieces.
Hey, only two more weeks of armchair GM until they pick for real.
One extra twist is that GSV is allowed to negotiate trades with teams. For instance, in the last expansion, ATL in 2008 did this:
[[ Additionally, Atlanta immediately orchestrated three trades involving players in the expansion draft. The Dream traded the fourth overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft and guard Roneeka Hodges to Seattle in exchange for the eighth pick in the draft and veteran guard Iziane Castro Marques. They also traded the 18th draft pick and forward LaToya Thomas to Detroit in exchange for second-year guard Ivory Latta. In the third trade, the Dream acquired the 24th overall draft pick from Indiana, in exchange for agreeing not to select specific unprotected Fever players. ]]
https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/dream/expansiondraft_080206.html
That third trade is interesting... a mild extortion.
Anyway, ATL proceeded to lose their first 17 games, so maybe they are a negative example. But the point remains that trades are fair game and knowing Lacob and Co, they will investigate every such option.
Some interesting names here. Brown is really solid, and really big. If the goal is to field a credible team in year one, having a center who can hold her own must surely be a high priority.
Awak Kuier is super long and lean, kind of in the Kevin Garnett / Ezi Magbegor mold, with good athleticism (she has dunked in-game), but hasn’t really played or produced much to my knowledge. I think she sat out last season for what sounded like personal or mental health reasons, and I wonder if she might just prefer to play in Europe longterm (she grew up in Finland).