Got it. Honestly, it’s not clear to me why it’s worse for the Vs to have the number 1 than it is for the Sky or the Mystic or the Sparks or Wings to have number 1. And these last four teams already have probably two really good players. Golden State will not have that advantage. Looking at the best UFAs, most of them are going to be protected, like Stewart or Plum. So it doesn’t seem that the Vs with a number 1 pick and one skilled UFA is going to take over the league. They will still go through the grind because of the 12 players they will get from the 12 existing teams, most of those players will be quite young or quite old, is my best guest looking at the lists.
If the four are going to feel resentful because they will have to choose from 2 to 5, that is more understandable.
But it still seems like an unfortunate handicap, to me.
I thought they should not get #1, but should go in the lottery with the other 4 non-playoff teams so they had a shot, say, with the #5 teams odds. As Eric pointed out, a new team is going to have excited fans even if they are bad for a few years, so they don't mind handicapping the new guys.
The league decides and all the existing teams most def do not want them to have #1. Expansion teams should go through the grind and also will have a few years of novelty interest while they build up.
Next year, GSV will not want TOR and POR jumping ahead to #1 and #2….
Hmm, maybe she is listed as a G, but I see Diamond more as a "wing". I didn't realize she was already 29, not sure if the V's are going to prioritize youth or are okay with some vets to provide experience.
Seems a lot of these choices will depend on whether the V’s are filling specific positions on their roster or just taking the best possible players. For example, on the liberty, Burke is a good defender and is a UFA. Sabally, usually the second substitution is a very good, much better player. But if the V’s already have several people covering her position, then they might go for the defender. On the other hand, if they needed a point guard Sloot, although she is getting quite old, might be the best choice. This would be impossible for us to figure out in advance. Right?
But, unlike most drafts, I believe they can lay out their entire board at once, so they don't need to pick one and then see what is left, they can decide we want this combination of players, once they know who is unprotected. So, it is really about is Sabally better/worse than Player B who is unprotected from another team. Interesting puzzle there for Ohemaa.
I completely agree. I wrote in the series announcement:
[[ To be clear, there is no way we will predict this properly. First, we won’t (EVER) know who is protected. Second, there is the possibility of GSV making trades. Third, the players drafted from one team are highly dependent on the ones drafted from the others, as the roster has to be coherent.
This exercise is just a way to digest a little bit at a time about the possibilities and at least for me, a chance to catch up on the league. ]]
Great series, now I can be disappointed on Draft day that they didn't get the players I wanted!
Diamond was an important player in the Sky's championship run a few years ago, but looked like she was slowed down by injuries this past year. She could be one of those players that does better with good teammates, but that would suggest she isn't going to look great on the V's.
Dana always seemed to me to be a bit too small to be a high level starter, and was disgruntled that she moved to the bench. So, if you are pretty she's your starting PG, then maybe there is value there.
Michela seems solid, but hasn't been a starter that much after a few years in the league, so not sure if that is already her ceiling.
Was this for me? If so, far from it. My home town is Chicago so I picked the Sky to follow when I started watching more WNBA games a few years back, and then they were good one year and won it all. But, this past year was pretty rough, I mostly watched their games to see how their rookies were doing. Looking forward to having a more local team, that hopefully has a better FO than Chicago. I mean, I think this year the Sky will finally get a dedicated practice spot instead of the open gym at a fitness club in the suburbs. Not that surprising that most players look for a way to get out of there after a year.
Glad to have that information. I wondered about the comments about why the Sky was not a desirable team at this point. J. Tsai gonna upgrade the WNBA :=) along with the infusion of new money.
Got it. Honestly, it’s not clear to me why it’s worse for the Vs to have the number 1 than it is for the Sky or the Mystic or the Sparks or Wings to have number 1. And these last four teams already have probably two really good players. Golden State will not have that advantage. Looking at the best UFAs, most of them are going to be protected, like Stewart or Plum. So it doesn’t seem that the Vs with a number 1 pick and one skilled UFA is going to take over the league. They will still go through the grind because of the 12 players they will get from the 12 existing teams, most of those players will be quite young or quite old, is my best guest looking at the lists.
If the four are going to feel resentful because they will have to choose from 2 to 5, that is more understandable.
But it still seems like an unfortunate handicap, to me.
I thought they should not get #1, but should go in the lottery with the other 4 non-playoff teams so they had a shot, say, with the #5 teams odds. As Eric pointed out, a new team is going to have excited fans even if they are bad for a few years, so they don't mind handicapping the new guys.
Ath Alc mentioned my same question. Why does an expansion team only get the fifth pick, not the first pick?
The league decides and all the existing teams most def do not want them to have #1. Expansion teams should go through the grind and also will have a few years of novelty interest while they build up.
Next year, GSV will not want TOR and POR jumping ahead to #1 and #2….
Just to fill in, Evans ( 26 years, 5’6”) and DeShields (29 years, 6’1”) are G. Onyenwere (25 years, 6’) is a F.
Hmm, maybe she is listed as a G, but I see Diamond more as a "wing". I didn't realize she was already 29, not sure if the V's are going to prioritize youth or are okay with some vets to provide experience.
Thnx. That is likely more accurate, but ESPN does not list wings, only G, F, C.
Seems a lot of these choices will depend on whether the V’s are filling specific positions on their roster or just taking the best possible players. For example, on the liberty, Burke is a good defender and is a UFA. Sabally, usually the second substitution is a very good, much better player. But if the V’s already have several people covering her position, then they might go for the defender. On the other hand, if they needed a point guard Sloot, although she is getting quite old, might be the best choice. This would be impossible for us to figure out in advance. Right?
But, unlike most drafts, I believe they can lay out their entire board at once, so they don't need to pick one and then see what is left, they can decide we want this combination of players, once they know who is unprotected. So, it is really about is Sabally better/worse than Player B who is unprotected from another team. Interesting puzzle there for Ohemaa.
As a lLiberty fan I can guarantee you that Sabally is better :=))
I completely agree. I wrote in the series announcement:
[[ To be clear, there is no way we will predict this properly. First, we won’t (EVER) know who is protected. Second, there is the possibility of GSV making trades. Third, the players drafted from one team are highly dependent on the ones drafted from the others, as the roster has to be coherent.
This exercise is just a way to digest a little bit at a time about the possibilities and at least for me, a chance to catch up on the league. ]]
https://open.substack.com/pub/valkyrienation/p/the-gsw-expansion-draft-prediction?r=3lm3s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Great series, now I can be disappointed on Draft day that they didn't get the players I wanted!
Diamond was an important player in the Sky's championship run a few years ago, but looked like she was slowed down by injuries this past year. She could be one of those players that does better with good teammates, but that would suggest she isn't going to look great on the V's.
Dana always seemed to me to be a bit too small to be a high level starter, and was disgruntled that she moved to the bench. So, if you are pretty she's your starting PG, then maybe there is value there.
Michela seems solid, but hasn't been a starter that much after a few years in the league, so not sure if that is already her ceiling.
I’m glad you know a lot about the WNBA
Was this for me? If so, far from it. My home town is Chicago so I picked the Sky to follow when I started watching more WNBA games a few years back, and then they were good one year and won it all. But, this past year was pretty rough, I mostly watched their games to see how their rookies were doing. Looking forward to having a more local team, that hopefully has a better FO than Chicago. I mean, I think this year the Sky will finally get a dedicated practice spot instead of the open gym at a fitness club in the suburbs. Not that surprising that most players look for a way to get out of there after a year.
Glad to have that information. I wondered about the comments about why the Sky was not a desirable team at this point. J. Tsai gonna upgrade the WNBA :=) along with the infusion of new money.
Sports without disappointment would be mere sightseeing!
Sightseeing becomes more appealing the older you get.