I’m excited for Rupert. I loved watching her in Eurobasket and she fills a distinct need on the team. The Atlanta game was really the Rupert justification game. She’ll be our biggest player and we could’ve really used her size against Jones and Griner.
I don’t think that there will be ANY consideration for cutting Kate or Carla. They’re the only two players on contract for next year (SUPER valuable with the new CBA). They’ve also had great seasons and they’re perfect Nakase-ball pieces. There’s no way anyone would ever let them waive Kate too. She’s the single most profitable player in the franchise with a massive fan base. There would be riots, Chase would burn.
Amihere makes sense positionally, but letting raw talent like that walk would be insanity. She is someone you could shop for picks, though. Chen has impressed me, although I don’t think there’s any part of her game that she’s better at than someone else on the team, but her consistency is important and there are injury concerns with other guards. Talbot is my pick too. I think she’s does sometimes have an important role as a passer/connector, but she keeps sliding further down the depth chart, she has a ton of lowlights, and, from a forward-thinking perspective, she’s 31 and a UFA next year. Much better to keep both of our 23-year-old ERFAs instead.
Apologies if this was already posted. Excellent discussion of CBA negotiation history w/Layshia Clarendon, Valks tv studio co-host and former WNBAPA exec. committee member.
One possibility is Ohemaa trades Ceci or Talbot for a future pick. Strange that Ceci didn't play against the Fever. Ohemaa might also be checking around if Talbot would have a landing spot if they waived her. Waiving Julie must have been hard, but it helps that she landed with the Sparks immediately after.
It is strange about Ceci DNP! But it might make a little more sense in the context of this @mingemi.bsky.social post:
[[ In speaking with Salaun and Zandalasini the past few days, they both said it's taken them a bit to adjust coming back from EuroBasket. Both feel ready to go and contribute but the Valks style of play and European style are so different it takes a bit to get in routine ]]
Conscience-wise, cutting Chen would be the easiest move for me. Kaitlyn Chen already has her salary for the season. She wasn't expected to make the league and is playing with "house money". But she seems to legitimately help in winning as a connector. It's strange that she kinda turned the tables with her steady play. Early on, some bloggers thought Valks should keep her because she'd be popular with the Bay's Asian fans. Now, it's hard to lose her because she's a good fit in Nakase-ball and will help with the playoff push.
Attachment-wise, I feel like them cutting Talbot would make me the least sad. A bit sad just because she was an original Valk, but does not seem that critical for short or long term team success as Eric has said.
I guess next best would be losing one of the core players in an out of left field trade for a high future pick.
Same for me. Although I hope they're able to trade Talbot instead of just cutting her -- even for a future 2nd round pick. That way, we know she has a landing spot.
I felt sad after losing Vanloo and reading her message. But knowing the Sparks picked her up and she's happy there made me feel much better.
So the WNBA mid season deadline is actually the 13th in two days. From what I know, all non-guaranteed contracts will be guaranteed after that point, which means even a waive will necessitate fully paying the player for the rest of the season. Since Rupert is coming on the 15th, one of two things can happen:
1) A player is waived before the deadline. This allows the Valkyries to recover the cap space if the player is on an unprotected contract. Talbot, on the other hand, would have to be paid in full regardless. This might be a little mean since they could afford paying the contract, but it's business I guess...
2) A player is waived after the deadline. In this case, all contracts are paid out regardless of who is waived, so there is no advantage or disadvantage to waiving one player over another. The Valkyries certainly have the cap space to eat a waived guaranteed contract or two and still have room to spare.
Chen and Amihere are both on rest of season contracts. The Valkyries did this because they had the cap space and probably wanted more flexibility. Hardship contracts have very strict rules, and they both would not have been allowed to be on the roster right now had they been signed to those (plus, once they left the roster, there would be a 10 day or so? cooldown period).
Excellent points. The main point I take away is that GSV could save five figures if they waive one of the non guaranteed contracts on or before Jul 13.
I very much hope GSV doesn’t do that. That savings wouldn’t help in team building, and it would be a big deal to the player and a very small deal to the Golden State Corp.
It would also be a low-class move (much lower class than the Vanloo waiving drama since that was ultimately about bad communication not ill will or cheapness). That would undercut GSV’s main pitch to future free agents: we know how to win and we’re a high class organization that will spend to take care you (best staff, facilities, stadium). Lacob has lived up to that so far on the GSW side…
[[ General reminder (that I might write about in more depth later this week): Regular season midpoint is July 14, i.e. Monday. Unprotected contracts guarantee at the midpoint, so anyone teams want to avoid committing to needs to be waived by Sunday at 5pm ET so they can clear in time. #WNBA ]]
Looking at the schedule, I'd think joining the team on the 17th is more likely, since they travel to Seattle on the 16th and then get a break (except KT) until the 25th. So, we may have to wait another day or two to be outraged over whom they cut.
Good point that the schedule could slip in that way. In the other direction, it might be that they need to have Rupert officially on the roster before having her practice. So the cut would have to happen in advance of her game debut.
Thank you! I’ll be there in the press section on Monday. Will I see you there? Also, I loved your piece on Valkyries and community, and I’m going to ask you whether I can republish it here!
Thank you and absolutely you can republish. I’ll be there on Monday too. I wanna talk to you about a behind the scenes quick podcast we could do together on Substack.
You called it on Talbot, Apricot.
I’m excited for Rupert. I loved watching her in Eurobasket and she fills a distinct need on the team. The Atlanta game was really the Rupert justification game. She’ll be our biggest player and we could’ve really used her size against Jones and Griner.
I don’t think that there will be ANY consideration for cutting Kate or Carla. They’re the only two players on contract for next year (SUPER valuable with the new CBA). They’ve also had great seasons and they’re perfect Nakase-ball pieces. There’s no way anyone would ever let them waive Kate too. She’s the single most profitable player in the franchise with a massive fan base. There would be riots, Chase would burn.
Amihere makes sense positionally, but letting raw talent like that walk would be insanity. She is someone you could shop for picks, though. Chen has impressed me, although I don’t think there’s any part of her game that she’s better at than someone else on the team, but her consistency is important and there are injury concerns with other guards. Talbot is my pick too. I think she’s does sometimes have an important role as a passer/connector, but she keeps sliding further down the depth chart, she has a ton of lowlights, and, from a forward-thinking perspective, she’s 31 and a UFA next year. Much better to keep both of our 23-year-old ERFAs instead.
Apologies if this was already posted. Excellent discussion of CBA negotiation history w/Layshia Clarendon, Valks tv studio co-host and former WNBAPA exec. committee member.
No Offseason podcast
https://youtu.be/74B0ts59Ovg?t=804&feature=shared
Kayla Thornton and Monique Billings will be making an appearance to sign autographs at this place in Burlingame. Sunday, August 10th from 6-7 PM!
https://leftyssportscards.com/
One possibility is Ohemaa trades Ceci or Talbot for a future pick. Strange that Ceci didn't play against the Fever. Ohemaa might also be checking around if Talbot would have a landing spot if they waived her. Waiving Julie must have been hard, but it helps that she landed with the Sparks immediately after.
What a brutal league.
It is strange about Ceci DNP! But it might make a little more sense in the context of this @mingemi.bsky.social post:
[[ In speaking with Salaun and Zandalasini the past few days, they both said it's taken them a bit to adjust coming back from EuroBasket. Both feel ready to go and contribute but the Valks style of play and European style are so different it takes a bit to get in routine ]]
https://bsky.app/profile/mingemi.bsky.social/post/3ltk5ul3lc527
Conscience-wise, cutting Chen would be the easiest move for me. Kaitlyn Chen already has her salary for the season. She wasn't expected to make the league and is playing with "house money". But she seems to legitimately help in winning as a connector. It's strange that she kinda turned the tables with her steady play. Early on, some bloggers thought Valks should keep her because she'd be popular with the Bay's Asian fans. Now, it's hard to lose her because she's a good fit in Nakase-ball and will help with the playoff push.
Attachment-wise, I feel like them cutting Talbot would make me the least sad. A bit sad just because she was an original Valk, but does not seem that critical for short or long term team success as Eric has said.
I guess next best would be losing one of the core players in an out of left field trade for a high future pick.
Same for me. Although I hope they're able to trade Talbot instead of just cutting her -- even for a future 2nd round pick. That way, we know she has a landing spot.
I felt sad after losing Vanloo and reading her message. But knowing the Sparks picked her up and she's happy there made me feel much better.
So the WNBA mid season deadline is actually the 13th in two days. From what I know, all non-guaranteed contracts will be guaranteed after that point, which means even a waive will necessitate fully paying the player for the rest of the season. Since Rupert is coming on the 15th, one of two things can happen:
1) A player is waived before the deadline. This allows the Valkyries to recover the cap space if the player is on an unprotected contract. Talbot, on the other hand, would have to be paid in full regardless. This might be a little mean since they could afford paying the contract, but it's business I guess...
2) A player is waived after the deadline. In this case, all contracts are paid out regardless of who is waived, so there is no advantage or disadvantage to waiving one player over another. The Valkyries certainly have the cap space to eat a waived guaranteed contract or two and still have room to spare.
Chen and Amihere are both on rest of season contracts. The Valkyries did this because they had the cap space and probably wanted more flexibility. Hardship contracts have very strict rules, and they both would not have been allowed to be on the roster right now had they been signed to those (plus, once they left the roster, there would be a 10 day or so? cooldown period).
I’m a little slow - does this mean that the payout on a waived guaranteed contract counts against the cap?
I believe this is correct, unless the waived contract is picked up by another team. Then only the prorated amount paid to date counts against the cap.
These considerations only matter to teams that are near the cap (GSV has so much cap space) or who are pinching every penny (not GS Corp).
Excellent points. The main point I take away is that GSV could save five figures if they waive one of the non guaranteed contracts on or before Jul 13.
I very much hope GSV doesn’t do that. That savings wouldn’t help in team building, and it would be a big deal to the player and a very small deal to the Golden State Corp.
It would also be a low-class move (much lower class than the Vanloo waiving drama since that was ultimately about bad communication not ill will or cheapness). That would undercut GSV’s main pitch to future free agents: we know how to win and we’re a high class organization that will spend to take care you (best staff, facilities, stadium). Lacob has lived up to that so far on the GSW side…
Would be an odd choice for sure. The Valkyries currently have $332,285 in cap space, which is the most in the league.
To add detail to your point, @richardcohen.bsky.social says
[[ General reminder (that I might write about in more depth later this week): Regular season midpoint is July 14, i.e. Monday. Unprotected contracts guarantee at the midpoint, so anyone teams want to avoid committing to needs to be waived by Sunday at 5pm ET so they can clear in time. #WNBA ]]
Looking at the schedule, I'd think joining the team on the 17th is more likely, since they travel to Seattle on the 16th and then get a break (except KT) until the 25th. So, we may have to wait another day or two to be outraged over whom they cut.
Good point that the schedule could slip in that way. In the other direction, it might be that they need to have Rupert officially on the roster before having her practice. So the cut would have to happen in advance of her game debut.
Eric, thank you, great piece. I’m going to a Valkryies watch party at the White Horse on Saturday. Will you be at the game on Monday?
Thank you! I’ll be there in the press section on Monday. Will I see you there? Also, I loved your piece on Valkyries and community, and I’m going to ask you whether I can republish it here!
Thank you and absolutely you can republish. I’ll be there on Monday too. I wanna talk to you about a behind the scenes quick podcast we could do together on Substack.