RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Jet Jaguar]

[bekcat1]

[Jet Jaguar]

[J-Spoon]

I'd have no problem with Sammy P getting another look. Give her a whole camp see what she can do. Back up PG spot is open for sure. If Cruz doesn't return we're really thin at the 1, especially if we don't want Cappie playing there. The only other option I see for NY at the 1 right now are N. Lacy, bring back Mitchell, convert Sugar or Essence, or our 2nd round draft pick which could be Masengale or Orrange, so If Sammy can win her way back onto the team, I'd be cool with that.

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

It's a mess. At least you had a plan and philosophy in place before. Hopefully they find someone competent enough to implement a long-term plan.

I'm disgusted. There's things about Laimbeer I didn't even necessarily like. But two years of a complete overhaul in philosophy and personnel...and this is what we get. A 5th coach in seven years.

I know people didn't like the guy but to me at the end of the day continuity is very, very important. Teams don't win with this nonsense every two years. I think when it comes to fans the expectation is that winning should be almost robotic. These are still human beings. Like us in everyday life, it's got to be harder to respond to constant change. When you consider that Laimbeer's year 2 offensive system was somewhat different from year 1, you're talking 4 offensive systems in 5 years.

And it's a team built on post play and physicality and athleticism over basketball fundamentals. This team is not for every coach. Luckily, it seems to me there are several functional candidates who can work well with the current personnel. I just hope whoever it is will be given some time. Let's face it, a new coach/GM is not likely to move our 2016 first round pick. So it's either Cappie and Carson get healthy or we are likely in for a worse season than this one. And that's not even accounting for if Cruz comes back or if she is wanted by a new coach. It sounds like she wants to, but who knows if she will fit in with whatever the new philosophy is.

The problem is, if Cappie is at all healthier this is probably a .500 team or so. If Carson is healthy also maybe you're talking a bit over .500 without a change at the 4 spot. Not bad enough for Stewart. Not good enough to seriously contend. Status quo. Exactly what we do not want. In this scenario it would actually benefit the Liberty long term to not have Cappie and Carson in 2015, in all honesty. It's sad to think that way and I do not in any way wish for that. I'm just stating the obvious.

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The poster formerly known as LibWNBAFan.

[myrtle]

If FLB wants to come back, I suspect it will be to a West Coast team.

_________________
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
- Amanda Gorman

[ClayK]

[Shades]

Bill Laimbeer not done yet in WNBA

http://espn.go.com/wnba/story/_/id/11713896/bill-laimbeer-hopes-another-wnba-shot

[J-Spoon]

In the article laimbeer said the Liberty were setting themselves up for a lot of cap space this and next season, and could possibly attract free agents. So does anyone know any UFA next season who the Liberty might be able to bring into the fold for a quicker turn around. I know Catch is a free agent, but I can't imagine her leaving Indiana, though Catch in NY would be that immediate kind of fix that could bring NY right back into contention, at least in the east. Who else might be out there that the Liberty can throw some money at? In the restricted ranks does anyone think we could steal D. Adams from SA with a max contract? or Christmas? If we have money to spare Christmas is a big guard/sf who can defend and shoot the 3, is she better than A. Montgomery? if so then it might be worth trying to steal her away from Indy. Still if anyone knows any UFA let us know because that might be the safest way to go.

[Shades]

[redann]

New York Liberty

Mr. Allan Houston.

Is Teresa Weather the new Liberty coach?

Teresa Weatherspoon @Finisher_11 · Nov 30

Watching Notre Dame vs Kansas at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Women's Challenge at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Kansas - Chelsea Gardner, Asia Boyd, Natalie Knight, and Bunny Williams.

Notre Dame - Loyd Jewell, Wright Markisha, Holloway Whitney, and Cable Madison.

[redann]

Rutgers - Betnijah Laney - 24 points and 24 rebounds against North Carolina.

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

I'm pretty frustrated by the delay in finding a new coach.

_________________
The poster formerly known as LibWNBAFan.

[Happycappie25]

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

Laimbeer mentioned the financial aspect when they waived Mitchell and strongly hinted that Mitchell might be back next season at a different price.

Was Bernert the one who had words with Spoon by the bench later in the season? I think you mentioned something along those lines but not sure if I have the facts straight.

Bernert played PG at Siena which probably means she has a good working knowledge of the game. And she has worked in a variety of WNBA positions as an executive including sales and marketing. Knowing nothing else about her besides that and a transcript of an interview of hers, she sounds like an intelligent person if nothing else.

I'd still feel better about it if there was a coach in place and he or she was interacting with players and we had a feel for a plan and a philosophy. In late 2006, Patty Coyle worked extensively with Loree Moore, who had a breakout season in '07 and the Liberty started out 5-0.

My question is, if Spoon is a serious candidate, why not just hire her and that's it? I'd be fine with Spoon as the coach if there's a separate GM, though I wonder if she can coexist with a GM without the strength of her personality getting in the way after awhile. Still, I think she would be an outstanding strategist, and I would also bet if Cruz returns she would drastically improve under Spoon in 2015. Not to mention you would have a faster paced offense that would likely be more quard-oriented. If Bernert is going to be the GM, hey whatever. I don't know her pro or con. But let's get Spoon in there and let's get going.

_________________
The poster formerly known as LibWNBAFan.

[toad455]

[pilight]

The schedule was mostly delayed by the CBA negotiations last year.

_________________
I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home

[Happycappie25]

[J-Spoon]

So now that things are slightly different but pretty much the same here are a few new/old questions I have for Liberty 2015.

A. Montgomery is RFA do we re-sign her?

My feeling is yes if the contract is affordable because she is really our only player with a consistent 3 point shot, she fits with the Laimbeer philosophy of big guards, and plays defense. NY could do worse than having Montgomery and Carson split the minutes a the SF spot.

If we do not re-sign Montgomery who or what could we get in a sign and trade?

Montgomery because she is a 3 and D player with size at her position is (outside of the 2016 pick) NY's only realistic trade asset that could get something of value in return. I could see a team with cap space being willing to give up a mid to late first round pick for her in 15, particularly if they are a team in win now mode. I'm thinking trading her to Atlanta for the #10 pick, SA for the #9 pick, or Washington for the #8 pick could happen assuming NY would want to get back in the first round.

Outside of youth I don't think any current player we could get in a trade would be much better than simply keeping Alex, players like J. Thomas, A. Herrington, (maybe Wiggins) or S. Johnson come to mind if both teams wanted to go the change of scenery route. I can't really think of any posts or PGs that we could get for her unless they are really deep on another team's bench in which case I'd much rather just keep Montgomery, Goodlett, maybe Tiff Jackson-Jones, Alexader and Mckennith are the sort of players I think that might be made available.

Does Cruz return?

I think bringing back the coach that brought her to the team and made her a starter increases the chance of her returning, so now I'm going to assume she is until I hear otherwise (It seems she kind of made it sound like she was going to return at the end of the season so I'm going back to being hopeful.)

Clearly any talk of the return of Mitchell or NY being a possible landing spot for Prahalis can be put to rest. So who will be NY's back up PG in 2015?

And since we don't have a pick until #16 in the draft and every time someone suggests a player they start to play too well for NY to hope they're still available at #16 (the latest to fall into this catagory is Laney, with Orrange, Hamby and maybe even Stokes being examples of other players now in the top 15 picks that were once a possibility for NY at #16, will laney be the next to escape NY's grasp by climbing up the board) therefor what sleeper pick might still be out there for NY?

And finally who are the FA's NY should be targeting?

[root_thing]

I still don't think Montgomery has much trade value. Would someone be happy to have her for free? Yes. But finding athletic defensive players who are weak on the offensive end just isn't that hard. The only thing that distinguishes Alex slightly is that she has some ability to shoot 3's if you're content with light volume. Even in a very weak draft, I doubt anyone gives you a 1st round pick for her.

It's a forgone conclusion that NY gets no help from the 2015 draft. I also doubt that they'll trade the 2016 1st round pick unless they somehow stumble into another favorable situation like last year. Even with two great players at the top of the draft, what would you get for an unknown pick? It's a high risk trade for both sides because no one knows the final draft position, and draft position is everything in 2016. The Liberty will want a lot, but the other team can't give much because they need the Liberty to be bad.

That leaves free agents as the best talent acquisition option. I don't know of too many significant WNBA free agents this winter. Overseas players seem like a better bet. Laimbeer had a minor success with Cruz last season, so maybe he can find some more serviceable players. Apparently, he asked Nolan about Cruz. If Tweety won't play for us, at least she can be useful as a scout. Anyway, I don't see how NY can do any worse than some of the players currently on their roster. Warley-Talbert may be the worst starter at any position in the league. It's almost impossible to not improve over her.

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You can always do something else.

[Richyyy]

I tend to agree that Montgomery's not worth much as a trade chip. Vaguely decent role player, but those kinds of players tend to get similar fill-in replacements or throw-away picks if you can find someone who wants to trade for them.

Last season was a good year for overseas players to try the WNBA, with no major tournament until the Worlds late in the year. 2015 means another EuroBasket Women, which means it could be tougher to get those kinds of players to show up for the WNBA.

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Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/

[Shades]

Hey Spooner, I think you should get the same kind of return value as Minny got for Sugar Rodgers (somebody you consider a keeper?)....a swap of third rounders.

_________________
Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned

[J-Spoon]

[Shades]

Speaking of Sugar Rodgers, did anybody notice Laimbeer talking about her in the Liberty facebook chat....something like "I expect a breakout year from Sugar". He said the exact same thing about Toni Young last year. Is anybody feeling bad or worried for Sugar?

_________________
Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned

[NYL_WNBA_FAN]

Not really because unlike Young, Rodgers is physically strong for her position and she displays mental and physical toughness on the court.

But her needs for improvement are pretty clear. Improve the left hand, get better as a passer, improve the shot. The speed/strength combo is very evident with Rodgers though, and that strength also enables her to shoot from a few feet behind the arc without difficulty.

Laimbeer is prone to hyperbole with some of these players obviously. I'm not counting on or dismissing a breakthrough. But I do think she has much more pro readiness than Young showed last year just on body type and physical ability alone. Like Young, she has upside. She's just closer to showing it than Young was. Whether she reaches it is anyone's guess. But I like Rodgers a lot myself. Anytime a player's D and clutch shooting single-handedly wins you a game as hers did against DC in our OT win last year, you take note.

_________________
The poster formerly known as LibWNBAFan.