RebKell's Junkie Boards

[ClayK]

Marina Mabrey?

And it wouldn't be amiss to start including Ionescu in some of these.

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Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā

[Shades]

Here’s an article from December

WNBL: Sandy Brondello dubs Canberra Capitals' Eziyoda Magbegor 'future of the Opals'

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/topic/act-sport-5u2/wnbl-sandy-brondello-dubs-canberra-capitals-eziyoda-magbegor-future-of-the-opals-20171211-h029fv.html

[TotalCardinalMove]

[WNBA 09]

[Nixtreefan]

[Nixtreefan]

[Randy]

[Shades]

[PickledGinger]

[WNBA 09]

[WNBA 09]

[Rock Hard]

[PickledGinger]

A little extrapolation on my picks with one minor change. I think they're pretty good. But there's a long time between then and now.

1. Indiana - Kalani Brown - Depending on who has the better season between her and McCowan. I'm going with Brown for now because she can create her own shot on the block and has more range.
2. Las Vegas - Katie Lou Samuelson - They've got the 1, 2 and 4 positions covered for the next decade. They could go with one of Brown or McCowan here, but for now I'm going with the star power.
3. Chicago - Teaira McCowan - See the #1 pick. If she can prove to be more dangerous on offense than pick and roll layups and putbacks, she could take over the top spot.
4. New York - Napheesa Collier - New York's roster right now consists of a disgruntled superstar post, a bunch of homogeneous combo guards, and 1 really promising rookie. We'll see what happens there, but I'm going with Collier because she can fill multiple holes in their frontcourt rotation.
5. Dallas - Asia Durr - I don't think Allisha Gray is a viable 3rd option on a Championship team, and the Wings are the worst perimeter shooting team in the league. I think Durr fixes both of those issues.
6. Minnesota - Eziyoda Magbagor - OK, Shades convinced me. Minnesota needs a post. She might be better than this spot though.
7. Los Angeles - Arike Ogunbowale - Beard and Carson ain't gonna be around forever, and I'm not sure I buy Sims as a 2-guard long-term. Plus, Gray and Ogunbowale together would be one of the more entertaining backcourts in the league.
8. Phoenix - Jessica Shepard - Phoenix struggled without Lyttle in the lineup. Shepard showed the range necessary to play the 4 with Griner during her sophomore year at Nebraska, so I think she's a better fit than any of the other forward prospects.
9. Connecticut - Brianna Turner - Connecticut is the biggest question mark for me, so I'm going with best player available. EXPECT A BIG TRADE this offseason. Connecticut's roster is loaded, but there is a huge imbalance between wings and posts. They need to fix that if they are gonna win a championship.
10. Washington - Megan Gustafson - BPA, definitely fits the system.
11. Atlanta - Kristine Anigwe - BPA, also a good fit.
12. Seattle - Sophie Cunningham - BPA, added depth. Puts a fire under KML.

[calbearman76]

Kristine Anigwe seems like a real wild card for next year. Her Freshman and Sophomore seasons made her look like a potential lottery pick. But last year she seemed to regress and had both attitude and physical problems, neither of which were clearly explained. If she shows a return to form this season I could see her moving back to the top 6.

[sigur3]

[CamrnCrz1974]

[barryi22]

[quote="CamrnCrz1974"][quote="PickledGinger"]A little extrapolation on my picks with one minor change. I think they're pretty good. But there's a long time between then and now.

[b]1. Indiana - Kalani Brown[/b] - Depending on who has the better season between her and McCowan. I'm going with Brown for now because she can create her own shot on the block and has more range.
[b]2. Las Vegas - Katie Lou Samuelson[/b] - They've got the 1, 2 and 4 positions covered for the next decade. They could go with one of Brown or McCowan here, but for now I'm going with the star power.
[b]3. Chicago - Teaira McCowan[/b] - See the #1 pick. If she can prove to be more dangerous on offense than pick and roll layups and putbacks, she could take over the top spot.
[b]4. New York - Napheesa Collier[/b] - New York's roster right now consists of a disgruntled superstar post, a bunch of homogeneous combo guards, and 1 really promising rookie. We'll see what happens there, but I'm going with Collier because she can fill multiple holes in their frontcourt rotation. .[/quote]

Here is the question - is A'ja Wilson really a four?

In terms of minutes this year, Las Vegas looked like this (without factoring in total games played, though outside of Jefferson, every player played in at least 24 games):

1. A'ja Wilson - 30.6
2. Kayla McBride - 32.3
3. Tamera Young - 26.7
4. Kelsey Plum - 25.5
5. Dearica Hamby - 14.4
6. Moriah Jefferson - 15.7
7. Nia Coffey - 13.8
8. Carolyn Swords - 14.4
9. Lindsay Allen - 14.9
10. Kelsey Bone - 10.8
11. JiSu Park - 13.0

I have not calculated the +/- numbers and efficiency ratings for Wilson at the 4 vs. Wilson at the 5. And there were times that a default center started for defensive purposes against some of the really talented veteran centers.

But Las Vegas needs the second front court player - whether a forward or center - to be able to contribute both offensively and defensively. Swords, Bone, and Park could not do that.

Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan have yet to show their ability to be anything other than centers. They do not have the ability to face-up and hit outside shots on a consistent basis.

If I were AFO/Bill Laimbeer, I would consider trading a few spots down and looking at Napheesa Collier or Ezi Magbagor. Collier will fit well next to Wilson and has expanded range, passing abilities, good athleticism, and the ability to be a primary or secondary scorer (though she is only 6-1/6-2). If Laimbeer wants to take a chance on Magbagor as a young, but incredibly athletic face-up 4 with quick 1st step attacking abilities at 6-4 (but does not yet have the shooting range), that could also be a very good pick a few years down the road.

The bigger question is if we assume that Las Vegas gets the #2 pick, with which team could a trade be made.[/quote]

Brown has shown a solid midrange game and ability to take defenders off the dribble....I think she’d be a great fit alongside Wilson. McCowan would eat up too much space inside and have the same effect on A’ja that Coates did. That said, if they get the 2 pick I think they should take KLS. Another lights out perimeter player will make Vegas incredibly dangerous. Slides in perfectly at the 3. Another idea is trade away Jefferson for NY’s 4th pick and try to get Collier there.

Very open draft next year though. I could see a lot of players having huge years and significantly improving their stock a la Kelsey Plum in 2017 or Zahui B in 2015.

[Rock Hard]

Whichever two teams get the first and second picks of the 2019 draft they will be drafting McCowen and Brown. All four lottery teams need a tall dominant post player. Only two teams will get lucky.

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You can win, as long as you keep your head to the SKY! Be OPTIMISTIC!

[WNBA 09]

[J-Spoon]

I don't know how to set up a poll or spell so I will just put it here.

With no early entries which of the top 6 college players will have the best pro career?

K. Brown
T. McCowan
KLS
A. Durr
A. Ogunbowale
N. Collier
Other (and who)?

[ClayK]

Of course it's a roll of the dice ...

But I lean toward Durr or Ogwunbale ... I'm just not convinced either post is athletic enough to be a top-shelf WNBA player.

Now I could be completely wrong, as there's almost no way to predict with all of these players, as they all have significant strengths coupled with at least one question mark.

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[Nixtreefan]

Problem is the posts are not dominant separately ala W quality as 1 has no offense and the other had to be sat as she couldn't keep up with the pace of quick teams. And Clay most teams want some semblance of understanding of defense from guards, zone is not going to help you for the W and the other plays no D. If 1 of the posts shows improvement in their weak areas that will be the icing for most GMs.

[Shades]

[J-Spoon]

[Nixtreefan]

Disagree. Their last escapade in 3x3 showed how much they are not elite. They couldn't even make the final rounds with a USA coach, while the other teams had no coach and training at USA. There seems something is off with these players.