maybe there could be a fit there if Washington felt Connecticut had the pieces to [offer them &] do it. a frontcourt of BJones (5), AThomas (4), EDD (3), and Bonner (2) would be insane on paper, but not totally unworkable. EDD is talented enough to play the 3 even if it isn't her natural position, and fwiw i distinctly remember Bonner playing the 2 in a playoff game from either last season or the season before. it'd be a crazy long group, but hopefully not too clunky.
Any team EDD would play SF on is gonna get cooked.
AT can guard the 3 and EDD the 4.
Be kind to yourself, the way you expect others to be kind to you.
that’s what i was envisioning too. AT’s been a great post defender, though it’d probably be easier on her body to defend smaller players, such as those she’d actually be bigger than. she has enough quickness to keep up with true SFs as well, since that looked like it would be her natural position early on in her career… y’know, before the infamous labral tears 🫠
Astou Ndour made her return to play today after giving birth a few months ago. Now that Spain seems to be focusing on Megan Gustafson as their naturalized player, she might be interested in showing that she can still play at a high level. I know that it often seems like international players have been around forever, but she will not turn 30 until August.
i don't think i even knew Astou Ndour was pregnant. good for her. clearly that was [at least a big reason] why she didn't play last season, so maybe she does come back this season. although she's missed the past two seasons now, only playing in six of ten seasons since her 2014 debut, so who really knows with her.
she's ultimately a primary example of why it's hard for me to get invested in good international talent – they just don't show up enough.
Do you really went EDD guarding players like A’ja or Satou at this point in her career? Especially with the back injuries she’s had?
I rather she defend post players for sure, and like stormeo said A’ja is a tough guard for anyone.
Ideally wherever she goes her minutes are limited and she’s okay with that. She’s just not proven to be someone who can stay healthy throughout the season anymore. But she’s still a very talented player, especially offensively.
Be kind to yourself, the way you expect others to be kind to you.
Conn plays hard, not far away from championship; I like the idea of EDD going there, maybe not as the "number 1 " option, but surely with AT, Bonner, B Jones, that would be a scary group. Maybe that's been the plan all along
Conn plays hard, not far away from championship; I like the idea of EDD going there, maybe not as the "number 1 " option, but surely with AT, Bonner, B Jones, that would be a scary group. Maybe that's been the plan all along
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Stewart, Delle Donne and Bri Jones are cored. EDD likely traded will be the biggest move this free agency. Diggins-Smith will be the biggest signing. Jonquel Jones signing elsewhere would be a surprise. Nneka switching teams could be a shock depending where she goes. Not sure who else would make noise this free agency? Cloud? Bec Allen?
Stewart, Delle Donne and Bri Jones are cored. EDD likely traded will be the biggest move this free agency. Diggins-Smith will be the biggest signing. Jonquel Jones signing elsewhere would be a surprise. Nneka switching teams could be a shock depending where she goes. Not sure who else would make noise this free agency? Cloud? Bec Allen?
—Cloud wants to get paid and is open to leaving Washington, so i predict GMs will be pulling out all the stops in order to sign her. more durability, less drama, less mileage – though perhaps less offense – than Diggins-Smith. —i'm sure Diggins-Smith will find a way to get paid and end up on a halfway-decent team. —if Chiney finally retires, Nneka's career might get interesting for the first time in years. —whatever Candace Parker decides to do – sign elsewhere, re-sign with the Aces, or retire – will be impactful, even as her own impact on the court greatly diminished this past season. —if DeShields is actually healthy [enough] and can play, wherever she lands will be interesting. she's one where if we haven't seen the last of her, i think she'll make her presence felt. —between Griner, JJ, Satou, Bonner, Canada, etc. it's hard to believe none of those names will sign elsewhere. surely someone out of that bunch... —in terms of non-free agent trade candidates: DiJonai Carrington and/or NaLyssa Smith. for starters.
I find it hard to see Diamond DeShields as a difference-maker. Her PER last year was 11.9 (15 is average). She's not a good shooter, not a particularly good ballhandler and her defensive ratings aren't exceptional.
Her on-off stats are even worse.
To me, she's an exemplar of empty stats. Sure, she scores a lot, but how many shots and possessions does she need to put up those points?
Now maybe she's been hampered by injuries for the last four years, thus creating those ugly numbers, but rolling the dice on her health being the reason for her consistent inefficiency seems like a pretty big gamble.
DeShields has a had two good years in the W. Her comeback story was nice, but she was out most of 2022 & 23. She shouldn't get anything over the vet minimum.
fwiw i never said DeShields should be getting paid the big bucks, or even the average bucks. i think the cheaper a team can get her, such as a TCC or even just staying within an unprotected one-year deal below $100k, the more interesting she can become/noise she can make this upcoming season – especially if it motivates her to really play up for a bigger contract in 2025.