The Monarchs' 11?

[StevenHW]

According to the RebKell site, some WNBA teams' front offices and their season ticket holders have been notified that each team's roster will be shortened to 11 players, starting next season. Previously, the limit was 13 players.

Since the Monarchs use their bench very heavily --- perhaps more than any other team --- how will the reduction of roster spots affect the team?

 

[samq]

Well, we do have a lot of "crap" players, so it won't be to hard.

Ticha
Lawson
Powell
Brunson
Harper

Are safe.

Kelly
Robinson

will probably make it, as they are still under contract.

Most likely Demya Walker, if she's healthy. Newton is a RFA, so it depends, I suppose.

That 9 players already. So, 1st/2nd round draft pick and/or a free agent signing. Another post/pg. So, bye to Aqua, Allen, Smith...

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

It hurts teams like Sacramento and Detroit that have been most effective in their use of the injured/inactive list and their salary cap simply because they have kept bodies that can help them as practice squad players.

Where it will hurt Sacramento is if they actually have players injured like they have the last 2-3 seasons. This has not been one of the healthiest of all rosters in the league. If the Ms have to only dress 9 because they actually have two players injured it's gonna suck to be them.

If they keep at least 10 players healthy enough to dress all season, it won't be noticeable, because despite keeping 13 players, those other two always seemed to be "break glass in case of emergency"

Unless they draft/acquire a PG, Franklin is safe. Williams-Strong seems to be the most likely casualty since it seems their roster preference has been 4 active posts and 5 active guards (and presumably 2 swing/wings). Only way I see them keeping Adrian is if their assessment of Brunson's and Walker's readiness is shaky coming into the season. Which seems opposite of what I'm hearing re: the two of them. But they get hella young in the post rotation with two second years backing up two players who missed chunks of the season last year and are coming off off-season surgery.

Could someone explain to me what the rationale is for this change? And how they managed to pull it off without re-opening the CBA and why the players union signed off on the loss of two roster spots per team? It's not making sense to me. I could probably roll to Rebkell and read through threads, but I don't really want to.

 

[Purple Reign]

Could someone explain to me what the rationale is for this change? And how they managed to pull it off without re-opening the CBA and why the players union signed off on the loss of two roster spots per team? It's not making sense to me. I could probably roll to Rebkell and read through threads, but I don't really want to.

Yeah, I agree. I think if this was a real issue, word would be out already. i have a hard time believing that this could go through without the signoff from the Players Union. I am sure the reason this rumor is swirling is due to the economy. But I can not fathom how you can play a season without some form of reserves. And if this happens, there will be a lot of veterans out of work.

But I will play along though; here is the Monarchs 11?

Ticha
Powell
Brunson
Lawson
Kelly
Harper
Walker
Allen

Of the other 3 roster spots, one would be for your First Round Pick, and if it were up to me Robinson and Newton would fight for one spot, with the other spot left vacant for a Wild Card Player, either a Free Agent, a Veteran that has been cut, or another young drafted player.

 

[Luv13fan]

Cost cutting measures...

The word on Rebs is that this is suppose to be a cost cutting measure. I don't see how that can save money unless it is the league trying to create a form of Quality Control.

Nonetheless It could be problemsome for teams that get hit with the injury bug.

As far as the Monarchs 11

Ticha, Powell, Brunson, Lawson and Harper are the only people I see that should be relatively safe.

Kelly and Allen are my question marks. And this is where the 11 man roster comes into play. Kelly was very helpful to us last year, but she still needs to progress. IF she hasn't then it is not worth our effort to keep her. Allen has the potential to be very helpful at the 1 or 2 and is worth taking at least another look at. If for no other reason to move Franklin off the books.

As for A-Dub Weak... if we resign her, we are admitting that we are tanking this season for premium draft position.

DeMya is tough for me. I have loved her for years but her durability is a major issue and I would hate to miss out on a Younger healthier FA, only to have Demya Injured again. It is a crap shoot. Of course she comes to camp but I would not throw the Sink at her. Maybe a Bonus laden contract. Perhaps take the risk of losing her in FA. But somehow we have to protect our cap.

Scholanda and Newton would both be on the Bubble. I would bring in some competition for that spot. They have both hit the sink or swim point in their development IMO. Again I would be more inclined to keep Sho. Newton is Oft-injured and had never seemed to regain that defensive form that made her indespensable. But since Whiz traded to get her back I can't imagine that he would want to let her go.

I don't see Aqua or Smith coming back. Now one could argue that we are already limited at the Point and the 3 guard, but lets be real. I know Kara enjoyed alot of success being a full time 2 guard this year. I can't see why Kara can't rotate to the 1 if Necessary. She has proven she can play 1 in the Olympics, so there is no need to keep Franklin. Then there is Poor Kim Smith. She was never really a good fit, but not an Awful player. Unless she comes back with alot more than what she had she shouldn't even be brought back to camp. Nicole chewed up more minutes and when she left the court, we went to a 3 guard offense. Not a Glowing endorsement of Smith. So we need to get a player to be the back-up 3 guard.

The thing is that players making rosters will need to play multiple positions and be far more versitile then was asked of them. Post Players will have to extend their shooting range. 2 guard will probably have to play more point guard. So when you think about it teams like the Monarchs and Detroit are more equiped than others.

I still content that there needs to be more fresh faces on the 2009 version of the Monarchs. So if this roster limit turns out to be true, it may mean that faces we have known won't be around.

 

[samq]

I'm personally not high on Allen. She's a two, can't play the one. She may be offensively better than Robinson and Newton, but she's rail thin, and isn't as good defensively.

 

[MamaBristow]

January 14

The Sacramento Monarchs re-signed free agent DeMya Walker and signed Chelsea Newton and Miao Li Jie to training camp contracts.

source

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Hell yeah to Miao!!!!

 

[GeorgeofSacramento]

Hmm, interesting comparisons here from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Miao (CHN)
PPG 17.9
RPG 3.4
ORPG 1.0
DRPG 2.45
ASPG 2.6
FG2P% 55%
FG3P% 50%
FT% 88.9%

Jackson (AUS)

PPG 17.3
RPG 8.6
ORPG 3.6
DRPG 5.0
ASPG 0.9
FG2P% 50%
FG3P% 36%
FT% 70.3%

 

[Purple Reign]

January 14

The Sacramento Monarchs re-signed free agent DeMya Walker and signed Chelsea Newton and Miao Li Jie to training camp contracts.

source

I too am very down with bringing in Miao Li Jie

I am confused though about signing Chelsea Newton to a "Training Camp Contract" what does that mean. It sounds like if she was a baseball player, she would be invited to Spring Training for a try out. What is that all about

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

It means it would behoove her to: (1) show up to camp on time and (2) be healthy for all of it.

They've cleared some cap space and another roster spot, interesting to see what they do with it.

 

[kingsnation]

January 14

The Sacramento Monarchs re-signed free agent DeMya Walker and signed Chelsea Newton and Miao Li Jie to training camp contracts.

source

This makes me happy! I could never say bye to DeMya!!

 

[creative one]

Hmm, interesting comparisons here from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Miao (CHN)
PPG 17.9
RPG 3.4
ORPG 1.0
DRPG 2.45
ASPG 2.6
FG2P% 55%
FG3P% 50%
FT% 88.9%

Jackson (AUS)

PPG 17.3
RPG 8.6
ORPG 3.6
DRPG 5.0
ASPG 0.9
FG2P% 50%
FG3P% 36%
FT% 70.3%

No, just no!!!!!! I realize they're just numbers, but no. Had we signed Lauren Jackson, we'd never have offered her a training camp contract. Miao will have to earn her way onto the team if she wants to be a part of the madness in 2009. She is what's called a "bottom-of-the-barrel" free agent. Jackson, on the other hand, is this year's prized pig. Miao is a nice scorer against weak defenses. Lauren Jackson is the best player in the world. With Miao, we might get back into the playoffs as a #4 seed. With Jackson, we're World Champs again. That said, it's a good idea to bring in more competition for training camp. May this trend continue.

I like the decision to sign Chelsea Newton to a training camp contract. No more freebies in this day and age of the WNBA. Furthermore, I echo everything samq has posted on this topic.

I have mixed feelings on DeMya being re-signed. She'll never be completely healthy and we desperately need healthy posts this season. Then again, we know we aren't (and why we aren't) going to get Lauren Jackson, Michelle Snow, Tina Thompson, or even Chasity Melvin, so why not make sure we don't lose anyone of any sort of value for the third straight season?

 

[Purple Reign]

You know it is funny to hear us all talk. Because if I did not know any better, I would think that the Monarchs are in a very dire, deep, dark situation, with no success in reach. I look at this completely the opposite.

This roster that we have to look forward to, in 2008 with a bad Chelsea Newton, a hurt DeMya Walker, an injured Bekkah Brunson, and depending on three rookies, one of which we got off of the scrap heap, MADE THE PLAYOFFS and WAS ON THE BRINK OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS!!!!!!!

And if you really look at it, the 2009 Western Conference in my opinion will be WEAKER than 2008:

1. There will be no Houston

2. There will be no Parker for the Sparks (at least for the first few months) and Lisa Leslie, Delisha Milton will be one year older, and the Sparks are not nearly as good without Candace.

3. Seattle with that ancient lineup is one year older and may be without Lauren Jackson who is contemplating her WNBA future.

4. I don't know what to think about Phoenix, but they sure could never get it together when they had every motivation to do so.

5. Will Lady Seimone Augustus ever lead her young, talented Minnesota team to the post season, she hasn't yet.

6. And in my view, San Antonio is the most beatable Western Conference Champ in the 12 year history of the Conference.


And here are the steady, young veteran, always overlooked Monarchs, with a young, steady, dynamic, now third year veteran coach (who I have grown to give the utmost respect to)who I feel is just one impact player from a championship in a league that has as much balance as we have every seen. It is just a matter if that impact comes from within or without. I am in favor of bringing everybody back, unless there is a trade out there to be had to make this roster better. I believe the Monarchs will be in contention for a playoff spot again in '09, it is just a matter of do they have THAT player that will get them over the hump. Can the Monarchs get their defense back to a championship level that can stop people. How is that for a shot of optimism.

 

[6th]

You know it is funny to hear us all talk. Because if I did not know any better, I would think that the Monarchs are in a very dire, deep, dark situation, with no success in reach. I look at this completely the opposite.

This roster that we have to look forward to, in 2008 with a bad Chelsea Newton, a hurt DeMya Walker, an injured Bekkah Brunson, and depending on three rookies, one of which we got off of the scrap heap, MADE THE PLAYOFFS and WAS ON THE BRINK OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS!!!!!!!

And if you really look at it, the 2009 Western Conference in my opinion will be WEAKER than 2008:

1. There will be no Houston

2. There will be no Parker for the Sparks (at least for the first few months) and Lisa Leslie, Delisha Milton will be one year older, and the Sparks are not nearly as good without Candace.

3. Seattle with that ancient lineup is one year older and may be without Lauren Jackson who is contemplating her WNBA future.

4. I don't know what to think about Phoenix, but they sure could never get it together when they had every motivation to do so.

5. Will Lady Seimone Augustus ever lead her young, talented Minnesota team to the post season, she hasn't yet.

6. And in my view, San Antonio is the most beatable Western Conference Champ in the 12 year history of the Conference.


And here are the steady, young veteran, always overlooked Monarchs, with a young, steady, dynamic, now third year veteran coach (who I have grown to give the utmost respect to)who I feel is just one impact player from a championship in a league that has as much balance as we have every seen. It is just a matter if that impact comes from within or without. I am in favor of bringing everybody back, unless there is a trade out there to be had to make this roster better. I believe the Monarchs will be in contention for a playoff spot again in '09, it is just a matter of do they have THAT player that will get them over the hump. Can the Monarchs get their defense back to a championship level that can stop people. How is that for a shot of optimism.

How is that? I like it!!!!!

 

[creative one]

Purple Reign, some choose to look at it like you have. Others choose to look at it in a different way in this trying economic time. Doesn't mean either one of us are right or wrong or any more or less fans, but for every hint of optimism there is an equal portion of pessimism to balance it out.

We've grown accustomed to playing without DeMya, who's missed at least 50 games the past three seasons. Last year was nothing new. She's never healthy, so why even try to begin a season assuming she'll be anything but oft-injured?

Chelsea Newton hasn't been a "good" player since her 2005 days. You know, the pre-Pondexter, pre-Young, pre-Augustus, and pre-Wiggins era. I don't think anyone should be surprised that Chelsea couldn't hack it last year. The league has better perimeter and tweener talent now than it had three years ago. She's gone from defensive stopper on a championship team to an oft-injured liability on a fringe playoff team.

We had to "depend" on three rookies because our GM refuses to break up our core. It's no secret that we were widely considered to be the least talented team in the entire league by every GM except for our own. You can thank our coach for our playoff spot in 2009 because none of the three rookies we "depended" on would not have been rotation players on any other team in the WNBA in 2008, and two of them wouldn't have made any other roster in the WNBA in 2008. Our coach stretched their talent as much as she could. One of them has room to grow because she's 6'4 and has energy, but the other two are pretty much bottom-of-the-barrel acquisitions who will find themselves out of the WNBA altogether by 2010 (one of them will be gone sooner than that). Keep in mind that we're talking about a player who shot 28% from the field last summer and another player who generated most of her offense on FT attempts.

You say the West will be weaker in 2008 than it'll be in 2009. Possible, but I think it'll be about the same. Let's see why:

1. Houston didn't make the playoffs last year anyway. That was a toxic roster with a glut of overrated players.

2. LA won the West in 2006 without Parker and Milton-Jones. They're said to be the favorites for Tina Thompson's services. Thompson puts them right around where they were last year (which was only 3rd best in the Western Conference anyway). They still need a starting PG, but there are more options out there this year than what was available to them in 2008.

3. Seattle won't have Lauren Jackson, but they have a decent enough coach who can get the most out of his players. I believe they beat us once without Lauren Jackson in the line-up last season. They'll be down but not out.

4. Phoenix is the favorite to land Lauren Jackson. If they land her and return Snell, they're going to win the West. Lauren loves Diana Taurasi more than she likes playing with Sue Bird. Add Cappie into the equation and you've got a three-headed monster that shouldn't lose to anyone other than Detroit, San Antonio (at full strength), and maybe Atlanta.

5. The Lynx are a lost cause anyway. They're just counting down the days until they fire Zierden.

6. If the Silver Stars are so beatable, why haven't we defeated them in a playoff series since they've made their ascent to the Western Conference elite? Seems to me like their ascent has coincided with our fall from grace. In 2008, they had three players on their roster better than our best player...whoever that is.

So that leaves us, a fringe playoff team that could go either way. We could make the playoffs again in 2009 or we could miss them altogether. I don't see us as being one player away from a championship run, either. We don't have a starting center who can bang with the Jacksons and Leslies or step out to the elbow to cover the Wauters types. We have major issues at back-up PG (Franklin doesn't cut it, folks) considering our starting point guard will be 35 years old in September. We don't have a true perimeter player who can create her own shot AND guard her position. We're still vulnerable to Phoenix, San Antonio, and even Minnesota in the West based on that. We are a LONG way from where we need to be as contenders in the West. We are most definitely pretenders at this point. I would not be surprised to see us on the outside looking in come playoff time. If we do make it, then all the glory must go to our coach and the players for overcoming their overwhelming weaknesses.

 

[samq]

Let's face it, I doubt we'll ever land a top FA or land someone great via trade...so the only way we are going to get better is via draft picks. And being a fringe playoff team aint gonna cut it out. Monica Wright or Epiphany Prince would look great in purple. We only have Ticha maybe for another 2 or 3 years...

Any decent European players we can lure out? Does San Antonio still hold the rights to Agnieszka Bibrzycka? Though, I doubt she'll come over, and if she does, she'll actually be a great fit back in San Antonio.

A post to maybe consider is Yelena Leuchanka. If she does come over, the Dream will probably waive her due to having to many players/cap issues. I wouldn't mind giving her a shot, she seems to have improved from what I saw from the Olympics (averaged 13/10) and in Euroleague/Russia last year. Unfortunately, haven't been able to see her this year in UMMC, and she's only putting up okay-ish numbers (5/5 in 13 mins) but she is on a stacked team (with Deanna Nolan, Cappie Pondexter, Asjha Jones, Maria Stepanova, Sandrine Gruda, Penny Taylor, Bibrzycka, etc). Just throwing out some ideas since I highly doubt Whiz will nab us a big free agents.

 

[StevenHW]

...4. I don't know what to think about Phoenix, but they sure could never get it together when they had every motivation to do so...

From what I gather, Penny Taylor will not be back with Phoenix.

There has also been some talk that the Australian women's pro b-ball league is considering a summertime schedule in a few years, which could largely conflict with the WNBA schedule. If that goes through, we could see less Aussie players in the WNBA.

 

[MamaBristow]

January 20

The Sacramento Monarchs re-signed free agent Ticha Penicheiro.

source

 

[GeorgeofSacramento]

january 20

The Sacramento Monarchs Re-signed Free Agent ticha Penicheiro.

source

Nice to have a veteran anchoring the lineup.

 

[6th]

January 20

The Sacramento Monarchs re-signed free agent Ticha Penicheiro.

source

Thanks for sharing that, Mama! Ticha, our incomparable floor general was the most important FA to get signed, IMO. Others do not, single-handedly, have the same impact on this team.

 

[NothinButHoops]

Sweet TP21 is back!


Bring It SacTown!

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

3. Seattle won't have Lauren Jackson, but they have a decent enough coach who can get the most out of his players. I believe they beat us once without Lauren Jackson in the line-up last season. They'll be down but not out.

Wait a half: I know I'm late to the party and all, but wasn't Lauren Jackson all, like, "I won't play in any city but Seattle" last year? What happened in the last twelve months that she went from that to might sign with Detroit?

 

[NothinButHoops]

Lauren Jackson going to The Shock is like Yo going to Seattle
Things that make you wanna say whatever!

 

[Purple Reign]

Looks Like it is Close to Being Official

http://www.courant.com/sports/basketball/sun/hcu-wbnarosterreduce-0128,0,4626995.story

Rosters will be paired down to 11. WOW!!! I guess either there will be 11 active players, and if a player gets injured, too bad so sad or......

The active roster will be 10 with one reserve. I hope for that option. Here is my revised 11:

2009 Sacramento Monarchs
Ticha Penichiero
Kara Lawson
Rebekkah Brunson
DeMya Walker
Nicole Powell
Hamchetou Maiga Ba
Crystal Kelly
Laura Harper
1st Round Draft Pick - Point Guard or Swing Player
Charel Allen/Scholanda Robinson/Chelsea Newton/Miao
ONE FREE AGENT PICK UP - Point Guard or Swing Player (and if you can't find a free agent, keep Allen)

 

[Den-Den]

http://www.courant.com/sports/basketball/sun/hcu-wbnarosterreduce-0128,0,4626995.story

Rosters will be paired down to 11. WOW!!! I guess either there will be 11 active players, and if a player gets injured, too bad so sad or......

The active roster will be 10 with one reserve. I hope for that option. Here is my revised 11:

2009 Sacramento Monarchs
Ticha Penichiero
Kara Lawson
Rebekkah Brunson
DeMya Walker
Nicole Powell
Hamchetou Maiga Ba
Crystal Kelly
Laura Harper
1st Round Draft Pick - Point Guard or Swing Player
Charel Allen/Scholanda Robinson/Chelsea Newton/Miao
ONE FREE AGENT PICK UP - Point Guard or Swing Player (and if you can't find a free agent, keep Allen)

I think you are right on the $$$ with this list. Keeping my fingers & toes crossed that they are all healthy.

 

[NothinButHoops]

K-LAW will be back....at the celebrity game...smile

 

[creative one]

http://www.courant.com/sports/basketball/sun/hcu-wbnarosterreduce-0128,0,4626995.story

Rosters will be paired down to 11. WOW!!! I guess either there will be 11 active players, and if a player gets injured, too bad so sad or......

The active roster will be 10 with one reserve. I hope for that option. Here is my revised 11:

2009 Sacramento Monarchs
Ticha Penichiero
Kara Lawson
Rebekkah Brunson
DeMya Walker
Nicole Powell
Hamchetou Maiga Ba
Crystal Kelly
Laura Harper
1st Round Draft Pick - Point Guard or Swing Player
Charel Allen/Scholanda Robinson/Chelsea Newton/Miao
ONE FREE AGENT PICK UP - Point Guard or Swing Player (and if you can't find a free agent, keep Allen)

It seems so simple, so why doesn't the GM get it?