Maiga Ba Back??? -- EDIT: Maïga-Ba is Back!
- Thread starter Den-Den
- Start date
Training camp will be VERY interesting this year...
Monty'sBiggestFan
Starter
That person is usually pretty reliable and is inside enough to know what's happening with all of the free agents.
To me this was set up when Newton was only signed to a training camp contract. Only reason go that route that I could see was because they had a free agent salary coming in.
If the M's keep their first round pick (and she doesn't go jack nuts like everybody who I'd like to see does) I'd move chips away from Coleman or anybody like a PF/C being the pick, but I'd see the Monarchs taking a guard...Shavonte Zellous would be a nice fit. (Glad to see others coming around to that conclusion as well
)
I don't think Whiz signs Maio if he thought Camino was coming over, but that could still happen.
Training camp will indeed be fun....
To me this was set up when Newton was only signed to a training camp contract. Only reason go that route that I could see was because they had a free agent salary coming in.
If the M's keep their first round pick (and she doesn't go jack nuts like everybody who I'd like to see does) I'd move chips away from Coleman or anybody like a PF/C being the pick, but I'd see the Monarchs taking a guard...Shavonte Zellous would be a nice fit. (Glad to see others coming around to that conclusion as well
) I don't think Whiz signs Maio if he thought Camino was coming over, but that could still happen.
Training camp will indeed be fun....
Purple Reign
Starter
It has also been said over there that Tina Thompson was going to sign with Los Angeles, that has not happened yet. Not saying that these things won't happen but I can wait.
As far as Maiga-Ba, I think that she will be a welcome addition back to this team, especially on the defensive end. Her length is something that the Monarchs lack. So if she does come back, and if I am the GM my roster looks like this:
PG: Ticha/OPEN
SG: Lawson/Robinson or Newton (the other will not be on the roster)
SF: Powell/Maiga-Ba
PF: Walker/Kelly
C: Brunson/Harper
Bench/Reserves - Allen, Miao, 1st Round Draft Pick
Notes: This team is a playoff contender in a "weaker" Western Conference. My suggestion is to not bring back Franklin unless she has improved her ability to run a half court set; she can run, but she seems lost when the offense slows down. The Monarchs must sign a veteran shooting guard with Kara as the backup point, or a point guard allowing Kara to exclusively be the 2 and draft the best player available regardless of position.
The key to the season though is getting back to championship defense, and that only happens within.
As far as Maiga-Ba, I think that she will be a welcome addition back to this team, especially on the defensive end. Her length is something that the Monarchs lack. So if she does come back, and if I am the GM my roster looks like this:
PG: Ticha/OPEN
SG: Lawson/Robinson or Newton (the other will not be on the roster)
SF: Powell/Maiga-Ba
PF: Walker/Kelly
C: Brunson/Harper
Bench/Reserves - Allen, Miao, 1st Round Draft Pick
Notes: This team is a playoff contender in a "weaker" Western Conference. My suggestion is to not bring back Franklin unless she has improved her ability to run a half court set; she can run, but she seems lost when the offense slows down. The Monarchs must sign a veteran shooting guard with Kara as the backup point, or a point guard allowing Kara to exclusively be the 2 and draft the best player available regardless of position.
The key to the season though is getting back to championship defense, and that only happens within.
GeorgeofSacramento
Bench
Maiga's back!
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:13:12 -0800 1 of 616
From: Rachel Askin <raskin@arcoarena.com>
Subject: HAMCHÉTOU MAÏGA-BA RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Rachel Askin
916.928.3624
Hamchétou Maïga-Ba RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
Former Monarchs guard-forward reunites with teammates from the 2005 WNBA Championship team
SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Jan. 29, 2009 – The Sacramento Monarchs today announced the signing of guard-forward Hamchétou Maïga-Ba as well as the re-signing of team veterans Chelsea Newton, Ticha Penicheiro and DeMya Walker. Per company policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
These signees will join current Monarchs Rebekkah Brunson (a 2007 WNBA All-Star), Kara Lawson (a 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist), Nicole Powell (the 2005 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year), Charel Allen, A’Quonesia Franklin, Laura Harper, Crystal Kelly, Scholanda Robinson and Kim Smith at Training Camp.
“With the signing of Maïga, we have what I think is the final piece of our puzzle to put us in a position to be a playoff team for the seventh year in a row and to be successful overall in 2009,” said Sacramento Monarchs General Manager John Whisenant. “We already have the two best three-point shooters in Kara Lawson and Nicole Powell, and with the signing of Ticha Penicheiro, we have the WNBA all-time leader in assists.”
Maïga-Ba was selected by Sacramento in the first round (12th overall) of the 2002 WNBA Draft and helped the Monarchs win the league title in 2005 by averaging 3.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game during the playoffs. She signed as a free agent with Houston on March 13, 2007. Last season, Maïga-Ba started in 22 of 26 games played for the Comets and averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.7 minutes per game. Maïga-Ba also represented her native country of Mali in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Sacramento signed her as an unrestricted free agent following the Houston Comets Dispersal Draft on Dec. 8, 2008.
Newton, a second round selection (22nd overall) by Sacramento in the 2005 WNBA Draft, started every game for the Monarchs in her first year in the league. She finished third on the team in steals (55), fourth in offensive rebounds (32), fifth in minutes (715) and seventh in scoring (148; 4.4 per game). Newton was recognized on the WNBA All-Rookie Team that year and earned WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2007. In 2008, Newton played in 26 games for the Monarchs while recovering from an ankle injury; she averaged 4.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 15.1 minutes per game as she helped Sacramento reach the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
Hamchétou Maïga-Ba RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO MONARCHS – page 2
“Chelsea had off-season ankle surgery to take care of a very painful injury; she is a defensive stopper at the one, two or three position and with the signing of Maïga, we get another defensive stopper with more length who can guard the two, three or four positions. Maïga and Chelsea give us the versatility that we need to be a top team in all facets of the game,” said Whisenant.
As a long-time Monarchs veteran, Penicheiro has been recognized multiple times for her prowess on the court. Following the 1998 season, her first in the WNBA, Penicheiro finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting after leading the league in assists (7.5 per game) and minutes (36.0 per game) and finishing fourth in steals (2.23 per game). Penicheiro went on to be recognized as a WNBA All-Star from 1999-2002 in addition to being named to the All-WNBA First Team in 1999 and 2000 and the second team in 2001. In 2003, she earned both the Cascade Dish & Assist award and the Off-Season Community Assist award; then, in 2006, Penicheiro was honored with WNBA All-Decade Honorable Mention accolades as well as a place on the Sacramento Monarchs All-Decade Team. During the 2008 season, Penicheiro reached 2,000 career assists as well as 650 career steals as she continued to solidify her status as the all-time WNBA leader in both categories. Additionally, she tallied her 10,000th minute and currently is fifth all-time in the league in minutes played (10,181).
On May 15, 2008, Sacramento requested waivers on Walker after she suffered a right knee patella fracture on April 27, 2008, while playing with her team, Nadezhda, located in Orenburg, Russia. She underwent successful surgery on May 2, 2008, under the care of Monarchs Team Doctor Richard Marder and Sacramento re-signed her as an unrestricted free agent on July 21, 2008. Through nine WNBA seasons, Walker has played in 207 games and averaged 20.6 minutes, 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Additionally, she was a 2005 WNBA All-Star selection and was an integral part of the Monarchs 2005 WNBA Championship team.
“Rebekkah, along with DeMya who has been rehabbing her knee to full-strength, gives us more inside scoring and rebounding,” said Whisenant. “Also, Head Coach Jenny Boucek now has two years of WNBA head coaching experience under her belt and with her veteran assistants, we have all the ingredients to compete for the WNBA Championship. I’m excited, our owners are excited and I think our fans should be excited. We are looking forward to a good summer.”
Expect Great Basketball this summer at ARCO Arena! Flexible and affordable ticket plans are on sale now, with individual tickets starting at just $10. To buy tickets or for more information, please visit SacramentoMonarchs.com.
-WNBA-
Rachel Askin | Monarchs Media Relations and Marketing Coordinator | v. 916 928-3624 | f. 916 928-0727 | raskin@arcoarena.com
Maloof Sports & Entertainment | One Sports Parkway | Sacramento, CA 95834 | www.arcoarena.com
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:13:12 -0800 1 of 616
From: Rachel Askin <raskin@arcoarena.com>
Subject: HAMCHÉTOU MAÏGA-BA RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Rachel Askin
916.928.3624
Hamchétou Maïga-Ba RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
Former Monarchs guard-forward reunites with teammates from the 2005 WNBA Championship team
SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Jan. 29, 2009 – The Sacramento Monarchs today announced the signing of guard-forward Hamchétou Maïga-Ba as well as the re-signing of team veterans Chelsea Newton, Ticha Penicheiro and DeMya Walker. Per company policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
These signees will join current Monarchs Rebekkah Brunson (a 2007 WNBA All-Star), Kara Lawson (a 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist), Nicole Powell (the 2005 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year), Charel Allen, A’Quonesia Franklin, Laura Harper, Crystal Kelly, Scholanda Robinson and Kim Smith at Training Camp.
“With the signing of Maïga, we have what I think is the final piece of our puzzle to put us in a position to be a playoff team for the seventh year in a row and to be successful overall in 2009,” said Sacramento Monarchs General Manager John Whisenant. “We already have the two best three-point shooters in Kara Lawson and Nicole Powell, and with the signing of Ticha Penicheiro, we have the WNBA all-time leader in assists.”
Maïga-Ba was selected by Sacramento in the first round (12th overall) of the 2002 WNBA Draft and helped the Monarchs win the league title in 2005 by averaging 3.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game during the playoffs. She signed as a free agent with Houston on March 13, 2007. Last season, Maïga-Ba started in 22 of 26 games played for the Comets and averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.7 minutes per game. Maïga-Ba also represented her native country of Mali in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Sacramento signed her as an unrestricted free agent following the Houston Comets Dispersal Draft on Dec. 8, 2008.
Newton, a second round selection (22nd overall) by Sacramento in the 2005 WNBA Draft, started every game for the Monarchs in her first year in the league. She finished third on the team in steals (55), fourth in offensive rebounds (32), fifth in minutes (715) and seventh in scoring (148; 4.4 per game). Newton was recognized on the WNBA All-Rookie Team that year and earned WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2007. In 2008, Newton played in 26 games for the Monarchs while recovering from an ankle injury; she averaged 4.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 15.1 minutes per game as she helped Sacramento reach the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
Hamchétou Maïga-Ba RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO MONARCHS – page 2
“Chelsea had off-season ankle surgery to take care of a very painful injury; she is a defensive stopper at the one, two or three position and with the signing of Maïga, we get another defensive stopper with more length who can guard the two, three or four positions. Maïga and Chelsea give us the versatility that we need to be a top team in all facets of the game,” said Whisenant.
As a long-time Monarchs veteran, Penicheiro has been recognized multiple times for her prowess on the court. Following the 1998 season, her first in the WNBA, Penicheiro finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting after leading the league in assists (7.5 per game) and minutes (36.0 per game) and finishing fourth in steals (2.23 per game). Penicheiro went on to be recognized as a WNBA All-Star from 1999-2002 in addition to being named to the All-WNBA First Team in 1999 and 2000 and the second team in 2001. In 2003, she earned both the Cascade Dish & Assist award and the Off-Season Community Assist award; then, in 2006, Penicheiro was honored with WNBA All-Decade Honorable Mention accolades as well as a place on the Sacramento Monarchs All-Decade Team. During the 2008 season, Penicheiro reached 2,000 career assists as well as 650 career steals as she continued to solidify her status as the all-time WNBA leader in both categories. Additionally, she tallied her 10,000th minute and currently is fifth all-time in the league in minutes played (10,181).
On May 15, 2008, Sacramento requested waivers on Walker after she suffered a right knee patella fracture on April 27, 2008, while playing with her team, Nadezhda, located in Orenburg, Russia. She underwent successful surgery on May 2, 2008, under the care of Monarchs Team Doctor Richard Marder and Sacramento re-signed her as an unrestricted free agent on July 21, 2008. Through nine WNBA seasons, Walker has played in 207 games and averaged 20.6 minutes, 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Additionally, she was a 2005 WNBA All-Star selection and was an integral part of the Monarchs 2005 WNBA Championship team.
“Rebekkah, along with DeMya who has been rehabbing her knee to full-strength, gives us more inside scoring and rebounding,” said Whisenant. “Also, Head Coach Jenny Boucek now has two years of WNBA head coaching experience under her belt and with her veteran assistants, we have all the ingredients to compete for the WNBA Championship. I’m excited, our owners are excited and I think our fans should be excited. We are looking forward to a good summer.”
Expect Great Basketball this summer at ARCO Arena! Flexible and affordable ticket plans are on sale now, with individual tickets starting at just $10. To buy tickets or for more information, please visit SacramentoMonarchs.com.
-WNBA-
Rachel Askin | Monarchs Media Relations and Marketing Coordinator | v. 916 928-3624 | f. 916 928-0727 | raskin@arcoarena.com
Maloof Sports & Entertainment | One Sports Parkway | Sacramento, CA 95834 | www.arcoarena.com
Ok. per the .com website, it's official--Tanty's back:
http://www.wnba.com/monarchs/news/maiga_returns_to_sacramento021009.html
Interesting interview with Whiz--makes it sound like this is the last piece of the puzzle...
Can't wait to read the comments
http://www.wnba.com/monarchs/news/maiga_returns_to_sacramento021009.html
Interesting interview with Whiz--makes it sound like this is the last piece of the puzzle...
Can't wait to read the comments
Now only if we could get Erin back...
While I do believe that the starting spot is Nicole's to keep at the start of the season, I think Maiga can definitely push Nicole.
Also, while I do wish that we could get a couple FA's in, I feel that this is it. I don't think anything else is going to happen. Take that as you will.
While I do believe that the starting spot is Nicole's to keep at the start of the season, I think Maiga can definitely push Nicole.
Also, while I do wish that we could get a couple FA's in, I feel that this is it. I don't think anything else is going to happen. Take that as you will.
StevenHW
Starter
I think you're right. I cannot imagine Lauren Jackson, Sheryl Swoopes, or Tina Thompson would be coming here. Besides Sheryl is too old and barely hanging to what's left of her playing career. The fact that she was waived just about says it all.
A reliable source on RebKell also said that Yo Griffith may be signing with an Eastern Conference team. I'm guessing it would be her hometown Chicago Sky. But, personally, I think Yo should just retire before she injures herself any further.
Betty Lennox might be too much of a gamble.
Svetlana Abrosimova, perhaps?
Anyhow, back on the topic, I think getting Maiga-Ba back is not bad. It makes the Monarchs only marginally better than before. But just marginal.
Monty'sBiggestFan
Starter
Maiga improves the Monarchs on their perimeter defense, which at times the last two seasons has been abysmal. That's not marginal, it's not significant, but it's not marginal.
Where the significant improvement will come from is getting their two starting post players on the floor..together...for significant minutes...and having them be productive on both sides of the ball. That's where they will see the significant improvement over the last two seasons. Harper and Kelly should be better than they were last season.
That...and one more scorer at the 2 slot and and who can also passably defend is all I see them needing right now. I don't see how that someone can be Lennox unless she is willing to play less minutes. Somehow, I don't see that.
Where the significant improvement will come from is getting their two starting post players on the floor..together...for significant minutes...and having them be productive on both sides of the ball. That's where they will see the significant improvement over the last two seasons. Harper and Kelly should be better than they were last season.
That...and one more scorer at the 2 slot and and who can also passably defend is all I see them needing right now. I don't see how that someone can be Lennox unless she is willing to play less minutes. Somehow, I don't see that.
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