With the Number #1 Pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft, the Sacramento Monarchs Select.....

[Purple Reign]

Unofficial of course. But after tonight, in my mind the Monarchs are on the clock. Not giving up, not throwing in the towel, but chalking this season up as a non-playoff season that has a great chance to get the Number 1 pick for the first time in franchise history. The very first objective either through the draft or free agency is to address the point guard position. It is as bad as it has ever been in the 13 year history of the franchise. 'Nough said.

Some of my thoughts on tonight's game:

A. You just can shoot in the low 30 percent range and expect to win anything.

B. Courtney Paris missed a gimme layup layup with Seattle leading 51-46; from that point on, Seattle completely dominated. Then it went TURNOVER, MISS, MISS, TURNOVER, MISS, Seattle up 60-46...Game Over.

C. Laura Harper has lost her minutes, and I am not quite sure why.

D. Monarchs got pounded on the boards. Only 4 Offensive Rebounds and limited second chance opportunities.

E. Lastly, Nicole Powell played extremely hard. But at the end because Seattle paid so much attention to her, her hard play turned into extreme frustration.

F. Ticha looked very old on both sides of the floor. I hope it gets better for her. But she is as bad this season as she was good last season. Injuries or no injuries.

 

[RDub21]

No LJ and we still can't beat the Storm? Geez, can it get any worse? (knock on wood). I agree the point guard is and should be the main concern with the draft, but are Prince or Wright capable of playing point? Maybe Whiz should see with Coach Mo wants some PT

 

[mdme]

PR....

A. I'm sure you meant: you just CAN'T shoot 30% and expect to win anything

B. Yeah, I felt bad too, (especially since I had her for my POC lst night). She looked tired. I wish the M's would look more for her.

C. She's the least capable big we have IMO. Her mechanics are awkward. Not particularly good on offense. average at D. I would rather have CP play her minutes so she can develop faster.

D. No Bek? Dwalk not as good as before. CP tired at the end.

E. until we have viable alternative options, this will continue to happen

F. Agree.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I'll take a stab at this thread

A. Actually you might be able to pull it off if (a) you're rebounding more than the other team and (b) not turning the ball over and (c) not allowing the other team to shoot near 70%. I don't care which combination they pick, but they gotta pick 2 of those. What you simply CAN'T do is try to shoot under 30 and win...ever.

B. Paris had a lot of help in the 4th not doing stuff. They could have taken some mo into the 4th if perhaps they didn't turn the ball over on their next possession on an O-foul after Kara tied the game. The "steal" and "turnover" part of the rundown is crucial.

C. Agree with others here. I could see why Harper's lost minutes. Harper started the season well but has not played consistent since maybe the first week or so if the season, if that long. THAT I don't understand. She only played last night I think because Brunson couldn't. Otherwise I'm not sure you would have seen her at all. It's going to be a battle to see who plays between her and Kelly. Kelly at least can get to the free throw line. But she doesn't even seem to have done that consistently this season either. Whiz does not intend to play all 11 of them in a game.

D. THAT was weird. If you'da told me I'd see that last night I would have told you you were crazy. Did not see that differential coming at all. With or without Brunson. They got outrebounded by more than just Brunson's typical production.

E. Would have been nice if Nicole had somebody else hit the broadside of the barn last night. If she was getting that much attention in the fourth, somebody else had to hit shots, not just take them because I remember other people taking them. Just not hitting them. Oh, and the rebounding thing came back and bit them in the fourth because of it.

F. She was a step off last night for sure. The whack in the face late I'm sure isn't going to help.

Re: Wright and Prince as point guards. No and No. And even if you could squeeze pg minutes out of them, not sure why you would want to. They are scorers and I'll be doggone if I want to have a scorer trying to worry about getting other people shots next season. Haven't we seen enough of that? When the ball touches a shooter's hand I want it shot. Period. It should already be the case now, but I guess habits are hard to break.

 

[samq]

Prince, I think needs the ball in her hand to be really effective. Didn't she also play some PG this year at Rutgers? Either way, if we draft her (I, personally prefer Wright, but thats another story), I'm perfectly fine with her playing spot minutes at PG.

 

[Purple Reign]

Prince, I think needs the ball in her hand to be really effective. Didn't she also play some PG this year at Rutgers? Either way, if we draft her (I, personally prefer Wright, but thats another story), I'm perfectly fine with her playing spot minutes at PG.

I don't know anything about Wright. I would not mind Prince at all. BUT with either I would like for Whisnant to somehow acquire a true point guard with a jump shot. There are enough assets on this team to trade and/or release to acquire cap space to get a point guard. The only untouchables that I would consider the core of this franchise's future are Paris, Brunson, Maiga Ba and MAYBE Powell. Everybody else right now is expendable.

NOTE: I would like to personally extend a formal apology to Monarch Nation. I vehemently defended this roster at the beginning of the season, believing that the veteran-ship talent of this group could compete for a championship. That what was in them in 2005 (the defense and offensive execution) was still in them now. I was wrong. This team has completely floored me. I am not ready to blow it up, but I am ready to turn the page and begin to move past 2005. I am ready to see some players that can play in this modern WNBA (athletic, offensively skilled, defensively minded) I hope the Monarchs Organization feels the same way.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

The only reason Prince played point @ Rutgers this past season was because none of the pg CVS recruited in the last 2 years wanted to stake their claim to the job or get out of her doghouse. That wasn't the plan and it didn't make Rutgers better during the stretch that she was running it. Rushdan eventually won the job back and order was restored.

I'm not ready to jump off the roster yet. They are floating in between two systems right now. Somebody out of the Newton, Robinson, Penicheiro trio HAS to start scoring more than 0-5 points soon. Perferrably two of them. An upgrade is going to come there.

Relatedly, the one criticism of this roster I did have coming into the draft, on draft day and coming out of camp still stands tho. I never backed off it.

 

[Luv13fan]

If we get THE UNO... (and based on past drafts I am not convinced we will), has anyone considered doing a Draft Day trade? I mean that is the beauty of possibly getting a High draft pick right??

I don't have the time to ponder it this second but I wanted to put it out there.

Secondly, PR, no need to apologize. I admire your conviction. In many ways I wish I was more committed. It was just too difficult to see past things that were glaring deficiencies IMO. I wish I had been wrong. As individuals I think the players on this ball club can contribute in the league. In this particular collective I think it is difficult. Like I have stated, it is all in the way you assemble a ball club. Building on player’s strengths and weaknesses. But they are playing somewhat better, even tho it is not translating into Wins and or More buckets.

Truthfully I think People are playing for jobs now. If not for us, than for another franchise.
Jobs... Did I say jobs?? I meant Pride.
I haven't given up on a possible play-off run. Truthfully I think this team will show better in the next week or so. And they will be fun to watch. Seattle and PHO will be so glad they won't have to face them again. The only thing is will they have enough time once the ship gets right.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

There has to be consideration of a trade at some point, because the two guards may not be the presumptive BPA. Your trading partner has to have something you need and want that they'd be willing to part with to get perhaps a Charles or Appel.

I'll get into this further at the end of the season tho.

 

[Purple Reign]

Does anybody know the educational status of Maya Moore? I know that she is going into her Junior season. Is she in a position based on elgibility or class credits to be elgible for the 2010 Draft?

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I don't know what her credit situation is. But I'm quite sure if she were close enough to be part of the next draft class, someone would know and have shouted that from the rooftops by now.

 

[Luv13fan]

Maya Moore????


Well as far as Maya Moore is concerned... I think we will have to wait.

I think we are about 10 years away from having players come out early and foregoing eligibility. Technically Parker didn't come out early she red-shirted. And she graduated.
I think any player that has a shot at a title will stay. The Prince situation I think will be the exception and not the rule. And if players Come out early my guess is that they will go the Euro- route rather than come out to the WNBA.

Now that I have had time to process the notion of not making the play-offs a few things come to mind.

If We get 4th pick or lower I would seriously consider swapping the pick for a vet and a second round pick. Ala SASS in 07 Hammon for Jessica Davenport #2 pick in the draft.

If we get 2 or 3... Depending on who drafts what... I potentially trade the pick or potentially keep it.

If We get THE UNO... Well to me it is not all that cut and dry.
In one respect Prince is an exciting prospect. She can create scoring opportunities and is explosive.

OTOH... You can Draft Appel or Charles. I like them both. I love Big Jayne However; if the draft was tomorrow and I had to choose... I would take Charles. But that is subject to change.

Here is the real issue. We have to decide what we are lacking/looking for. I think we can all agree that we need a dynamic scorer from the wing. We also need a point guard who can score.
If you draft a guard you can only fill one of your needs. If you draft a Post your Trade Options increase dramatically.

So the next thing is who are you willing to part with?

Right now IMO there is no one on this team that is untouchable. No one.

Then you have to decide who you are willing to let walk away, and who are you willing to trade. And what will you need to get back in return for that players loss. I think this is what people get caught up in trades. Trades are rarely equitable. Most of the time people give up something of greater value in return to fill a need.

And that is why drafting a post could be more beneficial to us. It makes everyone in the post expendable, and would net the best return on our trade value.

You can trade the pick for something valuable.
You can Trade Harper back east for something. She is 6'5.
You may even consider trading Bekkah for an All-star player. Washington is looking play-off Bound and they need a post Player. We could see who/what they are willing to give up to get her.
Okay here is my thing about Bekkah. I don't want to trade her. But if it gets us something we can use to make the overall team better than I am willing to take a look at it.

Players that can't seem to stay healthy, may be the first on my chopping block. And I know that is a bad thing to say. DeMya for example happens to be one of my favorite all time players. She has made it thus far and Knock on wood she makes it thru the rest of the season. But we are carrying way too many players that can't seem to stay healthy. And that ought to be a consideration if/when changes are made. Bekkah spent the better 1/2 of 2 seasons not being able to practice. Kara always seems to have some sort of injury that prevents her from being in camp/practice/ or in shape. Except for last year. Ticha is starting to have durability issues... DeMya enuf said.
It is one thing to have players injured during the season. It is a whole nother ball game to have players injured coming into camp.

Here is something else to consider.
MBF and I were talking when the coaching change was made. We thought if the M's went 14-7 the rest of the way they could possibly make the play-offs. So far we are 0-3. The door is not completely closed because it is possible however unlikely that the Monarchs can go on a 14-4 run. If we happen to get to Loss #8 before the trade deadline, Do we consider a trade now? What do we try to get if we do? More draft picks? A player?

More food Fot thought...