Valkyrie expansion draft: rules and speculation

[MrDollarBills]

Mitchell to the Sun would be pretty sick. She definitely seems like she'd be the missing piece

Lowkey, a DJ for Mitchell swap would be really good for both teams.

A Clark/Carrington backcourt would be a serious problem but the Fever would then only have CC and Boston as their only reliable bucket getters. They need to upgrade either at 3 or 4.

I'd also love to see it because people's heads would explode

[MrDollarBills]

Her Hoop Stat podcast had a solid breakdown.

Particularly understanding the free-agent/previously cored rules

For instance, the Sun likely don't need to protect Bonner or Jones as free agents that have already been cored twice.

If I'm understanding correctly, they could take them, but it would be pointless. They can't be cored again, and would thus still be free agents.

The Storm also are in a similar situation where they can basically protect 8 players.

Also, for any other newbies like me. Cored is basically the same as a franchise tag.

I still don't understand how UFAs are even eligible to be drafted.

[DOT]

Mitchell to the Sun would be pretty sick. She definitely seems like she'd be the missing piece

Lowkey, a DJ for Mitchell swap would be really good for both teams.

A Clark/Carrington backcourt would be a serious problem but the Fever would then only have CC and Boston as their only reliable bucket getters. They need to upgrade either at 3 or 4.

I'd also love to see it because people's heads would explode

Yeah, I just think it's a better fit for both sides

Dudes would be calling for Secret Service protection for Clark though

[cdubbz]

Her Hoop Stat podcast had a solid breakdown.

Particularly understanding the free-agent/previously cored rules

For instance, the Sun likely don't need to protect Bonner or Jones as free agents that have already been cored twice.

If I'm understanding correctly, they could take them, but it would be pointless. They can't be cored again, and would thus still be free agents.

The Storm also are in a similar situation where they can basically protect 8 players.

Also, for any other newbies like me. Cored is basically the same as a franchise tag.

Yeah that loophole kind of stinks for the Valkyries. I didn't know about Jones/Bonner not being able to be cored again as well as Nnekka. Storm & Sun can protect deeper into their roster doesn't help the Valkyries.

I can see the Valkyries just pass on drafting from some teams unless there are trades to be made with some of the players.

[DOT]

Yeah that loophole kind of stinks for the Valkyries. I didn't know about Jones/Bonner not being able to be cored again as well as Nnekka. Storm & Sun can protect deeper into their roster doesn't help the Valkyries.

I can see the Valkyries just pass on drafting from some teams unless there are trades to be made with some of the players.

The Sun are interesting specifically because not only that, but we have 2 big expirings in Tiffany Mitchell and Astou Ndour-Fall who are already out of the rotation

Meaning the Sun can protect AT, Mabrey, Ty Harris, DJ, Ododa, and even Veronica Burton, then with Jones and Bonner being unpickable, the Valkyrie have to either pick one of the two UFAs in Mitchell and Ndour-Fall, or one of our deep bench players in Caitlin Bickle or Celeste Taylor

Essentially, the Sun won't lose anyone to the expansion draft that was getting any kind of minutes. Bonner, AT, and Jones are all UFAs so they can leave in free agency, but the Sun have enough cap to retain all of them if they want to come back.

[cdubbz]

Yeah that loophole kind of stinks for the Valkyries. I didn't know about Jones/Bonner not being able to be cored again as well as Nnekka. Storm & Sun can protect deeper into their roster doesn't help the Valkyries.

I can see the Valkyries just pass on drafting from some teams unless there are trades to be made with some of the players.

The Sun are interesting specifically because not only that, but we have 2 big expirings in Tiffany Mitchell and Astou Ndour-Fall who are already out of the rotation

Meaning the Sun can protect AT, Mabrey, Ty Harris, DJ, Ododa, and even Veronica Burton, then with Jones and Bonner being unpickable, the Valkyrie have to either pick one of the two UFAs in Mitchell and Ndour-Fall, or one of our deep bench players in Caitlin Bickle or Celeste Taylor

Essentially, the Sun won't lose anyone to the expansion draft that was getting any kind of minutes. Bonner, AT, and Jones are all UFAs so they can leave in free agency, but the Sun have enough cap to retain all of them if they want to come back.

That is good news for Sun fans. I had real high hopes for Burton real early into the season on becoming a Valkyrie, but she showed out this season and playoffs.

[cdubbz]

Valkyries hired their head coach! Natalie Nakase the assistant coach from Aces and formerly Clippers!

[MrDollarBills]

Valkyries hired their head coach! Natalie Nakase the assistant coach from Aces and formerly Clippers!

Read on Twitter

Groundbreaker!!! Good luck to Natalie!!!

[DonaldSanders]

Seems like with these rules & where they are likely to pick (what 5th or later?) the Valks will stink for like 3 years minimum. Oof.

Any chance of a good free agent being wooed like Kelsey Plum? I don't know the salary cap rules but wouldn't be surprised if ownership is willing to overpay for at least one well known player.

[Sealab2024]

I always feel like an expansion team should hire a grizzled old coach who's philosophy is "they're gonna run in practice until defense sounds like fun". You're not gonna win from a practical standpoint, but if you play as hard as you can and defend you'll win 15-18 games and set the standard a bit higher for the organization from the beginning.

[hermes]

Seems like with these rules & where they are likely to pick (what 5th or later?) the Valks will stink for like 3 years minimum. Oof.

Any chance of a good free agent being wooed like Kelsey Plum? I don't know the salary cap rules but wouldn't be surprised if ownership is willing to overpay for at least one well known player.

might end up in a position to get watkins in a few years if they are bad for a while

[cdubbz]

The Valkyries are consistent on talking about being a good team right away lol. I know that's what they need to say and it excites the fans, but i really hope they are smart and just build through the draft. Unless they have a master plan of landing free agents and not getting many expansion draft players

[zike_42]

I'm bumping this as the expansion draft is only a couple of days away. Has there been any chatter about who is unprotected or who the GSV will pick?

[Green Chile]

Her Hoop Stats has a really comprehensive breakdown with predictions.

https://herhoopstats.substack.com/p/2024-wnba-expansion-draft-projected-lists-valkyries-picks

[MrDollarBills]

The draft picks are set to be announced!

I'm interested to learn more about Natalie Nakase as a coach

[MrDollarBills]

Veronica Burton

Carla Leite

Eliana Rupert

Maria Conde

First four players announced.

[wojoaderge]

Maria Conde

Phew!

[MrDollarBills]

Temi Fagbenle

Kate Martin!!!!!!

Stephanie Talbot

Cecilia Zandalasini

Shocking pick with Temi

[MrDollarBills]

Caitlin has to be kinda pissed that she lost Temi. Kinda weird that Indiana didn't protect her

Kate Martin is probably sad having to leave Vegas but she will be better off developing on a younger team that she can get big mins with

[Green Chile]

Now it gets interesting.

I am a little disappointed that Golden State picked someone to announce the names that clearly had never heard of any of these human beings before.