Valkyrie expansion draft: rules and speculation

[hermes]

the league released the rules on the draft




who do you think each team is going to protect?
what players might the valkyrie select from the pool?

[cupcakesnake]

Sounds like what was expected.

What I'm most curious about is: how will they adapt the rules to accomodate 2 teams the following year?

[MrDollarBills]

6 players. Yikes.

I can't complain because I want expansion, but jeez. I thought it would be like protect 8. 6 is half the damn team!!!

[cdubbz]

Sounds like what was expected.

What I'm most curious about is: how will they adapt the rules to accomodate 2 teams the following year?

Yeah seems crappy to have to compete with another expansion team for selecting players and also stinks for teams to lose 2 players.

[MrDollarBills]

Sounds like what was expected.

What I'm most curious about is: how will they adapt the rules to accomodate 2 teams the following year?

Yeah seems crappy to have to compete with another expansion team for selecting players and also stinks for teams to lose 2 players.

Isn't everyone literally a free agent the year after next? There's going to be a rule change

[cdubbz]

The protected players list won't be made public. Only the selected players will be notified. I was hoping they would make it public so the fans can have more fun with it and it would be more fun to watch on ESPN imo

[hermes]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Atlanta_Dream_season#Expansion_draft
the dream's expansion draft, they didn't take more than one player from a team

[cdubbz]

If I'm Valkyrie ownership my game plan would be a mix of:
- Draft as many defenders & shooters as possible.
- Draft young talent on rookie or cheap contracts
- Trades for future picks in future drafts
- TANK for the guaranteed 1st pick.
- Throw money out at 25-26 off season free agents

Players I like who likely wont get protected:
PG -Veronica Burton (Sun), Natisha Hiedeman (Lynx)Nika Muhl (Storm),
SG:
PF -Monique Billings (Mercury) Katie Lou (Fever)
C - Nyara Sabally (Liberty) Li Yueru (Sparks)

A lot harder since I don't know every deep bench player.

[MrDollarBills]

If I'm Valkyrie ownership my game plan would be a mix of:
- Draft as many defenders & shooters as possible.
- Draft young talent on rookie or cheap contracts
- Trades for future picks in future drafts
- TANK for the guaranteed 1st pick.
- Throw money out at 25-26 off season free agents

Players I like who likely wont get protected:
PG -Veronica Burton (Sun), Natisha Hiedeman (Lynx)Nika Muhl (Storm),
SG:
PF -Monique Billings (Mercury) Katie Lou (Fever)
C - Nyara Sabally (Liberty) Li Yueru (Sparks)

A lot harder since I don't know every deep bench player.

For Muhl this will be a blessing in disguise.

I don't want Nyara to go but with only 6 players to protect it's fairly easy to see who is staying and who is being put up for grabs

[cupcakesnake]

Could be interesting for the Lynx. If they wanted to protect the top 6 rotation players (Phee, Alanna, McBridge, Carlton, Courtney Williams, Hines-Allen) that would leave plenty of interesting young players to poach: Dorka, Diamond Miller, and Alissa Pilli.

I think only Myisha Hines-Allen is a free agent.

Diamond Miller was the 2nd overall pick a year ago. 6'3" guard who can really drive the ball, but has turnover and efficiency problems. She injured her knee overseas and needed surgery this season. Combine that with Bridget Carlton's breakout and there hasn't been space in the rotation. Team got good this year and had to put the Diamond project on the backburner.

Would they leave Diamond Miller or Pilli vulnerable to keep a vet?

[cdubbz]

If I'm Valkyrie ownership my game plan would be a mix of:
- Draft as many defenders & shooters as possible.
- Draft young talent on rookie or cheap contracts
- Trades for future picks in future drafts
- TANK for the guaranteed 1st pick.
- Throw money out at 25-26 off season free agents

Players I like who likely wont get protected:
PG -Veronica Burton (Sun), Natisha Hiedeman (Lynx)Nika Muhl (Storm),
SG:
PF -Monique Billings (Mercury) Katie Lou (Fever)
C - Nyara Sabally (Liberty) Li Yueru (Sparks)

A lot harder since I don't know every deep bench player.

For Muhl this will be a blessing in disguise.

I don't want Nyara to go but with only 6 players to protect it's fairly easy to see who is staying and who is being put up for grabs

When I was looking through rosters and doing mock expansion draft -- it's easy for me to get carried away and want a team full of 6-7 guards lol. I sometimes need to remember though that that is okay -- there's not huge height differences in the WNBA where a team can't run 3 guard lineups with 2 bigs or something like that.

[MrDollarBills]

If I'm Valkyrie ownership my game plan would be a mix of:
- Draft as many defenders & shooters as possible.
- Draft young talent on rookie or cheap contracts
- Trades for future picks in future drafts
- TANK for the guaranteed 1st pick.
- Throw money out at 25-26 off season free agents

Players I like who likely wont get protected:
PG -Veronica Burton (Sun), Natisha Hiedeman (Lynx)Nika Muhl (Storm),
SG:
PF -Monique Billings (Mercury) Katie Lou (Fever)
C - Nyara Sabally (Liberty) Li Yueru (Sparks)

A lot harder since I don't know every deep bench player.

For Muhl this will be a blessing in disguise.

I don't want Nyara to go but with only 6 players to protect it's fairly easy to see who is staying and who is being put up for grabs

When I was looking through rosters and doing mock expansion draft -- it's easy for me to get carried away and want a team full of 6-7 guards lol. I sometimes need to remember though that that is okay -- there's not huge height differences in the WNBA where a team can't run 3 guard lineups with 2 bigs or something like that.

Yeah it is okay, but definitely bigs are needed as we can see with how the final 4 has shaped up. Size matters

[hermes]

valkyrie probably wouldn't want to fill the roster with young players right? need a mix of veterans for some leadership/experience

[hermes]

Could be interesting for the Lynx. If they wanted to protect the top 6 rotation players (Phee, Alanna, McBridge, Carlton, Courtney Williams, Hines-Allen) that would leave plenty of interesting young players to poach: Dorka, Diamond Miller, and Alissa Pilli.

I think only Myisha Hines-Allen is a free agent.

Diamond Miller was the 2nd overall pick a year ago. 6'3" guard who can really drive the ball, but has turnover and efficiency problems. She injured her knee overseas and needed surgery this season. Combine that with Bridget Carlton's breakout and there hasn't been space in the rotation. Team got good this year and had to put the Diamond project on the backburner.

Would they leave Diamond Miller or Pilli vulnerable to keep a vet?

starting five are probably locks for protection

valkyrie can only pick one unrestricted free agent, so i wonder if teams gamble and not protect their free agents in the hope they don't get picked and you can just resign them and protect someone else

lynx have heideman and hines-allen expiring, if they don't protect those two then its probably dorka or zandalasini

[Green Chile]

Mystics are going to be interesting. For a lottery team that started 0-12, they are pretty deep.

If I had to guess, they protect Edwards, Sykes, Austin, Atkins, Dolson, and either Melbourne or Vanloo.

They've got a lot of solid players after that. Melbourne or Vanloo would be nice pieces (Melbourne is still the youngest player in the league). I swear Engstler is going to be really good one day (wouldn't be shocked if they protect her). Walker-Kimborough and Karlie could also maybe draw some interest from the Vals (is Vals what we're going with?). Kone has some potential too.

[Green Chile]

And I assume the Mystics aren't going to protect Elena Delle Donne............

[cdubbz]

And I assume the Mystics aren't going to protect Elena Delle Donne............

I don't see the point for them to do so - unless they agree to core and trade her to her team of choosing? Or they can just move on with their young core and let EDD move on without anything in return. EDD is still young - if she is healthy she can get a few more years at $200k + which is huge.

[cdubbz]

valkyrie probably wouldn't want to fill the roster with young players right? need a mix of veterans for some leadership/experience

I really wonder what the strategy is for Valkyries in year 1. I honestly don't see the point in trying to be competitive and put out a good product right away. I'd be happy watching a young group play for the first year.

[MrDollarBills]

Kayla Thornton is definitely getting drafted since the Valkyries will need a 3 and D wing.

This is gonna be painful. I can't lie.

[MrDollarBills]

valkyrie probably wouldn't want to fill the roster with young players right? need a mix of veterans for some leadership/experience

I really wonder what the strategy is for Valkyries in year 1. I honestly don't see the point in trying to be competitive and put out a good product right away. I'd be happy watching a young group play for the first year.

If we were go through each roster and protect their top 6 players, I have a feeling the draft talent pool might be better than we think.