So the Fever finally dumped Smith in a three way trade with Smith going to Dallas, Sabally to the Mercury, and the Fever getting Sophie Cunningham. Other players as well in the three way deal, and the Fever threw in their #8 pick and received the #19 pick along with Cunningham. Projected to play the 3 spot so either her or Hull starting with CC22, Boston, Howard, and Mitchell. At this point Smith is addition by subtraction, and they gained another solid vet who's a 37% shooter from three, and she made very positive comments about Clark last year, so a good fit I think....
More Fever moves
- Thread starter kceasthawk
- Start date
It's a year late, but the Fever look like they're finally figuring it out with a new coach and a significantly improved roster. Glad Smith is off to another city and that the Fever is building a team around CC. It should be a good year in Indy.
Here’s my theory, fwiw.
I think that Fever ownership took a calculated and deliberately guarded approach in how they initially managed the organization’s path forward after signing CC.
Hindsight is always 20:20, but looking back there really were no guarantees that CC would have immediate success, let alone play at an all-star level. Probably a bigger unknown was just how much the Clark Phenomenon would transfer over to the W. There were early indicators, sure, but just how long would the legions really stick around? Seriously, ask yourself if a year ago today you could have seen yourself shelling out money for the W League Pass, spending the summer glued to 40+ Fever games, buying Wilson signature balls, etc. Even a few games in I was wondering if I’d made a stupid mistake. So I think they wanted to see exactly what would transpire.
By the All Star break, there was no doubt that the Clark Phenomenon was here to stay, and was probably even bigger than anyone had guessed previously. Not long after the Olympics, it was clear that CC had already reached superstar status in terms of both performance and marketability. I think some time around then ownership made the decision to launch “Operation Full Speed Ahead.” All best case projections had been validated and then some. The organization was all in.
As fans, we were all frustrated by the lack of visible action, but in all honesty I don’t think that any substantive changes at that point would have made sense, particularly given who ultimately ended up as Sides’ replacement. For all we know, White may have been ownership’s target all along given her roots, and there may have even been behind the scenes conversations happening that nobody knew about.
The day before the Fever’s season ended, Krauskopf was named President of Operations. Everything that has followed since then tells me they are following a scripted plan to strike now that it is undeniable they have the hottest iron in the sports universe. I especially love how they are doing exactly what they said they are going to do. They said priority one, two, and three was to re-sign Kelsey. What happened before any other trades or FA signings were announced? That’s right—KM. Love it. And for those fretting over the loss of draft picks? I think if you asked Fever leadership in private they would tell you they don’t plan on having very many early draft picks for the foreseeable future. You get the right coaching staff in place and you start winning NOW, this will become a destination franchise for as long as CC is CC. They are making moves to win NOW.
I can’t wait until May. LFG!
Fever stock is rising with their recent moves. Am on the wait list for season tickets.
It’s crazy they have a wait list. All Clark.
I was reading that the fever brass were waiting to see how Caitlin adjusted to the W and if her style would take root (and with what kinds of players) before making moves to restructure to “win now”. By the all-star game they had seen enough to decide to push all their chips onto the table during the offseason to maximize Caitlin and Boston’s rookie contracts. Essentially, where they were picking in the first, and where they expected to be picking in the first going forward would not yield better short and medium term players than proven vets. This is a long way of agreeing with you that this was as fast as the fever could reasonably and responsibly build the team.
Last edited:
Good thoughts, all!
Crazy there is a waiting list for season tix. I would rather watch the Fever than any NBA team at this point.
Getting a rim runner was a great move. That was what was lacking in the regular rotation last year.
Crazy there is a waiting list for season tix. I would rather watch the Fever than any NBA team at this point.
Getting a rim runner was a great move. That was what was lacking in the regular rotation last year.
They’ve also executed some massive upgrades defensively (with possibly one more piece yet to come), which was a major need. TBH, they already had plenty of scoring (albeit little off the bench, which they have addressed now). They are getting very close to being a complete package now. Masterfully orchestrated, IMO, although the proof will be in the pudding, as they say.
The scoring potential of this team was upgraded massively, imho. Replacing Smith with an all-star caliber and motivated natasha howard should be a net gain in several points on offense alone, not mention her defensive presence. Love Hull, but Bonner is a big upgrade as well. Throw in Cunningham, and this team should score another 10 points a game, while giving up 10 fewer, on average.
Last edited:
Oh I don’t dispute that one bit. Just saying that scoring (aside from the bench/Smith) generally wasn’t the issue last year. To have upgraded there like they clearly have is an absolute win-win.
They have a legitimate shot at toying with triple digits AND consistently holding teams below 80 night in and night out. I am trying my damndest to temper my expectations. I’m absolutely giddy.
I mean, 44-0 is a reasonable expectation isn't it?
Of course it is. 😉
Okay, here’s a question for all the W rules experts. Unrivaled finishes March 17. The W Draft is April 14. Does anything prohibit W teams from having “informal workouts” prior to official opening of camp? I suspect such things are no-nos. But this would be yet another positive of not needing to wait until the draft for your core group of key players to be in place.
It’s my impression that caitlin has been practicing at fever facilities all offseason. I think the players can voluntarily do whatever they want. There are probably rules against requiring practices.
Well then as soon as Unrivaled is over they should all informal the sh!t out of the next month plus at the Fever practice facility.
Is there a grade better than an A++, because given what they inherited roster and contract-wise, Fever management just earned it I would say.
So happy the Fever fired dunne/sides and hired a competent FO and coach. Night and day difference.
Fever killing it in FA is wonderful. Lots of haters have gone silent. Love it
Fever killing it in FA is wonderful. Lots of haters have gone silent. Love it
I see it went from nobody will sign with Indiana to now it's rigged 🤣🤣🤣
They’re at 12 now, right? Or am I missing someone?
Clark
Mitchell
Boston
Bonner
Howard
Hull
Cunningham
Dantas
Samuelson
Colson
Brown
Wallace
Convince Wallace to “retire” into a coaching position on staff and then sign that mystery European? Or do they shop KLS around based on her Unrivaled performance? Or is the roster set?
I guess I was thinking they don’t have cap space for her, but not sure on that.
Gotcha. I guess I wasn’t even thinking about that. These new Fever execs have me thinking they can turn water into wine.
This article brings up what I was talking about:
“This signing also raises some questions about the Fever's cap space — or lack of it. The lowest Colson can sign for is $78,831, which is the veteran minimum for players with 3+ years of experience.
The Fever have only $66,340 of cap space, including Jaelyn Brown's training camp contract. Colson's contract terms are not yet known, but even the veteran minimum would put the Fever over the cap at the start of the season.
Brown's contract is not yet officially part of the Fever's salary cap — it will only be a cap hit if she makes the opening day roster. But if the Fever want to keep Brown, as well, they will need to find some other places to cut down on salary.”
Indiana Fever find their backup point guard, continue to surround young core with winners
Fever will sign Sydney Colson, a league source confirmed to IndyStar. Colson comes to Indiana after three years with the Aces, where she won two titles.
www.indystar.com
Unfortunately, KLS's Unrivaled performance doesn't help in making her an attractive trade target.
I try to stay out of comments in general but them signing Bonner and Colson was just too funny to pass up
Drat. I had heard second hand she was showing well as I haven’t watched a minute.
From what I understand, we will need to trade draft picks to a team for them to eat her contract. Valkyries are mentioned.
Works for me. Ship them a first round pick or two and then go sign another big
If I had anything to do with Fever merchandising, I’d be getting some of the newcomers’ jerseys stitched up and on racks across the country ASAP, particularly FAs Howard, Bonner, and Colson. Not a huge number of them, but enough as I think they’d sell. Show the rest of the players in the W that you sign onto this gravy train, the bump in your marketability will be almost immediate.
She's 34th out of 36 in scoring (5.5 ppg). She doesn't get a lot of minutes to showcase whatever skills she has. To be fair, her Unrivaled stats are very similar to Lexi Hull's, and most of us think Lexi has a lot of potential.
And lots of top players like Caitlin, A'ja, etc are not playing . This drives home how much chicken salad Caitlin, Kelsey, and Boston made out of chicken shit, when coupled with sides as their coach. 2025 is going to be epic.
I think playing with CC makes Lexi look a lot better! And I’m not knocking her.
Latest posts
-
-
-
-
COMMIT: Wake Forest Transfer Quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski Picks Iowa- Latest: Eliot Clough