***Official Caitlin/Fever/Kate/Meg Games Mega Thread***

[hahkize]

We know Wheeler is a bad contract that is at least coming off the books. I would consider re-signing her on a veteran minimum-esque contract as she shows good leadership and has been showing an ability to play better in the new offense lately and you only need her as a reserve for 5-10 minutes per game.

Dantas is fine considering her contract. Need her to fill in backup minutes and hit open shots which she mostly does. But she is not big minute material. I doubt she is re-signed after 2025 though.

Smith is wildly inconsistent and doesn’t really fit well with the team. Plus has drama issues from her family. With a year left on her contract it’d be best to move her, but her trade value is limited so you’re probably stuck with her. She isn’t delivering starter value, but who else do you play right now.

KLS is showing to be a really bad contract considering she’s the 3rd highest paid on the team. She looks worse now than she did at the start of the season. She has zero trade value currently so you’re stuck with her. Unless she shows serious progression next year the team needs to move on from her as soon as they can as she isn’t showing that she’s deserving of any minutes right now. Having the kid when she did may have killed her career a bit early.

Wallace, Berger, and Saxton could all vanish tomorrow and I’m not sure anyone would notice. They’re all on contract through the end of next year or the year after though. And nobody is trading for them. I don’t know enough about WNBA contract rules to know if any can be waived to clear cap space. Ideally at least one of the players down here is someone that could play crunch time minutes and be trusted.

So unless you can replace some of the bottom three, what you’re left with if KM and EW re-sign for next year is only three guards you can trust in their roles. A SF without a good backup that you can trust. And a single big that you can trust for big minutes from game to game, with a backup you can trust also.

It looks like we are stuck the contracts, even if waived. To sign free agents with any cap space, the best we can do is not resign wheeler, and then maybe trade smith for a throwaway second rounder we won’t sign. I guess also not resign Temi but I want her resigned.

Is there a team stupid enough to give the Fever something (of value) for Nalyssa?

Could love bring DiJonia to Indianapolis? Are these two stable enough for the Fever to attempt this stunt? [They both seem to be flakes if you ask me]

Dana Evans? Natasha Hiedeman? Kia Nurse? Sophie Cunningham. [can't go wrong with any one of them - I prefer Hiedeman]

Make some package deals (2-3 players) involving multiple teams if necessary. rAny of those in Bold above are expendable. I would even consider deals to include Hull if it led to an improved roster and depth. The current Fever is void of a roster w/ physicality, anticipation and effort. The only Bold names I would think twice about would be Smith and Wheeler as they are at least competitive and won't back down from contact. Even Boston loses the ball in a crowd and has limited post moves for 6'5. At least get to the foul line 6-7 times a game. She trails Clark, Mitchell AND Smith in FTA's
Stable enough? No! No romantic relationships on any team.

 

[hahkize]

There is a point when things aren't going well where you can see Caitlin's eyes "glaze over" and she starts forcing/pressing and very inefficient. The competitor in her takes over and good decision making takes a back seat. This also happens when her tank is empty. The kid plays so hard, but they really can't afford to not have her on the floor.

Agreed. And forcing things like that attempt at a great pass in transition in the 4th that was intercepted and ended in a 3 at the other end.

 

[kceasthawk]

Great analysis. Mitchell and CC have been not just good but spectacular this past month. Boston has had a few ups and downs but she’s an All Star and going to be a 10 year player with CC. But for them to beat these top teams they all have to be great. That’s really hard to do. Smith of course disappeared again last night. She’s the softest Power Forward in the league. I hate her game. Lexi gives all she has but she’s a 18-20 minute player on a really good team. Temi solid as a 12-15 bench player. They’re going to be a great watch over the next few years but need a big free agent get over the Summer and need to get rid of Smith. She’s a cancer.

Totally agree. Temi has value as a defender. Not sure if her struggles on offense are more noticeable because of her hand and shoulder injuries, or if she just doesn't have game. I cringe every time Smith goes into her windup for a jump shot or free throw. Its a knuckleball with zero rotation. Just for giggles I'd love to see a shooting contest between her and Reese, but I think I'd need a few drinks first.

 

[GHawk]

My wife (who isn't a big BB fan) and I both thought Mitchell reverted back to the way she was early in the season. She wasn't even looking to pass the ball. She tends to go into the me first zone sometimes.
When the Fever are at their best she is more of a team player, but sometimes she playes like there isn't another player on the court.

 

[Hawksfor3]

I like the expected points range idea. It really shows the holes in the roster. There are three guaranteed starters. After that you’ve got, in order of importance.

Lexi is growing into her role as a starter. Still inconsistent but brings enough defensively that I’m fine with it. They’ll need to work on re-signing her for after 2025 as she’s a quality backup if she isn’t a starter.

Temi is likable and works hard when in the court. But is fragile and has shown with her shooting and finishing issues why she was out of the league for a long period. She isn’t starter material for next year. But I’d bring her back in a similar contract.

We know Wheeler is a bad contract that is at least coming off the books. I would consider re-signing her on a veteran minimum-esque contract as she shows good leadership and has been showing an ability to play better in the new offense lately and you only need her as a reserve for 5-10 minutes per game.

Dantas is fine considering her contract. Need her to fill in backup minutes and hit open shots which she mostly does. But she is not big minute material. I doubt she is re-signed after 2025 though.

Smith is wildly inconsistent and doesn’t really fit well with the team. Plus has drama issues from her family. With a year left on her contract it’d be best to move her, but her trade value is limited so you’re probably stuck with her. She isn’t delivering starter value, but who else do you play right now.

KLS is showing to be a really bad contract considering she’s the 3rd highest paid on the team. She looks worse now than she did at the start of the season. She has zero trade value currently so you’re stuck with her. Unless she shows serious progression next year the team needs to move on from her as soon as they can as she isn’t showing that she’s deserving of any minutes right now. Having the kid when she did may have killed her career a bit early.

Wallace, Berger, and Saxton could all vanish tomorrow and I’m not sure anyone would notice. They’re all on contract through the end of next year or the year after though. And nobody is trading for them. I don’t know enough about WNBA contract rules to know if any can be waived to clear cap space. Ideally at least one of the players down here is someone that could play crunch time minutes and be trusted.

So unless you can replace some of the bottom three, what you’re left with if KM and EW re-sign for next year is only three guards you can trust in their roles. A SF without a good backup that you can trust. And a single big that you can trust for big minutes from game to game, with a backup you can trust also.

Says to me this team won’t contend for a title until 2026 at the earliest because of bad front office moves over the previous few years.

Agree. Smith and Samuelson should not be in a Fever Jersey after this year.

 

[citizenHawk]

It's just hard to beat a team that starts draining 3s in the 4th quarter of a game. Indiana needs to step up the perimeter defense and prevent that sort of rhythm.

And just like at Iowa, if the supporting cast isn't hitting shots, things get tough.

*Clark needs to get her running bank shot going when the layup gets defended. She has that shot, but she doesn't go to it often enough.

 

[AWS1022]

My wife (who isn't a big BB fan) and I both thought Mitchell reverted back to the way she was early in the season. She wasn't even looking to pass the ball. She tends to go into the me first zone sometimes.
When the Fever are at their best she is more of a team player, but sometimes she playes like there isn't another player on the court.

She’s one of the best off ball shooters in the league, but she’s horrible when she tries to create her own shot. Dribble around forever then chuck something up is not a recipe for success.

 

[SunzOutGunzOut]

Samuelson will hopefully get picked in the expansion draft which would get the Fever out of that contract (unless there's some strange WNBA rule). Hull had her option year for 25 already picked up. Smith has trade value but I'm not convinced the GM knows what she's doing. Releasing Celeste Taylor who was on a cheap rookie deal when the Fever need someone to play perimeter defense was a terrible decision IMO, especially with how she's played for Phoenix.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Cindy is the play x play voice of the Phoenix Mercury.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Who's the best guard in the league right now?

 

[Franisdaman]

5 minutes of fun....

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawksfor3]

Who's the best guard in the league right now?

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And yet, ESPN only uses the word "unprecedented" for another rookie.

 

[chuck285]

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I was looking to see if her eyes are glazed over? Can't tell?

 

[Tenacious E]

Cindy is the play x play voice of the Phoenix Mercury.

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Is there a link to what started the beef?

 

[Franisdaman]

Is there a link to what started the beef?

As I mentioned above, Cindy Brunson is the play by play voice of the Phoenix Mercury. What started it was Ken replying to Cindy's tweet (see below). Why would the pxp voice of the Mercury suggest that Kelsey Mitchell should leave the Fever and team up with Angel Reese in Chicago? Cindy then apparently spent her entire day yesterday tweeting about "Caitlin Clark fans."

As you can see below, it's pretty clear that Cindy is friends with Sheryl and Diana. Cindy even has Air Swoopes shoes (pictured below).

Too many of these women feel threatened by Caitlin; I just don't get it.







Pictured is Cindy (on the right) and of course, Sheryl and Diana.

 

[Tenacious E]

As I mentioned above, Cindy Brunson is the play by play voice of the Phoenix Mercury. What started it was Ken replying to Cindy's tweet (see below). Why would the pxp voice of the Mercury suggest that Kelsey Mitchell should leave the Fever and team up with Angel Reese in Chicago? Cindy then apparently spent her entire day yesterday tweeting about "Caitlin Clark fans."

As you can see below, it's pretty clear that Cindy is friends with Sheryl and Diana. Cindy even has Air Swoopes shoes (pictured below).

Too many of these women feel threatened by Caitlin; I just don't get it.

View embedded media

Pictured is Cindy (on the right) and of course, Sheryl and Diana.

Thanks. I surmised some of that but didn’t want to venture into a twitter hell hole.

 

[Franisdaman]

Thanks. I surmised some of that but didn’t want to venture into a twitter hell hole.

Imagine the private conversations Caitlin has with those close to her; publicly, of course, she doesn't get dragged into this drama and when asked about this crazy stuff, she always has the perfect answer

Connor has been silent, too, it seems....CC probably told him to be because Connor has a history of not being afraid to voice his opinions on Twitter

 

[Franisdaman]

Is he right?

If so, that would make Caitlin FIRST TEAM ALL WNBA....right?

 

[wondergrape]

Cindy is the play x play voice of the Phoenix Mercury.

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You guys know that it is you all these people are talking about, right? You know that you are the primary posters in Caitlin Clark's home forum and are therefore important parts of the media affecting this story?

And you spend your time spewing hate, conspiracy and victimhood.

You all are the problem, and everyone sees it. It's embarrassing.

 

[kceasthawk]

As I mentioned above, Cindy Brunson is the play by play voice of the Phoenix Mercury. What started it was Ken replying to Cindy's tweet (see below). Why would the pxp voice of the Mercury suggest that Kelsey Mitchell should leave the Fever and team up with Angel Reese in Chicago? Cindy then apparently spent her entire day yesterday tweeting about "Caitlin Clark fans."

As you can see below, it's pretty clear that Cindy is friends with Sheryl and Diana. Cindy even has Air Swoopes shoes (pictured below).

Too many of these women feel threatened by Caitlin; I just don't get it.

View embedded media

Pictured is Cindy (on the right) and of course, Sheryl and Diana.

So did Swoopes also have a 41 point triple double in that final four? Just asking for a friend....

 

[JimStarr777]

Thanks. I surmised some of that but didn’t want to venture into a twitter hell hole.

Imagine being so desperate to spew hate that after you’ve already been proven wrong about Clark (and there’s no way to spin it), you now attack her fans.

Just wonderful people…

 

[Tenacious E]

You guys know that it is you all these people are talking about, right? You know that you are the primary posters in Caitlin Clark's home forum and are therefore important parts of the media affecting this story?

And you spend your time spewing hate, conspiracy and victimhood.

You all are the problem, and everyone sees it. It's embarrassing.

So you’re saying these people are Hawkeye Beacon WBB lurkers? I never knew I was so influential.

 

[kceasthawk]

So you’re saying these people are Hawkeye Beacon WBB lurkers? I never knew I was so influential.

It has little to do with anyone here. Its the crazy's on twitter and that stuff spewing hatred.....

 

[Tenacious E]

It has little to do with anyone here. It’s the crazy's on twitter and that stuff spewing hatred.....

 

[JimStarr777]

It has little to do with anyone here. Its the crazy's on twitter and that stuff spewing hatred.....

Fb too. I’ve seen some insanely racist (and other) stuff spewed toward Clark on both places.

 

[wondergrape]

Imagine being so desperate to spew hate that after you’ve already been proven wrong about Clark (and there’s no way to spin it), you now attack her fans.

Just wonderful people…

Don't you just hate it when people spew hate?

 

[JimStarr777]

Don't you just hate it when people spew hate?

If you consider me calling out your bs as “hate”, then you truly are a snowflake. 🤣 stop playing the victim lol

 

[wondergrape]

If you consider me calling out your bs as “hate”, then you truly are a snowflake. 🤣 stop playing the victim lol

I couldn't care less what you say to me. I'm talking about your hate directed toward the Angel Reese and Sheryl Swoopeses of the world. Talk about being a snowflake.

 

[JimStarr777]

I couldn't care less what you say to me. I'm talking about your hate directed toward the Angel Reese and Sheryl Swoopeses of the world. Talk about being a snowflake.

Feel free to direct me toward my posts that were hate… I think you’re imagining things.

 

[Tenacious E]

I couldn't care less what you say to me. I'm talking about your hate directed toward the Angel Reese and Sheryl Swoopeses of the world. Talk about being a snowflake.

I’m not him but pointing out BS is not hate. You paint with way too broad of a brush. This is an enclave of Iowa fans who followed Caitlin into the pros. We are not weirdos and trolls who take to twitter or whatever posting crap on pages of swoopes or Reese. And any suggestion of the same is preposterous and frankly insulting false equivalency.

 

[Hawksfor3]

vs Dream @ 3 PM on ESPN3.

 

[wondergrape]

I’m not him but pointing out BS is not hate. You paint with way too broad of a brush. This is an enclave of Iowa fans who followed Caitlin into the pros. We are not weirdos and trolls who take to twitter or whatever posting crap on pages of swoopes or Reese. And any suggestion of the same is preposterous and frankly insulting false equivalency.

It all adds to the tenor of the conversation, and if you don't think people aren't checking this website as a weather vain to see how unhinged our fanbase is then you are naive.

You have been here even longer than I have. You KNOW it has never been like this before. Why not appeal to the angels of our better nature? I just don't get it.

 

[Tenacious E]

It all adds to the tenor of the conversation, and if you don't think people aren't checking this website as a weather vain to see how unhinged our fanbase is then you are naive.

You have been here even longer than I have. You KNOW it has never been like this before. Why not appeal to the angels of our better nature? I just don't get it.

Well then I hope they check this thread because I think on the whole we have been pretty good calling a spade a spade.

 

[Tenacious E]

It all adds to the tenor of the conversation, and if you don't think people aren't checking this website as a weather vain to see how unhinged our fanbase is then you are naive.

You have been here even longer than I have. You KNOW it has never been like this before. Why not appeal to the angels of our better nature? I just don't get it.

What is so horrible in this thread? The one thread on this board I don’t countenance is the conspiracy one. Oh, and for a reality check, read the shit littering the football board.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Let's GO!!!!!!

 

[2D_]

Well, yesterday was absolute hot garbage. Hopefully a CC masterclass will makes things a little better.

 

[hawkeye_wx]

It's frustrating to watch a big try to bull her way to the basket and throw up wild junk instead of passing it back out.