WNBA Draft Prospects

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volfanIND

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#1
Looking at our 3 seniors and the upcoming WNBA draft on April 16, I was curious to see what thoughts were on our players.

Izzy?
I still believe Izzy is a top 10 draft pick, maybe not the #1 at this point, but I look back at Achonwa being picked in the first round with her injury.

Burdick?
This season, she is playing her best basketball of her career. I always thought that at 6'2 she had the size to be a 3 player, but has to develop the 3 ball to even be considered. I think she is becoming more comfortable with her shot and her leadership skills are getting better. I don't see her being a first round pick, but 2nd round, definitely for sure 3rd round.

Massengale?
I don't know. I really don't know. As a LVF I would love for her to be chosen. But being a fan of the league, I don't think I see it. If she is chosen, it would be 3rd round. The WNBA is guard stacked, and it's harder at that position. She is a better shooter in my opinion than point guard, and in the WNBA, the 2 guards need to be 5'10ish.

A total of 36 players will be selected. I think we will definitely have 2, slight chance for 3.

Happy for Tamika Catchings signing with the Fever. She has her sight set on the 2016 Olympics, I pray for her health so she can do it!
 
#2
#2
All three will be drafted. I would be surprised if Izzy doesn't go in the Top 5.

This is not a deep draft at all. Probably one of the worst since the WNBA started. Put these seniors in next years draft, and it's likely many are not even drafted.

That being said, Cierra and Ariel have risen their draft stocks this year, especially Cierra.

I expect both to go in the second round, and depending on the training camps, both have a good chance to make a roster.
 
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#3
#3
volfanIND said:
Looking at our 3 seniors and the upcoming WNBA draft on April 16, I was curious to see what thoughts were on our players.

Izzy?
I still believe Izzy is a top 10 draft pick, maybe not the #1 at this point, but I look back at Achonwa being picked in the first round with her injury.

Burdick?
This season, she is playing her best basketball of her career. I always thought that at 6'2 she had the size to be a 3 player, but has to develop the 3 ball to even be considered. I think she is becoming more comfortable with her shot and her leadership skills are getting better. I don't see her being a first round pick, but 2nd round, definitely for sure 3rd round.

Massengale?
I don't know. I really don't know. As a LVF I would love for her to be chosen. But being a fan of the league, I don't think I see it. If she is chosen, it would be 3rd round. The WNBA is guard stacked, and it's harder at that position. She is a better shooter in my opinion than point guard, and in the WNBA, the 2 guards need to be 5'10ish.
Click to expand...

Izzy should be Top 10, and I imagine we will see her playing in the league in 2016...hopefully at the PF spot.

I think Ariel goes late first round or early 2nd round. She will be a pass first PG who can score when needed. I think she has a 50-50 chance of making a final roster: high bball IQ, good passing instincts and quality shooter. But there are a lot of much more athletic guards in the draft.

I think that Cierra has played herself into the early 2nd round this year. She's showcasing her talent, but I think her lack of true position ultimately prevents her from making a final roster. She's not fast enough to defend WNBA wings and not big enough to defend WNBA posts.
 
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#4
#4
I wish them all the best for sure, but I do not think that Ariel or Burdick will ever play in the WNBA. I hope I'm wrong.
 
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#6
#6
Izzy

The Injury imo will drop Izzy a little bit which imo will be better for her because she gets to go to a team that would not need her this year and she could be a prized possession for them next year (similar to how Achonwo was for Indy last year) prior to the injury I had her going either 1st or 3rd to Seattle but with the injury I think Seattle takes Liz Williams #1 and Brittany Boyd #3. I think Izzy falls to Indy at 6 (they can afford to have her sit for a year with Achonwo coming back) and she would be able to be mentored by Catching in her final year of the league. I know Minnesota is hoping she falls to them at 11 so that they can have her replace Brunson at the 4 and move Brunson to the 5 and bring McCarville off the bench! I think the Mystics would love to have her fall to them at 8 as well to go with their young rotation at the 4/5 of Tianna Hawkins (out due to pregnancy) Stephanie Dolson, and Emma Meeseman. But overall I think there is a chance Seattle would still draft her first and have her sit out a season to have a sorry team and a chance to draft Jewel Loyd or Brianna Stewart 1st overall next season.

Burdick
Prior to the season I thought she would not be drafted and if she did it would only be because she is a Lady Vol as the season went on I think she has increased her chances of being drafted due to her play after the first 6 games of the season. I think she has increased her stock so much that she could be a late first early second round pick. Her ability to play the 3/4 and guard some 5's are an asset and helps her chances and with a lot of teams needing help at the 3 spot (The Mystics, Sparks, Shock, New York, San Antonio, & Seattle) she could go as high as 7 to the LA and as late as 20 to Seattle. I would love for her to join my mystics (if welch is drafted prior to her) because I think she would be the 3 that we have been seeking for a long time now and at 6'2" she provides great size on the wing and can compete with/guard the best 3's in the league

Ariel
I think she has also played herself from being non drafted to late first early second round. Being a lady vols has its perks and the injury to Izzy has kind of helped her and Burdick as the scouts/national media will be looking at our team heavily to see what we will do without Izzy in the lineup. Ariel has really improved her game and I could see here going late first to the Lynx or Mercury and early second but I don't see her not being drafted at all. Her 3PT shot will help her in more ways than she knows

Recap:
Izzy
Goes 2 to Tulsa (If KML goes 1 to Seattle)
Goes 6 to Indy (They would love to have her and Achonwo for years to come at the 4/5 spot)
Any team after the Sparks at 7 can afford to have her sit a season and get true value (feels like they got 2 number 1 picks next season because this draft is so weak)

Burdick
With the log jam at the 4/5 (Parker, Nnedka, Hamson, Lavender, Gruda) spot for LA they are in dire need of a 3 player therefore I have her going as high as 7th, I could also seeing her going the the mystics at 8, San Antonio at 9, and as late as 20th (Seattle if they decide to go with 2 post this year Liz at 1 and Izzy at 3)

Ariel
I have her going as high as 16th (2nd Round) to New York and as late as 36th (The last pick of the draft) to Phoenix. I think her stock has increased and with the draft class being so poor she is certainly one of the top 36 seniors in the country.

Where I would love to see them play where they would be successful.

Izzy
Tulsa-Imagine Izzy next to Glory in Tulsa with Diggins and Simms passing her the ball (Of course she would probably back up Courtney Paris her first season in the league!

Burdick
LA-Having her playing next to Candace Parker (or backing her up) would be great to her confidence. She wont be asked to do much her first couple of season in the league and LA really needs help at the 3 the only downside is that Brian Agler doesn't play rookies/young players (see Shekinnah Stricklen in Seattle)

Ariel
Seattle-They just signed Meighan Simmons and they have a older back court with Sue Bird and Temeka Johnson (they also added Renee Montgomery) Most teams like to keep 5 guards and I think she would push Meighan as well as Meighan would push her which would lead to Seattle trading or releasing Tameka Johnson as they are trying to go younger!
 
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#7
#7
mlindsay said:
Izzy

The Injury imo will drop Izzy a little bit which imo will be better for her because she gets to go to a team that would not need her this year and she could be a prized possession for them next year (similar to how Achonwo was for Indy last year) prior to the injury I had her going either 1st or 3rd to Seattle but with the injury I think Seattle takes Liz Williams #1 and Brittany Boyd #3. I think Izzy falls to Indy at 6 (they can afford to have her sit for a year with Achonwo coming back) and she would be able to be mentored by Catching in her final year of the league. I know Minnesota is hoping she falls to them at 11 so that they can have her replace Brunson at the 4 and move Brunson to the 5 and bring McCarville off the bench! I think the Mystics would love to have her fall to them at 8 as well to go with their young rotation at the 4/5 of Tianna Hawkins (out due to pregnancy) Stephanie Dolson, and Emma Meeseman. But overall I think there is a chance Seattle would still draft her first and have her sit out a season to have a sorry team and a chance to draft Jewel Loyd or Brianna Stewart 1st overall next season.

Burdick
Prior to the season I thought she would not be drafted and if she did it would only be because she is a Lady Vol as the season went on I think she has increased her chances of being drafted due to her play after the first 6 games of the season. I think she has increased her stock so much that she could be a late first early second round pick. Her ability to play the 3/4 and guard some 5's are an asset and helps her chances and with a lot of teams needing help at the 3 spot (The Mystics, Sparks, Shock, New York, San Antonio, & Seattle) she could go as high as 7 to the LA and as late as 20 to Seattle. I would love for her to join my mystics (if welch is drafted prior to her) because I think she would be the 3 that we have been seeking for a long time now and at 6'2" she provides great size on the wing and can compete with/guard the best 3's in the league

Ariel
I think she has also played herself from being non drafted to late first early second round. Being a lady vols has its perks and the injury to Izzy has kind of helped her and Burdick as the scouts/national media will be looking at our team heavily to see what we will do without Izzy in the lineup. Ariel has really improved her game and I could see here going late first to the Lynx or Mercury and early second but I don't see her not being drafted at all. Her 3PT shot will help her in more ways than she knows

Recap:
Izzy
Goes 2 to Tulsa (If KML goes 1 to Seattle)
Goes 6 to Indy (They would love to have her and Achonwo for years to come at the 4/5 spot)
Any team after the Sparks at 7 can afford to have her sit a season and get true value (feels like they got 2 number 1 picks next season because this draft is so weak)

Burdick
With the log jam at the 4/5 (Parker, Nnedka, Hamson, Lavender, Gruda) spot for LA they are in dire need of a 3 player therefore I have her going as high as 7th, I could also seeing her going the the mystics at 8, San Antonio at 9, and as late as 20th (Seattle if they decide to go with 2 post this year Liz at 1 and Izzy at 3)

Ariel
I have her going as high as 16th (2nd Round) to New York and as late as 36th (The last pick of the draft) to Phoenix. I think her stock has increased and with the draft class being so poor she is certainly one of the top 36 seniors in the country.

Where I would love to see them play where they would be successful.

Izzy
Tulsa-Imagine Izzy next to Glory in Tulsa with Diggins and Simms passing her the ball (Of course she would probably back up Courtney Paris her first season in the league!

Burdick
LA-Having her playing next to Candace Parker (or backing her up) would be great to her confidence. She wont be asked to do much her first couple of season in the league and LA really needs help at the 3 the only downside is that Brian Agler doesn't play rookies/young players (see Shekinnah Stricklen in Seattle)

Ariel
Seattle-They just signed Meighan Simmons and they have a older back court with Sue Bird and Temeka Johnson (they also added Renee Montgomery) Most teams like to keep 5 guards and I think she would push Meighan as well as Meighan would push her which would lead to Seattle trading or releasing Tameka Johnson as they are trying to go younger!
Click to expand...

If Linn Dunn was still our coach here in Indy, I could see her grabbing Izzy FOR SURE. Linn loves her 4/5's. And Linn is built on defense.

With Stephanie White being head coach, she is a 2 guard herself so I don't know if she will be guard oriented or post oriented at this point.

Good post!
 
#8
#8
I agree that Izzy will go in the first 10, maybe first 5 picks, and Cierra has certainly stepped up her game to make herself a viable 2nd round pick. But Ariel is too short and too slow to play defense in the WNBA, whatever her offensive game is like. She may go in the third round or get a training camp invite, but it's going to be tough for her to gain a roster spot.
 
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