Greetings my Peeps and welcome to the All Things Basketball Podcast with your boy GD.
In this episode I'll be doing my NBA postseason awards predictions and also I'll be breaking
down the WNBA draft and talking a little bit about that and all the players, those returning
and everything else so just sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
Okay guys so I'm back once again your boy GD with the All Things Basketball Podcast with
yours truly and I'm going to get into the NBA postseason awards but first actually I
want to talk about the WNBA first because there was a draft last week and players from
different colleges and so forth they were drafted and of course Aliyah Boston being
the number one overall pick so but we'll break down the whole draft, we'll talk about the
teams as well, the returning players and so forth and kind of go around the league so
let us begin.
So we had the draft like I said and what I'm going to do is I'm going to go alphabetically
through each team so let's do it that way.
We start off with the Atlanta Dream, the Atlanta Dream drafted Haley Jones the point guard
actually out of Stanford she was the sixth pick overall and they followed that up with
LaTesia Amahir the power forward from South Carolina and then you had Lea Brown out of
Michigan she was drafted shooting guard so Haley Jones I've always liked her game she's
a facilitator guys she's able to do a number of things and do it pretty well I think she
is the probably the most fundamentally sound player in this draft I think on the next level
she'll be able to facilitate for the dream and she'll be playing with the likes of Ryan
Howard the rookie sensation from last year along with Daniel Robinson Cheyenne Parker
and they traded for Alisha Gray as well so Haley Jones I think she'll come in right away
she'll get to work I think she'll come in as a starter I see her really making an impact
on this team I really like the choice for Atlanta I was surprised she went all the way
down to six but they're getting a solid player guys LaTesia I think we don't know all of
what she can do on the next level I think she has pretty big potential so I know Tanisha
Wright the coach there she'll be able to tap into that so I see her doing big things at
the next level so where she fits in could be a starter could be coming off the bench
but I'll be interested to see what she does at the next level so I think the Atlanta
dream did pretty good for themselves so I think they're a team on the rise as well moving
on to the Chicago sky they didn't have a first round pick they pick late in the second
round they got Keanna trailer shooting guard out of Vatek and then Cassinia Malaresca and
they got her out of middle Tennessee so a couple of low picks there probably be bench
players obviously you have returning players like mind you James Wade he's gonna have to
do some major rebuilding on the fly here cuz he's lost the likes of Candace Parker Courtney
Van the Sleuth and a number of players they moved on so but Kalia Copper I think this
is gonna be her team now now the spotlight's gonna be on her she was an all-star last
year I think they'll be interested to see with her being the major star there they did
trade for Marina Marbury got her from Dallas the guard there so so at least Copper has
some support there Courtney Williams they got via free agency point guard there and
Rebecca Gardner they have as well so again James Wade he'll be rebuilding that squad
so be interested to see if he can keep them competitive this year so moving on we'll talk
about the Connecticut Sun they had two draft picks Alexis Morris aka Lex Luthor coming
out of LSU and of course they won the NCAA championship she went in late in the second
round guys that to me was a stunner she was the 22nd pick I thought she would go higher
at least higher in the second round and then also Ashton Pritchettel the center out of
Stanford she's the backup center took Cameron Brink out there with the Stanford Cardinals
so she was drafted as well and of course the Connecticut Sun they dealt their MVP John
Quill Jones to the New York Liberty but they still have Alyssa Thomas their Swiss Army
knife also DeWanna Bonner still there they re-signed Breonna Jones they also in the
trade for John Quill they got back Rebecca Allen also Tiffany Hayes they got via the
trade route also but let me talk about Alexis Morris she has such a phenomenal story guys
as far as her collegiate career is concerned I think she's going to be a fighter guys I
think she's definitely be able to crack this lineup I'll be interested to see what she
does on the next level but she's as tough as nails guys and she's a baller so I'll
be very interested to see whoever she can crack I know she'll definitely come off the
bench as far as starter yeah maybe it's possible I don't count her out in that regard so I
think she can contribute to this team and they'll be interesting to see what this team
does now because their coach moved on to a greener pastures Kurt Miller he moved on
to the Los Angeles Sparks so now you have a Stephanie White coaching them so you'll
be interested to see the new changes up there in Connecticut but I like the Morris pick
for them that's for sure so let's move on to the Dallas Wings the Dallas Wings they
really loaded up guys mind you they had like three straight draft picks within the top
five so let's talk about that Maddie Segras the Power Forward our Villanova a scoring
machine she was picked third Stephanie Soares the center out of Iowa State she was picked
fourth although she was traded guys she got traded to Washington so and then Lou Lopez
Senichal the shooting guard coming out of Yukon she was the fifth pick and then later
in the first round they were able to pick up Abby Myers they drafted her the shooting
guard out of Maryland at pick number 11 then they went on to draft Ashley Jones small forward
out of Iowa State and Paige Robinson as well they were able to draft so so a lot of draft
picks there guys but Maddie Segras I see her making an impact right away I see her being
able to score on the next level what she brings as far as the forward position I'll be interested
to see that and the returning players for Dallas Arika Akumbo Wally their all-star guard
she'll be back as well as Tierra McCowen their center actually they resigned her also and
then you have Natasha Howard who they got via the trade route Diamond the shields also
they got via the trade so I see Maddie fitting right in into that starting lineup there as
far as Senichal she'll probably be a bench player for them but she can have an impact
as well keep an eye out for Abby Myers and Ashley Jones as well I think those are a couple
of players too who can add to this roster as well so Dallas I'll be interested to see
what they do they had a pretty good year last year we'll see what happens now Dallas another
team that could be on the rise let's move on to the Indiana fever they had the first
pick in the draft Aliyah Boston of course coming out of South Carolina the Power Forward
Slash Center they also went local with their next pick guys the seven pick they used on
Grace Berger out of Indiana the University of Indiana so local product there Taylor Mike
Sell the shooting guard out of Iowa State they picked her in the second round Ledesha Williams
they picked her 17th she was the Power Forward for Kim Mulkey's LSU Lady Tigers and then
late in the draft they got Victoria Saxon actually Aliyah Boston's teammate out of South Carolina
as well so and then remember last year guys the Indiana fever had the big draft in they
drafted Nalisa Smith also Amy Exler Queen Eggbow Destiny Henderson also out of South
Carolina Lexi Hall the veteran Kelsey Mitchell so another big draft for the fever Aliyah
Boston needless to say I think she'll have an impact right away I think she'll definitely
be able to come in and be a double double machine I think you know while playing for
Doran Staley at South Carolina there was some things that Doran didn't allow her to
produce but she told her she can get that done at the next level so I definitely see her
starting next to a Nalisa Smith definitely starting next to her and you still have Queen
Eggbow as well so a lot of talent there guys as far as your bigs so definitely I see Aliyah
Boston coming in there making that impact Grace Berger I'd be interested to see how
she fits into this you still have a destiny Henderson who kind of came on as the season
progressed so it's going to be a battle there and then Mike sell will see what she brings
to the table LaDazia Williams is a pick that I really like for them but my worry is she
might get caught up in the numbers game there because they got a lot of bigs there and LaDazia
Williams she'll be a power for it the next level that's for sure so I'll know you would
think she'll make the roster I would think she would so see that's the whole thing with
the WNBA too but I'll talk about that in a little while so wherever she ends up I think
she makes an impact especially from what I saw of her at LSU so I'll just leave it right
there so but Indiana still in a rebuilding stage so we'll see what happens have a new
coach and Christie's sides so we'll see how she's able to develop those young players
over there now let's talk about the Las Vegas aces the defending world champs of the WNBA
didn't make too many moves they only had one draft choice and that was at the very end
of the draft Brittany Davis shooting guard out of Alabama but this team is loaded for
Bear gosh you got Asia Wilson your MVP Kelsey Plum Chelsea Gray their all world point guard
Jackie Young as well you added a Candace Parker which is a tremendous pickup and then also
you were able to add a Alyssa Clark a veteran a heady player who will definitely add to
this roster so Becky Hammons she's she's got it all under control over there so I expect
more greatness coming out of Las Vegas so not so much of a draft impact but you got
the veterans over there so it is what it is so yeah so let's move on the Los Angeles
Sparks like I said they have a new coach in Kurt Miller so we'll see what he brings he
had a winning program over there in Connecticut so he looks to bring more the same over to
LA in the draft he was able to get Zaya Cook with the 10th pick in the draft the shooting
guard out of South Carolina also Shanique Swain got her in the second round shooting
guard out of Australia actually so whether she comes over to the states or not we'll
see and then in the actually early in the third round they were able to snag Monica
Sinanu the center out of Iowa we'll see how she fits into the mix there she is like your
traditional big doesn't really get a lot of movement inside definitely good on putbacks
and she's not going to give you a bunch of dribbles down there in the paint she's a catch
and shoot close to the basket sort of players so returning of course is the a woman case
sisters NECA and Shanee so they'll be back as well as Jordan Canada their point guard
they were able to get the Erica hand be actually from the Las Vegas aces got her in a bit of
a controversial trade and also via the trade route Jasmine Thomas and as a free agent
they signed Azura Stevens as well so Sparks looking to be on the upswing I think Zaya
Cook I'll be interested see what she brings to this team especially there is a need there
for some solid shooting guard play and she provides that so I'll be interested see how
she looks next to a Jordan Canada I like to fit for her in LA so I expect her to you know
bring her a game to that Sparks team and the Sparks team is going to be interesting that's
for sure so we'll see what happens there moving on to the Minnesota links with veteran coach
Cheryl Reeve they were able to get in the draft the number two choice diamond Miller
the shooting guard out of Maryland also Maya Hirsch actually coming out of France they got
her also Dorca Juhaas the center from Yukon they got her in the second round of the draft
also in the second round of that draft Brea Beale shooting guard out of South Carolina
as well she can also play the forward position and then Taylor so they got her coming out
of Virginia Tech small forward so Minnesota now in the post Sylvia fouls error so we'll
see what happens with them returning as Nafizia Collier also Ariel Powers Kayla McBride and
Viya Trey you have Keanu Williams as well so diamond Miller I expect her to shine at
the next level what she was able to bring to that Maryland program just steady scoring
she could play both ends of the court so I'm expecting all star level play from her as
far as Maya Hirsch could be a situation where she stays overseas we'll see what happens
there Dorca I like as your center coming in because you don't know the situation with
Maya Hirsch yet so I think she could man the center position at the next level Brea Beale
I like that pick as well she's going to get in there and she's going to be feisty she's
going to make her way into this roster that's for sure and I think she can contribute at
the next level she's another tough player that I think you didn't see all of what she
could bring while she was at South Carolina so I'd be definitely interested to see what
she does next level so Minnesota is an interesting state right now so we'll see what happens
with them then we move on to the New York Liberty they too only had one pick in this
draft Ocacco Adica a small forward out of USC more likely than not she'll be glued to
the bench there remember the Liberty had a big offseason seems like Sandy Brondellos
she's going for it guys they signed as a free agent Breanna Stewart and remember I mentioned
the trade of John Quill Jones coming to the Liberty also they signed Courtney Vanneslute
coming out of Chicago you already had Sabrina Anescu, Medina Joleney as well you have her
there Stephanie Dolson is Sena that you picked up last year and Marina Johannes also you
have there as well so the Liberty loaded for bear guys and I'll be interested to see how
all those pieces mesh together all eyes are on Brondello she got to bring it all together
guys so should be interesting times over there at the Barclays Center then we move on to
Phoenix Mercury they had a few low draft picks as well they didn't pick until late in the
second round Destiny Harton shooting guard out of University of Miami and then KD Sasoco
power forward out of USC so but returning guys Brittney Griner they have her back now
so she's back safe and sound and she's already preparing for this season coming ahead also
you have Diana Terrasi I would imagine this is her last go round also Skyler Digginsmith
you're going to have her back you re science Sophie Cunningham and also Rihanna Turner
as well so the big question for coach Vanessa Nygaard is incorporating Brittany Griner back
into playing in the WNBA you know she went through the harrowing ordeal over there in
Russia so I'll be interested to see how she handles Griner this coming season and it'll
be all love for Griner at home is on the road where I'd be curious to see how fans treat
her when she has to play in these different arenas so but Phoenix interesting team as
well you know with Griner coming back to them so Destiny Harton she could definitely make
this roster that's for sure so we'll see what happens there two more teams guys I'll talk
about and then I want to talk a little bit about the WNBA itself so the 11th team I'll
talk about is the Seattle storm Noel Quinn the coach she's now in the post suburb era
suburb has retired so it'll be interesting to see how things go in Seattle also they
lost Brianna Stewart because she moved on to the Liberty so things will be a bit different
there in Seattle in the draft though they were able to get another knife pick Jordan
Horstin the shooting guard out of the University of Tennessee also they were able to get in
the second round Maddie Williams small forward out of Oklahoma Dooley Fon Con Dodney power
forward out of Southern Florida and also Jay O'ville small forward out of Arizona so and
returning is Jewel Lloyd they're all star guard as well as Tina Charles looked like she'll
be back all intense purposes as a mag brugger also Gabby Williams Sammy Whitcomb and also
Kea nurse as well so Jordan Horstin I think they'll probably bring her along slowly but
she's a player who can do many things as well I think she's going to be a solid contributor
to this Seattle storm team Maddie Williams I'll be interested to see how she fits into
all this as well but Seattle again in a new stage now with suburb retired so we'll see
what happens there and then the last team the Washington Mystics Mike Tibbalt he left
from the sideline and he's gone up to the front office so his son Eric is now taking
over the coaching ranks so I don't expect much of a change in philosophy there so we'll
see what happens in the draft they will able to get Elena Tisnecki shooting guard out of
Southern Florida also Texell Alacorn shooting guard out of Spain so we'll see if she's able
to come across the waters over to the US to play in the WNBA we'll see what happens there
returning for them Elena Deladon she's was able to have a normal offseason so we'll see
what happens there she looked like she's all the way back from that injury guys so looks
like she's back to our normal self also you have Natasha Cloud as well they're all world
guard there and then you have the second year player Shakira Austin who I thought played
very well last year their center Brittany Skye they got via free agency and then of course
Ariel Atkins as well so Washington Mystics I think they'll be a solid team once again
how they fare against the super teams that's been formed in the offseason that'll be of
interest as well but Washington will be a team to be reckoned with as usual so with that
said that's the WNBA draft guys I did have a bit of a commentary for the commissioner
of the WNBA Kaffee Engelbert I did have a bit of commentary there I think it's high
time for the WNBA to first of all expand to at least two more teams I think it's time
because some of these players are just caught up in the numbers game you have 12 teams which
means 12 players on a roster so you're talking 144 players that's not a lot of players guys
so I think another two rosters will give you another 24 players that can show what they
can do at the next level so a few cities I think that Engelbert should consider is Houston
you had success there before with the comments that'd be a great story there also Philly
is another place to consider Memphis I think that could be a place you could tap into Sacramento
you had success there before with the Monarchs so that would be a bad option either Charlotte
is another place where you had a team there in the Sting so I think you can draw some
fans there and Seattle that'd be nice to get a team in Seattle this way you kind of gear
up just in case the NBA itself expands to maybe a 32 team league then you'll have a
Seattle squad back in the NBA so that's kind of a shot in the dark but I think that's one
thing she should consider and the second thing is guys I like the W NBA I watched in the
beginning that was for sure kind of fell away from it you know life and everything else
got in the way since I started the podcast I've kind of got back into it so I enjoyed
last season I enjoyed seeing Aja Wilson get her first W NBA title I really enjoyed that
I enjoyed the success that Becky Hammond had as well so I'm liking what I'm seeing happening
with the New York Liberty so much so I think I'll be attending some games there so and
I think it's going the league is going in the right direction but Kathy Engelberg well
I think you should do I think you should ride this wave of the success that the college
women's basketball game has had think you need to piggyback off of that even if you
have to advertise the current winners of the championship like you market a Lexis Morris
Deja Williams since they were two players who got drafted from that championship squad
there you definitely market a Leah Boston's I a cook LaTisha I'm here and also free of
bill definitely market those young ladies as well and yeah I think you need to ride
that wave as far as the success of college and ride that with the W NBA and also to your
TV deals I think you need a definitive package whether it be with ESPN my ESPN has the main
network they have ESPN to ESPN news so forth I think they even have a ESPN three so if
you got a TV package with them fine just make the games available and clear to the consumer
where they can find the games also the NBA TV channel once upon a time they used to show
W NBA games on the regular I mean it's the summertime well how many times you're going
to show reruns of the Chicago Bulls the Lakers Boston I mean you got 24 hours of programming
there you can't squeeze some W NBA games in there somewhere I'm just saying yeah so I
think making the games available whether it be on the TV streaming I know a couple of
games popped on the Amazon app yeah so you need to ride this wave and even the draft
you had just now it was the most watched draft in your history so you need to take advantage
of this so I'm just saying yeah so alright so that is my take on the W NBA let me get
into these postseason awards right quick we already had an award given out the defensive
player of the year going to Jaren Jackson Jr. and rightfully so he led the league in blocks
and he was proficient in steals as well so definitely well deserved others that was in
the running were Brooke Lopez for the Milwaukee Bucks and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers
so here's my predictions as far as the other awards I think rookie of the year is pretty
much a no-brainer Paulo Banquero of the Orlando Magic I think he's the clear winner there
my honorable mentions would be Keegan Murray who who set a rookie record for threes made
for the Sacramento Kings I think he's on the low he's had a very good year and he's one
of the few rookies that are still standing still playing so and making the impact so
definitely Keegan Murray and Jaylin Williams out of OKC he had a fine year as well there's
others to Ben Maffarin out of Indiana with Indiana Pacers he's another one who had a
pretty good year also yeah but I think it's Paulo Banqueros or to lose so then we have
coach of the year I think that one too is a no-brainer I think it's Mike Brown the Sacramento
Kings coach what he's done having them the third seed in the West nobody's could have
predicted that so to me he's like the clear-cut winner I would imagine Joe Missoula get some
votes as well the Boston Celtics coach and what he's done with that team to keep them
up there still with the absence of M.A. Aduca so Joe Missoula definitely deserves some consideration
I know people talk about Jock Vaughn of the Brooklyn Nets and the mess he had to deal
with and still having this team in the playoffs but here's a coach I don't think really gets
talked about but I think he deserves a ton of credit for what's happened this year and
that's the Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins think about this guys he started the
year Jaren Jackson remember Jaren Jackson Junior he didn't start playing until about a month
or so into the season so you had that then you had the job Moran incident where he was
lost for eight games as well as games where he missed outside of that also he's playing
without his center Steven Adams who he lost back in February also he lost Brandon Clark
for the year as well with a torn ACL and for all of that to happen he still had his team
about to game a two out of first place in the West that's one heck of a job there you
got to give the man his credit so Taylor Jenkins I think deserves some consideration but again
Mike Brown will get it in pretty much a landslide so let's move on to most improved player this
is one that can go a number of ways guys you have the favorite Laurie marketing out of Utah
with the Utah Jazz he's one player that seems like the odds on favorite I say hold up wait
a minute what about shy Gilchis Alexander whose numbers were solid across the board he
averaged over 30 points per game he carried his squad as best as he could throughout the
year I think he deserves a lot of credit for most improved player and then of course you
have Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and what he's done and what he's brought to
that franchise averaging 24 and 6 propelling the Knicks into the fifth seed in the east
where no one guys everyone had them in the playing game guys but Jalen Brunson has rose
and shown so you can make an argument for him definitely so I could go either way with
any of these three I think the more deserving person is probably shy Gilchis Alexander because
he was actually able to be healthy pretty much the whole year so I would give it to
him Jalen Brunson second and then Laurie market and third so I say third because he got jerked
in and out of the lineup I know he was pretty much present the first half of the season
but they kept jerking them in and out of the lineup after the all-star break and I think
availability has to count that's why I lean towards shy Gilchis Alexander at least I do
so then you have executive of the year this is one there you could go a lot of different
directions guys it seems like the odds on favorite is Colby Altman the GM out of Cleveland
with the Cavaliers he was able to pull off the Donovan Mitchell trade also well that's
pretty much it guys he pulled off that one trade and everybody's made him the odds on
favorite I get it I understand they did win the 51 games I got grant you that I don't
know if he's such the runaway everybody makes them out to be but and here's a couple of
executives to consider Rob Polinka for the Los Angeles Lakers they were dead in the water
guys at one point they were two and ten on the air LeBron was missing for a good towards
the end with that injury he had his foot injury then you had Anthony Davis with of course
a myriad of injuries who was in and out of lineup but he was there when LeBron was not
in his availability really help the Lakers but also remember all those draft deadline
deals that Polinka made bringing in a D'Angelo Russell Malik Beasley Jarrett Vanderbilt also
he brought in Mo Bamba so also he got back a Dennis Schroeder as well he's able to bring
him back so Rob Polinka I think deserves a lot of consideration as well when it comes
to exactly year and then the name I don't even hear it called but he's done a great
job with two deals and that's Leon Rose of the New York Knicks his signing of Jalen Brunson
where a lot of people said they were overpaying for him a lot of detractors and it looks like
Jalen's proved them wrong but Leon Rose had the confidence to do such a deal and then
their trade deadline deal that brought in Josh Hart which I feel kind of turned this season
around and he's been such a asset for that team especially down the stretch so Leon Rose
why why were you not considering him and also oh by the way Isaiah Hartenstein who's played
all 82 games and has been a solid contributor whether it's coming in to start for Mitchell
Robinson or coming off the bench with that bench mob that the Knicks have he's been
solid the whole year so especially down the stretch so Leon Rose needs to get some love
to as far as the executive of the year goes so that's my take on it so I could go either
away with any of these three guys definitely that's for sure so and then you have six
man of the year looks like it's a three headed race Emanuel quickly of the New York Knicks
Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics and Bobby Portis for the Milwaukee Bucks it's
more so two headed between quickly and Brogdon but here's what the people who are campaigning
for Brogdon brings up he had more games off the bench than quickly and that quickly supposedly
did most of his damage as a starter as opposed to a six man but we've had six men in the
past who's won the awards who's had to place starter minutes had to start in place of players
because of injuries or whatever so why are we moving the goalposts when a Nick is involved
and just ignoring the there's no mandate to say of course you have to have a number of
games as a bench player I get that but when opportunity comes where he has to start he
has to start and that's the way it is but he's still considered a bench player so why
does something move with the goalposts I don't understand so to me quickly is my favorite
for the six man of the year but again you're gonna have these guys say oh Brogdon came
off the bench more than quickly so I say quickly but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets robbed
in Brogdon ends up winning so that's the way that goes and then of course we have last
but not least your MVP this between three players Joel and Bede of the Philadelphia
76ers Nikolai Yolkic the Denver Nuggets and Giannis Antutokopo of the Milwaukee Bucks
I told you in a few episodes ago before the playoff previews I gave you there all the
numbers all that they did how Nikolai Yolkic two time MVP who nearly average a triple double
he came point to assist shy of that his team was number one in the West I grant you that
Joel and Bede's just been a beast man he led the league and scoring again without Joel
and Bede in that lineup that team goes nowhere so I think he was dominant throughout the
year I think I would give it to him Bede I would give it to him Bede but again if Joker
wanted I wouldn't be too shocked I'd be shocked if Giannis gets it above any of these guys
they seem like Giannis miss a lot more games this year so yeah so again I'm one for availability
and you gotta give and be this props he was very available this year so I'm giving it
to him Bede so alright guys so that's my prediction as far as the postseason awards
go and there's another award best clutch player and I know that that's gonna be a runaway
it'll be Darren Fox he has all the numbers that points to that so anyway so that's it
for me guys I guess you'll hear from me once the first round is done of the playoff so
once again I thank you for listening you know where to find me all things basketball with
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