Indiana Fever free agency: Breaking down moves around Caitlin Clark including Bonner, Howard, more

Tony East breaks down the Indiana Fever 2025 free agency period, including the additions of DeWanna Bonner, Natasha Howard, Sophie Cunningham, and Sydney Colson. Plus, Kelsey Mitchell re-signed, NaLyssa Smith was traded, and why a move could still be coming.
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[@stavrosforever]

Sophie should be downright scary from three with all the open looks she’ll get w CC and KM out there. Hoping DB has her best 3PFG% of her career as well. So excited to see Flash and AB together, too!

[@alacumba]

It doesn't matter who starts! The matchup nightmares for opponents will be dynamite. Plus, the Fever should wear down teams with a constant rotation of fresh legs!

[@JamesStewart-pw6qd]

Kelly K., said at the K.Mitch., resigning speech,"Now were off to the races" all the Domino's fell, in short order, after KM, was signed. 😊

[@thelmaalmaden8131]

Clark era! Fever hottest team in W! CC fan fr.Philippines🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@GOLDKW-bl4gp]

Tony you forgot to mention what you wrote in "The Next". CC specifically wanted Colson. Kate Martin is the common link between the two.

[@kaymcelrath1732]

No way will the Valkyries let Kate. Tif Hayes and Kate were close and now back together and Kate brings attention and box office to the young team.

[@Locutus.Borg.]

​ @TonyEastPacersFever Thank you for going over the salary cap issue for the Fever. I have been posting suggestions on various forums talking about the possibility of a trade with GSV due to both teams salary cap concerns (GSV being well below their minimum and the Fever being out of salary cap room and one player short of their 12 player roster, on the cap). The pieces in play for the Fever *realistically* are Katie Lou Samuelson ($180,250), Kristy Wallace ($80,823), Damiris Dantas ($100,000), Jaelyn Brown ($66,079) * and the 19th and 20th draft picks in 2025 draft. Is there any chance of a trade for Temi Fagbenle? * presumed, as the minimum salary for a WNBA rookie in 2025 is $66,079 for players with two or fewer years of service.

[@Whoofwhoof444]

Throw in Bonner and ask for Martin and Temi!

[@joysgroove]

They aren’t going to trade for Temi GSV would hang up the phone so quick

[@Ryyian]

Are you mentally disabled ❓ ​@@Whoofwhoof444

[@Locutus.Borg.]

@@Whoofwhoof444 No. DeWanna Bonner is a HUGE addition to the Fever's roster, and she is only on a one-year rental (after which, at 38 yrs, she may retire anyway). My only worry with DB is that she will become NaLyssa Smith 2.0 if her partner continues to take shots at CC and the Fever fan base on social media. Otherwise, as long as she is 100% committed, which appears to be the case, she is a lock-in for 2025. I would support a trade of Katie Lou Samuelson, Kristy Wallace, Damiris Dantas (combined cap space = $361,073). Adding the $42K left in the Fever's salary cap NOT including Jaelyn Brown comes to $403,073. Less $149K (Temi) and $100K (Kate) leaves $154,073. Jaelyn Brown's non-guaranteed training camp contract is $66,079. This leaves $87,994. As per 'Sportrac.com' WNBA Rookie Scales chart shows the value for the 19th and 20th picks both being $69,267. One pick can be used in the trade, but the other has to be kept to complete the 12 player roster for the Fever. This would leave the Fever just $3,188 below the WNBA salary cap ceiling. Realistically, GSV are light on centers and Temi is their most experienced 5. Kate Martin is also of considerable value to merchandising and ticket sales. Hence, Kate 'Money' Martin. So I don't think GSV would trade Kate no matter what. The Fever could still end up trading Katie Lou Samuelson, Kristy Wallace, Damiris Dantas and the 20th pick in the draft (keeping Jaelyn Brown and the 19th pick) for Temi Fagbenle. Alternatively, Temi might be keen to be the staring number 5, and she could value this over the potential for a championship in 2025. If the above trade did go through, it would be massively in GSV's favour, giving them 3 non-starters for 1 non-starter, a second round draft pick and help them to manage their minimum salary cap requirements. Of course, they would need to shed players from their current roster, but they can perhaps work out deals for draft picks.

[@Locutus.Borg.]

@@joysgroove What about Katie Lou Samuelson, Kristy Wallace, Damiris Dantas and either Jaelyn Brown or 19th draft pick in this year's draft for Temi? She is still a non-starting playing at this point in her career. GSV will easily be able to do player trades to get a better and more experienced number 5.

[@deanc88]

Awesome report!

[@Hoopslife4r]

Always good info! Really close up camera tho lol

[@CatherineJenkins-i1s]

Grace Berger Fan

[@amirmazza9064]

Would watch one of Golden State, Connecticut and Washington as potential trade destinations for KLS and Wallace. These are teams that have a lot of cap space, can afford to eat a bad contract and aren’t expected to make the playoffs.

[@TonyEastPacersFever]

@@amirmazza9064 agree

[@davidclos6193]

Great stuff First time watching and subsribed. Welcome to the Clarckies fan base. Let's go Dream team, Fever.

[@joysgroove]

I really hope they can situate the cap space dilemma soon. Jaylen Brown and the draft picks should at least have a chance to make the roster. The fever should definitely be looking to part ways with pick(s) and KLS/Wallace to send them to golden state Since you have contacts with fever people I hope you’re hinting at something that might happen LOL please god

[@GOLDKW-bl4gp]

When you draft an International player, hard to get them to come to America with the money they earn in Europe. Under the new TV contract that will help some. But to play on the court with CC has to be a selling point. Plus you can get off the court sponsors.

[@remproperties3560]

This is great information! I especially liked your details about the salary cap and who is protected vs not protected. I’m happy for Syd making $90k! I imagine that’s a jump from her Aces contract. I think GS would like Katie Lou. She has potential to improve since she was fresh off pregnancy last season. They can definitely afford her. She brings some height to the team. I like Katie Lou, but that contract is a burden for the Fever at this point. Looking forward to seeing the final roster come together!!

[@kaymcelrath1732]

If Katie Lou really wants to avoid a trade to GSV couldn’t she volunteer to somewhat reduce her 2025 salary to allow the Fever to stay under cap.

[@Vadimony]

The Colson contract is a little too hefty. I wish they didnt give her that 90k deal up-front as it kills their chance at a full roster. Kelsey getting a max this year isn't an issue, but hopefully she considers a more team-friendly deal for the future if they happen to win a championship. It would be nice for them to retool next CBA and off-season with great free agents available. She can maybe take advantage of the CC + AB rookie scale deal still and they could maybe win multiple championships (provided they can win) and be set up for the future seasons. Bonner, Howard are great signing and it is good for them to change the perception that they can't attract top free agents. Great outlook for 2026. But the contract situation is a little iffy--they will need to move KLS or Kristy Wallace. I would figure the safe choice is to ship Wallace and move some draft picks just to have space. Fever probably will give up a lot to move KLS salary, but I figure they wont gain as much from it by losing a 6'3 forward that can at least give solid results (something they can work with) but they likely are only left with this move now. I dont even know what team would want KLS--it also doesnt help Indy's rep with them giving up on her after she was willing to join them, but it is a business and they're in a win-now mode. Honestly, though, they likely working on moving both since the team doesnt have that much use for Kristy Wallace in the depth chart at all and KLS underperformed for them last year and was unplayable. It might be better for them to part ways and get a new culture.

[@GOLDKW-bl4gp]

Kelly did not accidently get this close to the cap without reason. Either Kelly had a deal with GSV or other and that team backed out or it will come down the road. Liberty, Lynx and a couple other teams have players in Europe developing. Lin Dunn and the Fever in general stayed away from Euro League and Euro Cup. Those players are great chess pieces in a Expansion Draft setting and for trades. The more you have under your control the better the outcome when you lose 1.

[@TonyEastPacersFever]

@@GOLDKW-bl4gp yeah, agree. They aren’t just like “oh crap!” Haha.

[@fry5family]

Will the new player CBA have a new rookie minimum and will existing rookie contracts automatically increase to the new rookie minimums?

[@TonyEastPacersFever]

@@fry5family that is the expectation, but it will only impact players drafted in that CBA

[@fry5family]

@@TonyEastPacersFever So Clark, Brink, Jackson, Boston, etc are bound to rookie contracts for years to come while new rookies may get paid twice as much... I guess a deal's a deal, but it probably doesn't generate good will in the locker room. BTW, great trade analysis video! Thank you.

[@TonyEastPacersFever]

@ that’s correct. It is great for the fever/other teams but a bummer for those payers.