The professional basketball community witnessed a surprise as the Indiana Fever announced an end to their partnership with DeWanna Bonner, following a series of only 14 matches. As per reports making rounds, the veteran player is set to be waived off amid unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a trade involving her. As recently as the last season, Bonner was in her prime, earning All-Star status, but her journey with the Fever never truly took off.
After her induction into the team via a one-year contract worth $200,000 in the previous offseason, Bonner struggled to adapt to her role within the Fever. Her initiation saw her commence the season’s first trio of contests as a starter, before a sudden transition to the bench. Bonner’s tenure on the bench lasted for six matches, after which she parted from the team due to undisclosed ‘personal reasons’.
During Bonner’s five-match absence, speculation grew regarding her disinterest in reverting back to Fever’s roster. Reports unveiled the fact that Bonner requested a trade, a call the Fever management attempted to abide by but yet failed to finalize a satisfactory trade deal. Meanwhile, her on-court statistics mirror her unsettled period on the team.
In the limited period of nine games she played for Fever, Bonner’s output showed an average score of 7.1 points coupled with 3.8 rebounds. This was a significant departure from the previous season’s performance, where Bonner was seen averaging 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game with the Connecticut Sun, her former team.
The 37-year-old’s expertise will be missed, considering her remarkable influence and omnipresence on the court. As part of the Fever’s next move, the team will put Bonner on waivers for the next 48 hours. Depending on teams’ response in this timeline, the proceeding steps regarding Bonner’s contract will be determined.
If any of the teams express interest and successfully claim Bonner within the stipulated waiver period, this suitor will bear the responsibility of her impending contract. On the other hand, if Bonner remains unclaimed post the stipulated waiver duration, she will enjoy the liberty of free agency. This broadens her prospect of associating with any team that expresses interest in her talent.
Fever plans for a replacement for Bonner are already underway. Reports hint towards Fever eyeing Aari McDonald, who has had a brief stint of three games with the team in this ongoing season. The Fever believes this would be a promising addition to their current roster.
The team currently holds a balanced start to the WNBA season with seven wins and an equal number of losses. Despite this standing, Bonner’s absence will likely be conspicuous given her illustrious career and notable performance.
Considering Bonner’s impressive credentials – she’s been an All-Star six times and even received MVP votes last season – it’s unlikely that she’ll remain a free agent for long. Multiple teams in the league would be eager to capitalize on her experience and skills if and when she hits the free-agent market.