Jeff, you allude to other teaming possibly “poaching” players off of the Storm’s first-ever Developmental Roster. Wouldn’t it be more likely that the Storm would (or should!) poach players from teams more heavily-laden with frontline players (eg: Lynx, Liberty, Aces or Fever)? Seems to me those teams might have to be making decisions that involve releasing some really young players with a higher ceiling or upside than many of the players on the current Storm roster. I’m still having to come to grips with the fact that this clearly a rebuilding year and a team in transition. With that in mind, I hope the Storm casts a wide net and keeps accumulating young(ish) talent.
Yes, this is also true. In a sense, all teams have to worry about this now. But even if the Storm are perceived to have one of the worst teams in the WNBA, it doesn't mean that another team won't swoop in and steal a player. I would say some examples of this. Zia Cooke was the 10th overall pick in 2023. It's not unreasonable to think that if the Storm didn't put her on the main roster, that another team wouldn't sign her.
It should be noted that if a team is trying to "poach" a player from the Storm developmental roster, they do have to place that player on their main 12-player roster. Most development options probably aren't too high a risk of that happening.
Your point about coming to grips with the fact that it's a rebuilding year is something a lot of people need to realize. It doesn't make sense for the Storm to go after players like Natasha Cloud or Tina Charles. If they were to do that, then they should have just re-signed Nneka and Skylar, who are the better players. If the Storm are trying to rebuild, then they should play their young players, develop them, don't sign older veterans that will take playing time away from these younger players, and don't worry about wins & losses.
At least on paper, the Storm doesn’t appear to have many DS candidates that would have other teams frothing over: recycled players from the Wayback Machine, rookies who were surprising camp signees. So, yeah, the Storm should be (and if they’re not, it’s FO malpractice) the ones in poach mode.
There are 5 post players guaranteed to make the active roster including Dom Malonga, Awa Fam, Ezi Magbegor, "Big Mama" Stef Dolson (a great addition IMO), and Mackenzie Holmes. Unfortunately, Ezi is out for 1-2 months and we're told that Awa Fam won't be in Seattle until May. Hopefully that's no later than May 2, but we'll see.
I too wonder if they’ll keep Lexie. I think Quinn did her no favors. She had some sparks of good minutes last year and then would ride the bench for the next several games not allowing her to develop any consistency. I think with consistent rotations, she could be impactful. But they also have cap space for days in a rebuild, so they could pay her outright and focus on developing the rookies.
I’m guessing the Valkyries preseason is not going to be aired. Are you going to have access to the stats/data?
We're a little thin at the wing position. Hopefully Jordan Horston is healthy enough to start at the 3 as soon as our first exhibition game - Saturday April 25. Apparently Katie Lou Samuelson is not healthy enough to spell Jordy. We do not know when Lou will be healthy enough to play but she has to have one of the 12 spots on the active roster. They could play Flau'jae at the 3 for a few minutes but right now it looks like she will be our starting SG. If Jalyn Brown were to make the active roster (which is not highly likely), she would be a great candidate to spell Jordan Horston at the 3.
Of the 3 guards you were talking about, I think only Zia Cooke is a lock to make the 12-person active roster. Taina Mair could be on the active roster or she could be placed on the developmental 'squad'. Lexie Brown cannot be put on the D-squad, so, if she doesn't make the active roster she will have to be released and paid.
Jeff, you allude to other teaming possibly “poaching” players off of the Storm’s first-ever Developmental Roster. Wouldn’t it be more likely that the Storm would (or should!) poach players from teams more heavily-laden with frontline players (eg: Lynx, Liberty, Aces or Fever)? Seems to me those teams might have to be making decisions that involve releasing some really young players with a higher ceiling or upside than many of the players on the current Storm roster. I’m still having to come to grips with the fact that this clearly a rebuilding year and a team in transition. With that in mind, I hope the Storm casts a wide net and keeps accumulating young(ish) talent.
Yes, this is also true. In a sense, all teams have to worry about this now. But even if the Storm are perceived to have one of the worst teams in the WNBA, it doesn't mean that another team won't swoop in and steal a player. I would say some examples of this. Zia Cooke was the 10th overall pick in 2023. It's not unreasonable to think that if the Storm didn't put her on the main roster, that another team wouldn't sign her.
It should be noted that if a team is trying to "poach" a player from the Storm developmental roster, they do have to place that player on their main 12-player roster. Most development options probably aren't too high a risk of that happening.
Your point about coming to grips with the fact that it's a rebuilding year is something a lot of people need to realize. It doesn't make sense for the Storm to go after players like Natasha Cloud or Tina Charles. If they were to do that, then they should have just re-signed Nneka and Skylar, who are the better players. If the Storm are trying to rebuild, then they should play their young players, develop them, don't sign older veterans that will take playing time away from these younger players, and don't worry about wins & losses.
At least on paper, the Storm doesn’t appear to have many DS candidates that would have other teams frothing over: recycled players from the Wayback Machine, rookies who were surprising camp signees. So, yeah, the Storm should be (and if they’re not, it’s FO malpractice) the ones in poach mode.
There are 5 post players guaranteed to make the active roster including Dom Malonga, Awa Fam, Ezi Magbegor, "Big Mama" Stef Dolson (a great addition IMO), and Mackenzie Holmes. Unfortunately, Ezi is out for 1-2 months and we're told that Awa Fam won't be in Seattle until May. Hopefully that's no later than May 2, but we'll see.
Dolson was disappointing last night.
I too wonder if they’ll keep Lexie. I think Quinn did her no favors. She had some sparks of good minutes last year and then would ride the bench for the next several games not allowing her to develop any consistency. I think with consistent rotations, she could be impactful. But they also have cap space for days in a rebuild, so they could pay her outright and focus on developing the rookies.
I’m guessing the Valkyries preseason is not going to be aired. Are you going to have access to the stats/data?
The game should be on CW and League Pass. It will be a normal preseason game, and not just live scrimmage like they’ve done in LA in the past.
I think I read that Saturday's preseason game against the Valkyries will be aired on KOMO 4, too.
Thank you both!!
We're a little thin at the wing position. Hopefully Jordan Horston is healthy enough to start at the 3 as soon as our first exhibition game - Saturday April 25. Apparently Katie Lou Samuelson is not healthy enough to spell Jordy. We do not know when Lou will be healthy enough to play but she has to have one of the 12 spots on the active roster. They could play Flau'jae at the 3 for a few minutes but right now it looks like she will be our starting SG. If Jalyn Brown were to make the active roster (which is not highly likely), she would be a great candidate to spell Jordan Horston at the 3.
Of the 3 guards you were talking about, I think only Zia Cooke is a lock to make the 12-person active roster. Taina Mair could be on the active roster or she could be placed on the developmental 'squad'. Lexie Brown cannot be put on the D-squad, so, if she doesn't make the active roster she will have to be released and paid.