Love hearing this! I noticed the team hadn't put it up on their YouTube channel yet, so I wanted to compile this and deliver it to you all. Anything extra I can do to make it feel worth supporting me makes me happy.
I don't mind Nneka and Skylar staying but they should step back and take the supporting vets role. Ezi has to be given the offensive role that would convince her to stay. There is no reason to let Ezi (26) walk to keep Nneka (36). And if Ezi leaves, my guess would be Gabby leave as well.
Then we have Nneka, Skylar (36), EW (35), plus Dom - a future franchise player (20). That makes no sense
I've written multiple times that it makes no sense to lose Ezi Magbegor in favor of Nneka Ogwumike. The Storm's long-term future starting front court should be Magbegor and Dominique Malonga. The only other acceptable one to me would be if the team learned Magbegor wanted out, and they ended up drafting Awa Fam or possibly Lauren Betts. But for team building, I think it makes way more sense to use that lottery pick on one of those guards - I am excited to see exactly what pick # the Storm get (we know it's guaranteed Top 5 and it's like a 98% chance it's Top 4) - but I can make the argument for all 3 of Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, and Flau'jae Johnson. I am very excited to watch those 3 players play this upcoming college basketball season.
I also believe they could start Ogwumike, Magbegor, and Malonga together. Nneka has expanded her three-point shooting enough that she can play the wing (Small Forward). They couldn't do it this season because they didn't have enough backup posts or even someone like Jordan Horston who can play between the 2-4. Maybe Seattle could start those 3, too, if they use their other first-round pick on another solid post player like Serah Williams, Janiah Barker, or someone like that.
I'm going to work on an Ezi-related article that I'll hopefully complete in the next week or so.
Thank you Jeff, I'm looking forward to the article.
I get the idea of shifting Nneka to the wing, but honestly, she’s still performing at a high level at her position. I would expect she will have several good offers coming her way. Skylar’s stock might have dipped after last season, but that’s not the case with Nneka just yet.
As for Seattle, it feels like the team is in a place where there's a lot of talents and potentials, just on different timelines, and it doesn’t quite mesh. Hence, breaking something up might be the best path forward.
That's exactly right, and I've written about that before. If they retain Nneka and Skylar, which, at this point, I am leaning towards they will, it does muddy things up a bit. Sadly, with Ogwumike and Diggins as the leaders and the top two players on the team, the Storm finished 5th and 7th in the standings. They've won 1 playoff game and haven't made it out of the 1st round. The Storm ownership can believe that a lot of the blame should go on the coaching staff and believe that bringing in a new Head Coach will make a huge difference. And it might. But I'm not sure relying on players who are 36 years old is a smart decision. Especially, because I wouldn't be surprised if the league expands to 50 games or more next season. We've already seen younger players like Aliyah Boston and the Indiana Fever dominate them. A'ja Wilson continues to give them problems. Phoenix with AT and Satou gave them some problems as well.
If they look to move on and go through a rebuild. I feel like this would be a good time to do it. They can rebuild around Dominique Malonga, Jordan Horston, their 2026 Lottery pick, and ideally Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams. Even with that core, they might be a playoff team still. But if they aren't, then they're adding another lottery pick to that core group. They would have the potential to really build something special, and in a few years, when players like Alyssa Thomas, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones are likely past their prime, the Storm's core would be entering its prime. Sure, they'd still have to deal with the Fever with Boston and Caitlin Clark, but they'd probably be better set up than any other franchise (certainly in the Top 3-5).
Its hard to believe players passed prime age in Nneka and Skylar are going to do better next year (even with better coaching) against MVP-level players who are reaching prime in Phee, A'ja, Stewie, AT. And if you take Ezi out of the equation, that is even less possible, Nneka is not necessary a great interior defender, i would say average/a bit above average. And Dom this season has her offence coming to her first, her defence will need more time. Without Ezi's defensive impact, I see the team weaker on that end.
Thanks for doing this (and everything else you do here)!
Thank you so much, Jeff!
Thank you for posting I could not find these anywhere. Worth the subscription for this alone.
Love hearing this! I noticed the team hadn't put it up on their YouTube channel yet, so I wanted to compile this and deliver it to you all. Anything extra I can do to make it feel worth supporting me makes me happy.
Thank you Jeff!
I don't mind Nneka and Skylar staying but they should step back and take the supporting vets role. Ezi has to be given the offensive role that would convince her to stay. There is no reason to let Ezi (26) walk to keep Nneka (36). And if Ezi leaves, my guess would be Gabby leave as well.
Then we have Nneka, Skylar (36), EW (35), plus Dom - a future franchise player (20). That makes no sense
I've written multiple times that it makes no sense to lose Ezi Magbegor in favor of Nneka Ogwumike. The Storm's long-term future starting front court should be Magbegor and Dominique Malonga. The only other acceptable one to me would be if the team learned Magbegor wanted out, and they ended up drafting Awa Fam or possibly Lauren Betts. But for team building, I think it makes way more sense to use that lottery pick on one of those guards - I am excited to see exactly what pick # the Storm get (we know it's guaranteed Top 5 and it's like a 98% chance it's Top 4) - but I can make the argument for all 3 of Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd, and Flau'jae Johnson. I am very excited to watch those 3 players play this upcoming college basketball season.
I also believe they could start Ogwumike, Magbegor, and Malonga together. Nneka has expanded her three-point shooting enough that she can play the wing (Small Forward). They couldn't do it this season because they didn't have enough backup posts or even someone like Jordan Horston who can play between the 2-4. Maybe Seattle could start those 3, too, if they use their other first-round pick on another solid post player like Serah Williams, Janiah Barker, or someone like that.
I'm going to work on an Ezi-related article that I'll hopefully complete in the next week or so.
Thank you Jeff, I'm looking forward to the article.
I get the idea of shifting Nneka to the wing, but honestly, she’s still performing at a high level at her position. I would expect she will have several good offers coming her way. Skylar’s stock might have dipped after last season, but that’s not the case with Nneka just yet.
As for Seattle, it feels like the team is in a place where there's a lot of talents and potentials, just on different timelines, and it doesn’t quite mesh. Hence, breaking something up might be the best path forward.
That's exactly right, and I've written about that before. If they retain Nneka and Skylar, which, at this point, I am leaning towards they will, it does muddy things up a bit. Sadly, with Ogwumike and Diggins as the leaders and the top two players on the team, the Storm finished 5th and 7th in the standings. They've won 1 playoff game and haven't made it out of the 1st round. The Storm ownership can believe that a lot of the blame should go on the coaching staff and believe that bringing in a new Head Coach will make a huge difference. And it might. But I'm not sure relying on players who are 36 years old is a smart decision. Especially, because I wouldn't be surprised if the league expands to 50 games or more next season. We've already seen younger players like Aliyah Boston and the Indiana Fever dominate them. A'ja Wilson continues to give them problems. Phoenix with AT and Satou gave them some problems as well.
If they look to move on and go through a rebuild. I feel like this would be a good time to do it. They can rebuild around Dominique Malonga, Jordan Horston, their 2026 Lottery pick, and ideally Ezi Magbegor and Gabby Williams. Even with that core, they might be a playoff team still. But if they aren't, then they're adding another lottery pick to that core group. They would have the potential to really build something special, and in a few years, when players like Alyssa Thomas, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones are likely past their prime, the Storm's core would be entering its prime. Sure, they'd still have to deal with the Fever with Boston and Caitlin Clark, but they'd probably be better set up than any other franchise (certainly in the Top 3-5).
This thread is 🔥.
Thank you Jeff, based on the article https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/46350458/seattle-storm-focus-turning-corner-new-coach, it does look like they are not committing to a full rebuild, and its kind of a missing opportunity imo.
Its hard to believe players passed prime age in Nneka and Skylar are going to do better next year (even with better coaching) against MVP-level players who are reaching prime in Phee, A'ja, Stewie, AT. And if you take Ezi out of the equation, that is even less possible, Nneka is not necessary a great interior defender, i would say average/a bit above average. And Dom this season has her offence coming to her first, her defence will need more time. Without Ezi's defensive impact, I see the team weaker on that end.
Thanks so much Jeff!!! Hope you enjoy the off season