This game was a little frustrating to me after how well they played on the road with their 2-game win streak (& almost 3). Dallas is pretty intimidating though with all their tall trees and other talent. I was very happy that Jewell was not seriously injured by the reckless closeout that wasn't called. Why weren't they calling those fouls? Does this need to be investigated? Our offense really wasn't clicking in this game despite one of Jewell's best efforts. We really got hammered on the boards, giving up way too many O-boards to Dallas and we continue to turn the ball over a lot, unfortunately. We won't win much until we correct that and do a better job rebounding the ball.
As far as any trades go, I don't believe that Jewell would be traded this year, but the owners may consider doing something in the off-season to prevent another disaster like what happened when Stewie just walked away and we got nothing in return. And I really like Gabby and I'd like to see her stay with the Storm, but, realistically, her first commitment is to her home country (France) so it's probably going to be tough to keep her after this season due to the conflict with the restrictive WNBPA CBA. That also makes it unlikely that any WNBA team would offer a 2024 or 2025 1st-rounder for her, but they might offer a high 2nd-rounder, which would give management something to think about. Of course if someone did offer a low 1st-rounder, I think they'd have to take the deal.
If Jewell leaves in free agency, unless she agrees to a sign-and-trade then the Storm wouldn't be able to get anything for her either. She'll be an Unrestricted Free Agent and she can't be cored again.
I don't know if Seattle would be able to get anything by trading Gabby Williams. But if a team like New York or Connecticut offered their 1st round pick you'd have to take it. Even if that's the 10th-12th overall pick. In a draft as deep as the 2024 class, that could still be a pretty strong player. We can't forget the Storm drafted Ezi 12th overall. The Dallas Wings and LA Sparks also own two first-round picks next year. Maybe one of them would be willing to part with their lesser first-round pick.
Richard Cohen usually has thoughtful analyses that I rarely disagree with. If you could get a high upside player or upper tier draft pick for Gabby, I absolutely think you make a trade. However, it’s hard to envision any team that Gabby would benefit the most also being willing to potentially disrupt their own chemistry or mortgage what's left of their future for a rental player. The teams that she could help the most are also ones that need her the least.
Jeff: With the Storm most likely to select fourth in the upcoming draft, who would you put in the pool of candidates at that slot? Obviously, there will be players expected to come out, who elect not to, but assuming all who can declare, do so, I'm curious as to the 4-5 players you think the Storm might target. Similarly, if they did make a trade, they'd most likely acquire a pick at the end of the first round; who might they select at, say, 10-12?
If Caitlin Clark comes out after this upcoming college season I expect her to go #1 overall. Unless the Storm get the #1 pick, I think the hope is that Clark goes back to college for a 5th year as the Storm might have a better chance to draft her in 2025. I also expect Paige Bueckers to stay in college. I think she might have two extra years of eligibility due to both the extra COVID year and her injuries. If I had to bet, I think both Clark and Bueckers come out in 2025. That is, unless one of them (more likely Bueckers) wants to be the #1 pick and opts to either come out this year or in 2026. I would be shocked if Clark isn't the #1 overall pick in whatever year she declares.
To the rest of your question, if the Storm are selecting 4th overall. The players I plan to watch/"scout" this upcoming college season would be Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Paige Bueckers (UConn), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Aaliyah Edwards (UConn), Rickea Jackson (Tennessee), Angel Reese (LSU), Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina), and Hailey Van Lith (LSU).
For players that the Storm could get with a late first-rounder or early 2nd round pick. Some I would consider or watch would be Charisma Osborne (UCLA), Jacy Sheldon (Ohio St.), Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Nika Muhl (UConn), Ayoka Lee (Kansas State). I'd also put Van Lith in this category as she might slip in the draft due to concerns of her being able to score at the WNBA level due to her diminutive size and going up against the world's best athletes.
As a die-hard Louisville fan, I've watched virtually game Van Lith played for the past three years. For a lot of reasons, I would be very reluctant for the Storm to use any sort of a high draft pick on her.
You praise Jewel but she took 28 shots at FG% 39.30. Not efficient and doesn’t get her teammates involved. Ezi only took 12 shots. This isn’t winning basketball and it’s not fun to watch.
While 28 shots is a ton, she still scored 31 points in the game which is not easy to do in the WNBA. Sami Whitcomb and Gabby Williams both played around the same amount of minutes as Jewell, each took around 10 shots and both shot a lower percentage than Loyd.
Ezi only took 12 shots but honestly that's an improvement for her. Far too often we see Magbegor only taking around 7-10 shots. As she continues to develop, improve, and gain more confidence, hopefully she'll start consistently taking 12-15 FGA per game.
I think your last point is the most important. Jewell Loyd is leading the WNBA in scoring. The Seattle Storm are the worst team in the WNBA standings. Those two things are facts. So I think it is fair to say that this isn't winning basketball. Watching Loyd has been really fun this season at times but losing game after game is not.
Assuming the Storm don't get the #1 pick (unlikely at this point) and Jewell Loyd leaves in free agency. Will the Storm be more or less entertaining to watch in 2024?
This game was a little frustrating to me after how well they played on the road with their 2-game win streak (& almost 3). Dallas is pretty intimidating though with all their tall trees and other talent. I was very happy that Jewell was not seriously injured by the reckless closeout that wasn't called. Why weren't they calling those fouls? Does this need to be investigated? Our offense really wasn't clicking in this game despite one of Jewell's best efforts. We really got hammered on the boards, giving up way too many O-boards to Dallas and we continue to turn the ball over a lot, unfortunately. We won't win much until we correct that and do a better job rebounding the ball.
As far as any trades go, I don't believe that Jewell would be traded this year, but the owners may consider doing something in the off-season to prevent another disaster like what happened when Stewie just walked away and we got nothing in return. And I really like Gabby and I'd like to see her stay with the Storm, but, realistically, her first commitment is to her home country (France) so it's probably going to be tough to keep her after this season due to the conflict with the restrictive WNBPA CBA. That also makes it unlikely that any WNBA team would offer a 2024 or 2025 1st-rounder for her, but they might offer a high 2nd-rounder, which would give management something to think about. Of course if someone did offer a low 1st-rounder, I think they'd have to take the deal.
If Jewell leaves in free agency, unless she agrees to a sign-and-trade then the Storm wouldn't be able to get anything for her either. She'll be an Unrestricted Free Agent and she can't be cored again.
I don't know if Seattle would be able to get anything by trading Gabby Williams. But if a team like New York or Connecticut offered their 1st round pick you'd have to take it. Even if that's the 10th-12th overall pick. In a draft as deep as the 2024 class, that could still be a pretty strong player. We can't forget the Storm drafted Ezi 12th overall. The Dallas Wings and LA Sparks also own two first-round picks next year. Maybe one of them would be willing to part with their lesser first-round pick.
Contrary to public opinion, the draft would not begin and end with Caitlin Clark.
Richard Cohen usually has thoughtful analyses that I rarely disagree with. If you could get a high upside player or upper tier draft pick for Gabby, I absolutely think you make a trade. However, it’s hard to envision any team that Gabby would benefit the most also being willing to potentially disrupt their own chemistry or mortgage what's left of their future for a rental player. The teams that she could help the most are also ones that need her the least.
Jeff: With the Storm most likely to select fourth in the upcoming draft, who would you put in the pool of candidates at that slot? Obviously, there will be players expected to come out, who elect not to, but assuming all who can declare, do so, I'm curious as to the 4-5 players you think the Storm might target. Similarly, if they did make a trade, they'd most likely acquire a pick at the end of the first round; who might they select at, say, 10-12?
If Caitlin Clark comes out after this upcoming college season I expect her to go #1 overall. Unless the Storm get the #1 pick, I think the hope is that Clark goes back to college for a 5th year as the Storm might have a better chance to draft her in 2025. I also expect Paige Bueckers to stay in college. I think she might have two extra years of eligibility due to both the extra COVID year and her injuries. If I had to bet, I think both Clark and Bueckers come out in 2025. That is, unless one of them (more likely Bueckers) wants to be the #1 pick and opts to either come out this year or in 2026. I would be shocked if Clark isn't the #1 overall pick in whatever year she declares.
To the rest of your question, if the Storm are selecting 4th overall. The players I plan to watch/"scout" this upcoming college season would be Caitlin Clark (Iowa), Paige Bueckers (UConn), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Aaliyah Edwards (UConn), Rickea Jackson (Tennessee), Angel Reese (LSU), Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina), and Hailey Van Lith (LSU).
For players that the Storm could get with a late first-rounder or early 2nd round pick. Some I would consider or watch would be Charisma Osborne (UCLA), Jacy Sheldon (Ohio St.), Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Nika Muhl (UConn), Ayoka Lee (Kansas State). I'd also put Van Lith in this category as she might slip in the draft due to concerns of her being able to score at the WNBA level due to her diminutive size and going up against the world's best athletes.
As a die-hard Louisville fan, I've watched virtually game Van Lith played for the past three years. For a lot of reasons, I would be very reluctant for the Storm to use any sort of a high draft pick on her.
You praise Jewel but she took 28 shots at FG% 39.30. Not efficient and doesn’t get her teammates involved. Ezi only took 12 shots. This isn’t winning basketball and it’s not fun to watch.
While 28 shots is a ton, she still scored 31 points in the game which is not easy to do in the WNBA. Sami Whitcomb and Gabby Williams both played around the same amount of minutes as Jewell, each took around 10 shots and both shot a lower percentage than Loyd.
Ezi only took 12 shots but honestly that's an improvement for her. Far too often we see Magbegor only taking around 7-10 shots. As she continues to develop, improve, and gain more confidence, hopefully she'll start consistently taking 12-15 FGA per game.
I think your last point is the most important. Jewell Loyd is leading the WNBA in scoring. The Seattle Storm are the worst team in the WNBA standings. Those two things are facts. So I think it is fair to say that this isn't winning basketball. Watching Loyd has been really fun this season at times but losing game after game is not.
Assuming the Storm don't get the #1 pick (unlikely at this point) and Jewell Loyd leaves in free agency. Will the Storm be more or less entertaining to watch in 2024?