Ever since she was named an All-Star, Ezi seems to have receded a bit. Still waiting for her to just take over.
Jeff: Looking to next year, how will the Storm navigate being hamstrung with “dead money” contracts? They need help, but they also have a quarter of next year’s cap tied to non-performing players.
I don't think it's quite that doom and gloom. I would say the only bad contract they'll have is with Mercedes Russell. I still think the Sami Whitcomb signing was a good one. She's a great leader, personality, she's still a talented player even if there will be some games where she doesn't score. If Jewell Loyd opts to sign with another team, then the team will have a ton of salary cap space. Even if they re-sign Jewell to a super max, there is still money to work with. Presumably, the team would have Jordan Horston, Dulcy, and Jade all on the roster still on their rookie deals. Plus, at a minimum they're top draft selection from the 2024 draft. That's 4 roster spots right there that will be on very cheap rookie scale contracts. If they keep more than one rookie from the 2024 draft class, that would be 5 players on rookie deals or nearly half the team. They should be fine regarding the salary cap.
Jeff: thanks for talking me back from the ledge. I'm good with Whitcomb's deal, for the very reasons you outline. Unless my intel is bad, it looks to me that Nurse will still be on the books for next year. That deal was puzzling from the jump. I'd never been smitten with her game, and nothing I've seen this year has changed that. I'm hoping - fingers crossed - that Gabby will figure into the cap equation for next year.
Kia Nurse is signed through next year at around $140,000. While I think they need to get more out of Kia I don't look at her as a lost cause. She's had a couple of poor games recently but before then she had a few games in a row with 10-12 points. That's what they need from her. They need her to stay confident and keep shooting when she gets good looks. This is her first full season in over a year so it'll take some time.
You may already use this, but Her Hoops Stats Salary Cap sheets are what I reference to know where the team is at with players and which players are signed, UFA, or RFA. It's a fantastic tool that makes my job easier and my reporting better.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
Ever since she was named an All-Star, Ezi seems to have receded a bit. Still waiting for her to just take over.
Jeff: Looking to next year, how will the Storm navigate being hamstrung with “dead money” contracts? They need help, but they also have a quarter of next year’s cap tied to non-performing players.
I don't think it's quite that doom and gloom. I would say the only bad contract they'll have is with Mercedes Russell. I still think the Sami Whitcomb signing was a good one. She's a great leader, personality, she's still a talented player even if there will be some games where she doesn't score. If Jewell Loyd opts to sign with another team, then the team will have a ton of salary cap space. Even if they re-sign Jewell to a super max, there is still money to work with. Presumably, the team would have Jordan Horston, Dulcy, and Jade all on the roster still on their rookie deals. Plus, at a minimum they're top draft selection from the 2024 draft. That's 4 roster spots right there that will be on very cheap rookie scale contracts. If they keep more than one rookie from the 2024 draft class, that would be 5 players on rookie deals or nearly half the team. They should be fine regarding the salary cap.
Jeff: thanks for talking me back from the ledge. I'm good with Whitcomb's deal, for the very reasons you outline. Unless my intel is bad, it looks to me that Nurse will still be on the books for next year. That deal was puzzling from the jump. I'd never been smitten with her game, and nothing I've seen this year has changed that. I'm hoping - fingers crossed - that Gabby will figure into the cap equation for next year.
Kia Nurse is signed through next year at around $140,000. While I think they need to get more out of Kia I don't look at her as a lost cause. She's had a couple of poor games recently but before then she had a few games in a row with 10-12 points. That's what they need from her. They need her to stay confident and keep shooting when she gets good looks. This is her first full season in over a year so it'll take some time.
You may already use this, but Her Hoops Stats Salary Cap sheets are what I reference to know where the team is at with players and which players are signed, UFA, or RFA. It's a fantastic tool that makes my job easier and my reporting better.
https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/team/2023/seattle-storm-11eaecc7-3572-876c-b611-2362f5011b0b/