LJ to Phoenix ...
- Thread starter uncommonclay
- Start date
Blockbustery, but I'm not sure I'm all that concerned. It will change their offensive dynamic somewhat, but it still feels like they have a hole somewhere. LJ to me upgrades what they get from Tangela, but something still seems to be missing to me.
Oh, if they keep Jackson healthy all season that could be important too.
Oh, if they keep Jackson healthy all season that could be important too.
I'm only nominally concerned with Jackson ending up in Phoenix. Of rather more interest to me than where she ended up is:
1) That she was willing to leave Seattle in the first place, particularly after saying that she was going to leave the WNBA if the Storm left Seattle; I'm having a hard time reconciling word and deed here.
2) What happens to Seattle now? A year ago, they were trying to stockpile All-Stars to make a run at a championship, and now, Sue Bird is ostensibly the only thing keeping that team from being disbanded. I mean, I'm not particularly worried about the health of the league as a whole (at least, not yet, anyway), because I get that it's still finding it's level and all, but which teams are going away is infinitely more important than the fact that teams are going away.
1) That she was willing to leave Seattle in the first place, particularly after saying that she was going to leave the WNBA if the Storm left Seattle; I'm having a hard time reconciling word and deed here.
2) What happens to Seattle now? A year ago, they were trying to stockpile All-Stars to make a run at a championship, and now, Sue Bird is ostensibly the only thing keeping that team from being disbanded. I mean, I'm not particularly worried about the health of the league as a whole (at least, not yet, anyway), because I get that it's still finding it's level and all, but which teams are going away is infinitely more important than the fact that teams are going away.
1. I think Jackson's commitment to Seattle became iffy with with arrival of Brian Agler and her interest in Phoenix is a result of her connection with certain players on that team. I don't think it had anything to do with the health of that franchise or the ownership.
2. I blame Seattle's situation SQUARELY on Agler. Minnesota has nearly returned to the present after Agler bombed that team into the stone age. People point to the ridiculous trade of Katie Smith as the end of that franchise, I just felt that it was only the final nail in the coffin that Agler spent years building as a horrible GM.
2. I blame Seattle's situation SQUARELY on Agler. Minnesota has nearly returned to the present after Agler bombed that team into the stone age. People point to the ridiculous trade of Katie Smith as the end of that franchise, I just felt that it was only the final nail in the coffin that Agler spent years building as a horrible GM.
I say a hole because she doesn't do what Penny Taylor did. When they haven't had Taylor they've been pretty pedestrian.
LJ and Tangela do the same thing offensively, Jackson is better at it for sure so it's a moderate gain to me relative to what they already got out of that position on the floor. They already could light up the scoreboard, they were missing something last year and I don't think this fills what they lacked.
And yes, she has to stay healthy (which will be a tall order, eh..so to speak).
I'm not handing anybody the banner until the end of the regular season. I seem to recall LA was supposed to win it all last year and we saw how that worked out. Oh, and there was that little thing about the "Perfect Storm" too.
LJ and Tangela do the same thing offensively, Jackson is better at it for sure so it's a moderate gain to me relative to what they already got out of that position on the floor. They already could light up the scoreboard, they were missing something last year and I don't think this fills what they lacked.
And yes, she has to stay healthy (which will be a tall order, eh..so to speak).
I'm not handing anybody the banner until the end of the regular season. I seem to recall LA was supposed to win it all last year and we saw how that worked out. Oh, and there was that little thing about the "Perfect Storm" too.
LA's problem is that they didn't have any WNBA-caliber guards (and still don't), meaning they didn't get any leadership or production from their backcourt. Their starting PG shot 28% from the field last year and had her fair share of help getting an unwarranted spot on that team (though a connection with another former Lady Vol). With Taurasi and Pondexter, I don't think that's an issue. They're legitimate ballhandlers, proven professional champions, and Olympic gold medalists. Add Jackson to the mix and I think you've got the best and most balanced core in WNBA history.
Rebkell sources (CB--VERY reliable) is saying--without naming names--that this signing involves a trade as well...
Will it be a draft pick or player(s) or both? I'm confused by this as LJ is a UFA, but I'm guessing it must be to clear cap space or to narrow down to the magic 11 roster...
Also looks like the Tina Thompson signing will also have a trade involved as well.
Sad to see what is going on in Seattle...Swoopes, Yo, and now LJ all gone...
Poor Sue Bird.
Will it be a draft pick or player(s) or both? I'm confused by this as LJ is a UFA, but I'm guessing it must be to clear cap space or to narrow down to the magic 11 roster...
Also looks like the Tina Thompson signing will also have a trade involved as well.
Sad to see what is going on in Seattle...Swoopes, Yo, and now LJ all gone...
Poor Sue Bird.
If Phoenix signs Jackson, that does not concern me one single bit. The season has to be played. If I am not mistaken, folk said the same thing about LA last season, and you see how that turned out. I have learned this one thing, in basketball there is only "one ball" and it is to be properly shared.
There is no way (and I repeat) no way Pondexter, Taurasi or Jackson will be able to properly share one ball (especially Pondexter). The concept of Hall of Fame Teams (Lakers of '04, Storm of '08) always fall below expectation. Look at Phoenix potential lineup:
PG - Cappie Pondexter
SG - Diana Taurasi
SF - Lauren Jackson
PF - Tangela Smith
C - Nicole Ohlde
I'm sorry this is not Spartak Russia, where you are a bought team and the opposition on the other side is a bunch of raga-muffins. "Bring it on Phoenix".
But as a side note, if this signing is true, what do you think Sue Bird is feeling right now. I mean don't they play on the same Russian team? That would be terrible for her; she deserves better than this.
There is no way (and I repeat) no way Pondexter, Taurasi or Jackson will be able to properly share one ball (especially Pondexter). The concept of Hall of Fame Teams (Lakers of '04, Storm of '08) always fall below expectation. Look at Phoenix potential lineup:PG - Cappie Pondexter
SG - Diana Taurasi
SF - Lauren Jackson
PF - Tangela Smith
C - Nicole Ohlde
I'm sorry this is not Spartak Russia, where you are a bought team and the opposition on the other side is a bunch of raga-muffins. "Bring it on Phoenix".
But as a side note, if this signing is true, what do you think Sue Bird is feeling right now. I mean don't they play on the same Russian team? That would be terrible for her; she deserves better than this.
Ohlde can't possibly start can she? You either play Tangela out of position or LJ out of position and I don't see how that fits system-wise, unless Tangela moves on. For Jackson it may not matter, but I think it affects Smith, or at least it seemed to when she was here. You take Jackson away from the basket, she's not on the glass. I'll take that.
I don't think the conversation was about the guard play, which was certainly the elephant in the room, when people talked dynasty ala the LA front court. And it was supposed to be a given that will the assemblage in the Emerald City it was the best roster ever. Hyperbole sure, but still some people believed it...
I'm not pooh-poohing the impact of Jackson, I just aint shaken by it because there are other aspects of that group that I think don't fit well or don't fill a gap.
I don't think the conversation was about the guard play, which was certainly the elephant in the room, when people talked dynasty ala the LA front court. And it was supposed to be a given that will the assemblage in the Emerald City it was the best roster ever. Hyperbole sure, but still some people believed it...
I'm not pooh-poohing the impact of Jackson, I just aint shaken by it because there are other aspects of that group that I think don't fit well or don't fill a gap.