It's not a pretty picture for sure. It all starts with Nneka, and to get her back they may have a package deal with Chiney. TBH - I think they really need to hit the ball out of the park on the Coach/GM hiring to get Nneka back. Pretty sure Agler and Toler won't get interviews. BTW - don't think Vadeeva will be coming over either. LA always has always been a FA destination, but I don't see really good FA's wanting to go a total disaster.
So maybe this if they are lucky in getting most of the players to come back:
Carter/Canada Brown Sykes/KLS/Burrel Nneka/Chiney ONO/?
Not sure where Walker fits in, or whether they would go with Sykes at the 2 instead of the 3.
What they need to do is figure out how to obtain a 1RP for next year, considering they have very few returners as of now and it’s no guarantee that NOgwumike will re-sign, even if she claims otherwise.
Although, if COgwumike doesn’t hang it up, both probably return to LA. If COgwumike does retire, NOgwumike should walk. Imo LA would be lucky if they could sign-and-trade her in a supermax deal, and should do so to properly kick-off a rebuild, but that seems unlikely.
If Paige Bueckers becomes (stays?) the best prospect in the 2024 Draft, the Sparks may be in a lot of trouble. Could be even worse if Bueckers turns pro next year.
They probably don’t sink to the level the Fever have been at, simply because they’re in LA. But barring a superstar-level acquisition, I don’t see them becoming a championship contender for quite a while… 🙂
I don't see LA ever doing a full rebuild. They have enough appeal to get a lot of good players in FA, but they have get some credibility first. So what it Bill comes out of retirement and they hire Sue Bird as head coach? I bet they'd get some good FAs.
Also if they haven't burned bridges too much maybe they can get Zahui B. to come back. She can only negotiate with the Sparks, so even if she doesn't want to play for them, she could be a trade piece.
What they absolutely cannot do is re-sign Toliver. Hopefully she retires – she’s worse than Chiney nowadays regarding other job commitments & staying healthy. It’s honesty disappointing that she’s been a complete liability since going back to LA in 2020, after so many solid years the prior decade.
Last Edit: Aug 14, 2022 13:09:15 GMT -5 by Deleted
This is a really bad team in a very expensive -- but fun -- place to live. With 40 games next season, free time will be limited, so the "attraction" of L.A. may not be as big a factor as it might appear.
And then there's the Chennedy Carter aspect. Who would want to play on her team, given her history? And who would want to coach her?
All in all, it's hard to see a way forward in the short term ...
If she’s truly trying to wait until the W “creates a safer environment and a stronger support system for players”, then I would posit that we won’t be seeing her anytime soon. 😬🤠
If she’s truly trying to wait until the W “creates a safer environment and a stronger support system for players”, then I would posit that we won’t be seeing her anytime soon. 😬🤠
Has she ever been happy playing in the W? Certainly never with Dallas and Tulsa. I thought her 2019 with Vegas was her best season and she appeared happy there. But then she was quite thrilled leaving Vegas this year. I'd bet money she's done playing basketball anywhere. She's also turning 33 next year, so how many more decent years did she have left anyways?
It of course remains to be seen, but I’m starting to be convinced Nneka (and thus Chiney, I suppose) really will be back next year. 😅 Probably means Reeve won’t be making the move, since she thinks Nneka’s a total “flopper.” 😉 (Why do I still remember that lmfao)
Nneka also sprinkles in some blink-and-you’ll-miss-it praise onto Marina Mabrey when talking up Olivia Nelson-Ododa by saying both really learned things quick as rookies, which is a rarity. I could absolutely see Mabrey going back to LA, especially knowing that Nneka was really impressed by her before she got really good with Dallas – and the Sparks will certainly have the cap space to pay Mabrey.
Last Edit: Aug 15, 2022 22:31:52 GMT -5 by Deleted
Wow! A national search. Here's my list of candidates: Pokey (both or either job), Amber Stocks (both or either), Sue Bird (HC only - former superstar players can do way more damage as GM than as coach), Laimbeer (GM), Cheryl Reeve (HC only), Kate Smith (HC worked so well for NY if the goal is to tank and fire), Kristy Tolliver (HC only), Sienko (GM only), Stef White (HC), Stanley,(HC?), Micheal Cooper (either or both) whatever HC or GM gets fired in the off season.....I've probably left people out. Not an inspiring bunch.
Other than Reeve, I wonder if there’s another current HC out there who would move to LA in a lateral sense, or if they wanna be a HC + GM but are not currently… I can think of at least one such persoN, whO coincidEntaLLy happEns to be from that very area. 😅
Last Edit: Aug 17, 2022 16:04:26 GMT -5 by Deleted
Other than Reeve, I wonder if there’s another current HC out there who would move to LA in a lateral sense, or if they wanna be a HC + GM but are not currently… I can think of at least one such persoN, whO coincidEntaLLy happEns to be from that very area. 😅
I see Now. OpEning thE Door for another former pLayer to coach her current WNBA team after she's done pLaying. Sounds morE like a Tank and Fire strategy for LA and hard see if there was such a person why they would want to QUI give up the attractive job they have Now to go to a dumpster fire.
Wow! A national search. Here's my list of candidates: Pokey (both or either job), Amber Stocks (both or either), Sue Bird (HC only - former superstar players can do way more damage as GM than as coach), Laimbeer (GM), Cheryl Reeve (HC only), Kate Smith (HC worked so well for NY if the goal is to tank and fire), Kristy Tolliver (HC only), Sienko (GM only), Stef White (HC), Stanley,(HC?), Micheal Cooper (either or both) whatever HC or GM gets fired in the off season.....I've probably left people out. Not an inspiring bunch.
And how could I have forgotten Walt Hopkins as HC and Catchings as GM?