No mention of outside shooting at all besides a mention of last season's three point percentage. Improved outside shooting from Sykes is much more beneficial to the Mystics' offense than improved playmaking. It's odd the author chooses to not address this in their article. Then again, the article does read more like a PR piece than one actually properly analysing Sykes's signing.
One should never expect or bank on Sykes becoming a better shooter
Really anyone for that matter, but especially someone who has enough of a track record where the likelihood of improvement in such an area has already fallen off a cliff years ago
I don't think Zahui B "sucks" as a basketball player but a fringe WNBA player? For sure. I think she'll make the team as a backup 5 - can't see the Mystics getting anybody better unless they acquire another post in a trade. I have assumed the Mystics will probably draft a wing with their lottery pick (because there's so many of them).
Nice signing for Washington. She was great at the FIBA World Cup and was probably China's best player until her unfortunate illness late in the tournament. She is a 3 level scorer and can even play a bit of 3 with her size. It'll be interesting to see how Chinese national team players compete in the WNBA with their limited international experience but there's certainly talent there.
as with all international players, i just hope she continues to show up every year if she shows that she's good enough.
interesting timing for there to be a sliiiight uptick in Chinese WNBA players the past couple years. i wonder how that trend will continue to age moving forward, is all i want to say about that.
as with all international players, i just hope she continues to show up every year if she shows that she's good enough.
interesting timing for there to be a sliiiight uptick in Chinese WNBA players the past couple years. i wonder how that trend will continue to age moving forward, is all i want to say about that.
Han Xu seemed to really improve her game over the last few years and I think playing the WNBA helped. Maybe the Chinese figured out player improve by playing good competition. Maybe Li Yueru is next.
Upgrading a 2023 first rounder to a 2025 first rounder is probably a win, though the Mystics could have used another actual wing sized player. So Sykes and Li are going to be their small forward rotation? EDD at the 3? A bit of a dilemma for the new coach.
Toliver signing today probably knocks Westbrook or Jaz Jones out of making the roster.
PG: Cloud/Westbrook SG: Atkins/Toliver/Meng SF: Sykes/Walker-Kimbrough PF: Delle Donne/Hines-Allen C: Austin/Zahui B or Hawkins 12th: Jaz Jones or Westbrook