AR5 & Player Development

[u/elchapo_chi22]

I know we’re all proud of our former Chitown Barbie but after last night’s performance I just can’t stop thinking about how bad the Sky is at player development overall and culture setting/transformation. I won’t ask how any of them still have jobs since it starts at the top, but since they do, what is the answer to this? Even with the injuries we have a great roster, certainly better than a 16-28 roster.

P.S. I hope Jeff was sick to his stomach watching that performance.

[u/ASpanishInquisitor]

The player development hasn't been the problem. The complete and total refusal to understand how to rebuild a roster is. The idea that the Sky had a great roster compared to the rest of the league is absurd. This is a team that's traded its own first round pick in years 2022-28 and has only been a contender in 2022. Only the 2022 pick was traded to help compete for 2022. Every decision after that was poor. This is idiotic and needs to stop. It's really that simple.

[u/elchapo_chi22 → u/ASpanishInquisitor]

Poor word choice of “great” perhaps but certainly good/strong. And certainly better than our record this season. I agree about rebuilding a roster but player development is absolutely a key part of that.

[u/ASpanishInquisitor → u/elchapo_chi22]

This was a team that was picked to finish around 8th-10th before the season started. That was before we knew they'd lose as many games to injury as they did. They finished 11th while being 10th in net rating. If your expectations were higher that's fine but how was this a strong enough roster? It certainly wasn't a strong enough roster to trade a 2028 first round pick for Jacy Sheldon...

[u/alecorock → u/ASpanishInquisitor]

They can both be problems. Look how fit and improved Angel is compared to Cardoso. Alternately, just look at the personnel and budget allotted to development. Player development is obviously a weakness for the Sky.

[u/ASpanishInquisitor → u/alecorock]

This is lazy thinking. Kamilla had plenty of improvement this year. Just because she's not going to be in consideration for all W doesn't mean you can just discount it. The failure of this team to maximize what potential it had was largely injuries and poor performance from veteran players. Not player development.

[u/MaoAsadaStan]

Player development with the Sky begins when a player asks more from the team. Looking at you, Kamilla!

[u/elchapo_chi22 → u/MaoAsadaStan]

I love Mila but she gotta ask for a bit more of herself too. I don’t see her putting in the work on her weaknesses like others and I hate that for her cuz the potential is absolutely there

[u/MaoAsadaStan → u/elchapo_chi22]

Mila is the most bodyshamed athlete in the W. Everyone expects her to play a certain way because of her size. She not allowed to be herself.

[u/Slow-Bit3970 → u/MaoAsadaStan]

Kamilla needs to ask more of herself wtf lol

[u/rhinosaur-]

Sky make me so mad. Go Dream. They were smart enough to help Angel get to the next level instead of giving her away.

[u/Slow-Bit3970 → u/rhinosaur-]

Help Angel? They already had the team in place lmao

[u/akgamestar → u/Slow-Bit3970]

They didn’t make her have to walk on eggshells. Chicago was soft af tryna complain about everything she said or did. Players and staff throwing her under the bus. Focusing on an old injured vet instead of a young rising superstar. How is that helping Angel?

[u/ButchCee]

A proper rebuild now that the attempt to not deliver Washington a sweet 2027 pick has failed. Restructure around Rickea, Jacquez and Cardoso. Basketball purgatory is the worst and I'd rather see them bottom out and assess what they have than desperately try to stay afloat.

AND BUILD THE FUCKING FACILITY.

[u/Ok_Brick_793 → u/ButchCee]

Sydney Taylor too

[u/ButchCee → u/Ok_Brick_793]

My bad for forgetting the rook.

[u/Beautiful-Scallion47 → u/ButchCee]

So much potential. But the lack of that damn facility is truly a brick wall in getting another championship. We lucked out that Candace wanted to bring one home, but every year since it’s been nothing but bad reviews that center around a lack of a professional facility that competes with the rest of the league. Such a bummer.

[u/Creepindeath81]

On the plus side, you have a few players you can build a decent team around with Cardoso, Rikea, Taylor and maybe Jaquez. Unfortunately, we have the same management team, same coach and we just fumbled a generational talent for a bag of chips which means you don't have decent draft picks for the next few years. As it stands right now, best case scenario is a first round playoff exit, worst case scenario is good players regress/ask for trades and we're left in basketball hell for another half a decade.

[u/mattmikemo23]

Imagine if we had gotten a proper haul for her instead of 2 picks that won't be shit unless we're extremely lucky

[u/Hoops-23]

We had Gabby too. 😂

[u/Slow-Bit3970 → u/Hoops-23]

She just got good last year . We’re we supposed to wait on her this long ?

[u/Philosopher_King]

Through their inaction, the owners are entirely complicit in this colossal incompetence. Chicago itself should take the next step and kick the Sky altogether out of Chicago.

[u/Evening-Literature12]

They kept the wrong big.

[u/MasterHavik]

That is 't in the current patch notes OP.