For at least the last few seasons, the Minnesota Lynx have held a few unique and valuable advantages that has fed into them finding success over a lengthy period of time in the WNBA.
Throughout the course of winning four championships in seven years, Minnesota has been viewed as an experienced team with solid depth that positions itself well especially when it matters the most — in the postseason.
Those advantages brought on the comparison of the aging of a fine wine from Lynx head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve, while Minnesota was described as having “two starting fives” by now-retired Lynx forward Plenette Pierson in the middle of 2017’s championship season.
That depth and experience that has often given opponents troubles over the past few years went through a bit of a shake-up over the offseason, mainly among the second unit.
“That part has been really interesting and will look a little different on the court, basketball-wise,” Cheryl Reeve told Zone Coverage. “But we will hopefully find ways to get things done, like we always have.”
Minnesota’s busy offseason actually began right after it secured the WNBA title in 2017, with Pierson officially retiring from the league after 15 years. A few months later, 14-year veteran guard Jia Perkins decided she would join Pierson in retirement.
With two second-unit pieces gone, and two more departing via the Lynx during free agency, the Lynx had some work to do.
Veteran point guard Renee Montgomery left Minnesota for Atlanta — where she has in the past and still currently owns a home — on the first day that free agents could sign with a team. A short time later, Minnesota agreed to trade forward Natasha Howard — who was a restricted free agent — to the Seattle Storm for draft picks.
“Our goal (this offseason) was to re-sign our free agents. I’m going to miss our experiences that we had together,” Reeve said. “For Renee, it was kind of our third year together, if you count 2015 as a season or just half a season. Natasha is kind of young and still developing, it was just our second year together. … I’ll miss what a well-oiled machine that it all was.
“I think, more than anything, the two years that we spent building this thing where it got to this past year, that process starts over now with new players.”
New additions join a new-look second unit
The departures of four key second unit pieces within the Lynx second unit definitely threw a few curveballs in the offseason plans of Reeve, who was promoted to general manager to add to her coaching duties following the 2017 season, as well as the rest of the Minnesota organization.
The Lynx, however, didn’t experience any shake-ups among their star-studded starting five of Lindsay Whalen, Sylvia Fowles, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson and Seimone Augustus, something that has been a key takeaway as the offseason nears an end.
“I think the most important piece in the offseason is to say that we remain intact in our starting five,” Reeve added. “I think that’s definitely the most important piece.”
The silver lining in the departure of nearly an entire second unit is Reeve’s ability to re-tool. She got to reserve a group that she envisions will help add both experience and depth to the Lynx both now and in the future.
That re-tooling by Reeve and company included acquiring six-year guard Danielle Robinson in a trade with Phoenix, signing veteran guard and defensive specialist Tanisha Wright and signing forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem.
They will join the likes of guard Alexis Jones and forward Cecilia Zandalasini, two players who will be returning to the Lynx second unit.
“We’re kind of back to where we started, but it’s exhilarating at the same time to have basically rebuilt the reserve team,” Reeve said. “We believe we have some really good players there, they are excited and they are hungry. But it takes a lot of work to bring it all together. Training camp will sort a lot of those things out because we will learn more about their games.”
It has been a busy offseason that has been filled with multiple shake-ups that will present a new-look second unit this season for the Lynx.
As far as potential future moves, Reeve was clear.
She thinks Minnesota is done looking for players to add via free agency, shifting their focus to next month’s draft and training camp in April.
“I think all of us feel the same in that we are all willing to listen to any other opportunities that might present themselves. In large, free agency is pretty much done in terms of seeking out other players,” Reeve said. “Things become very draft-centric at this point and teams might look to move up or move down in the draft, which is a typical narrative at this time of the year with being less than a month away from the draft.
“If something presented itself, we would certainly listen, but at this time I think we are all kind of sitting and waiting for the NCAA Tournament to go by and see how things shake out in terms of who might go where in the draft.”
Be sure to check back here at Zone Coverage this week for part three of our Lynx offseason series.
Part One: An Offseason of Adjustments
