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Four paths for the Los Angeles Sparks general manager opening

By Howard Megdal

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: A general view of the Los Angeles Sparks logo before a game against the San Antonio Stars on June 15, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: A general view of the Los Angeles Sparks logo before a game against the San Antonio Stars on June 15, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 12: Assistant General Manager Clare Duwelius of the Minnesota Lynx arrives before the game against the Seattle Storm on August 12, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 12: Assistant General Manager Clare Duwelius of the Minnesota Lynx arrives before the game against the Seattle Storm on August 12, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The talented assistant

Around the league, there are remarkable people in basketball operations who are making their teams stronger, utilizing cutting-edge information and understand the game in ways that are supercharging the growth of the WNBA.

No one may be a better example of this than Clare Duwelius, the current assistant general manager to Cheryl Reeve in Minnesota. Reeve just signed a justly-deserved three-year contract after winning Executive of the Year, and values Duwelius. But the chance to run her own shop in Los Angeles could be tempting.

The same is true for Las Vagas, where Dan Padover has a great deal of say, but ultimately reports to Bill Laimbeer, another strong personality with set ideas about how the league operates. Padover values the perimeter shot more than Laimbeer does, and the Sparks’ roster, particularly if the salary cap goes up in the next CBA, will offer multiple opportunities to build around inside-outside stars like Parker and Ogwumike (Ogwumikes, really, as Chiney is also a proficient outside shooter who can and likely should be deployed more beyond the arc).

And let’s not forget Michael Fischer, who is in-house, worked under Toler, but has his own ideas about how to run the franchise, along with all the institutional knowledge of how it works in L.A.

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