High Post Hoops
Fansided

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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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 20: Head Coach Katie Smith of the New York Liberty talks to Head Coach Pokey Chatman of the Indiana Fever on August 20, 2019 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 20: Head Coach Katie Smith of the New York Liberty talks to Head Coach Pokey Chatman of the Indiana Fever on August 20, 2019 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The experienced hand

The exit of Pokey Chatman from Indiana had less to do with results — the Fever were on the upswing, finished with twice as many wins in 2019 and looked especially dangerous in the final weekend of the season — than it did with a desire for Tamika Catchings to have a freer hand in shaping in the organization. It means that Chatman, who built the Fever team on the cusp of playoff contention, and a Sky team that reached the WNBA finals before that, is available to bridge the gap between Los Angeles’ semifinals loss this year and the title the franchise wants.

But there’s other options to take control, too, whether we’re talking about Amber Stocks, former coach/GM of the Sky (who also assisted in Los Angeles earlier in her career), the GM who engineered the deal that brought Diamond DeShields to Chicago, or even potentially Katie Smith, who the New York Liberty have yet to publicly declare will return in 2020.

No learning curve is appealing for a roster that has a vanishing window to take advantage of Candace Parker, a generational talent. It could be the best way forward for a GM who retains Derek Fisher, still learning the league, to have previous coaching experience as well.

Or they could really shake things up and go for…

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