When the Las Vegas Aces offered Justine Pissott a standard contract instead of her development contract with the Indiana Fever, the latter had a choice: let her walk or waive someone to match the Aces’ offer of a standard contract. Pissott hadn’t played a single minute of regular-season action at that point, so they opted to let her walk.
There are good reasons for that decision. A team that’s hoping to go on a deep playoff run usually doesn’t want to mess with its depth too much during the season, and Damiris Dantas, who would have been one candidate to lose her roster spot to keep Pissott, is a trusted veteran.Â
But Pissott definitely made the decision look bad. She made her regular-season debut with the Aces on Friday, as her new team embarrassed the Phoenix Mercury in a 106-58 win, and she played very well. Letting a young 6’4” player with a reliable 3-point shot walk instead of developing them always hurts, but it’s much worse when she puts together an impressive game right after and makes you wonder if letting her go was truly the right decision. Her 3-point shooting would be a nice skill to have next to Aliyah Boston.
Pissott made the most of her minutes against Phoenix
Pissott didn’t sub in until the fourth quarter but wasted no time making her presence known. She knocked down a 3-pointer less than a minute into the quarter and just kept shooting. By the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, she had 13 points.Â
She finished the game with 19 points on 7-8 shooting from the field and 5-6 from deep, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in 10 minutes. NaLyssa Smith, Bri Turner, and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus aren’t exactly proven 3-point threats, so having someone with Pissott’s size who can space the floor next to A’ja Wilson is exciting.Â
Becky Hammon was thrilled with Pissott’s debut.Â
“You guys know I love shooters, and she can shoot that thing, so that’s why we went out and got her,” Hammon said in the postgame media availability. “I was happy she made some nice basketball reads as well, not just the shooting. So, we’re really excited to have her with our group.”
Now, Pissott just needs to prove that she can consistently make a positive impact for the Aces—and against tougher competition. Phoenix has a veteran team, but it’s far from the squad that went to the finals last year. She will get a chance to do just that on Sunday against the Fever.
A 19-point debut isn’t the only reason the Aces should be thrilled to have Pissott. This team is very much built for the now. And for good reason. When you have A’ja Wilson on your team, you don’t waste time building and keeping a championship squad around her. So, the Aces are a very veteran team.Â
25-year-old NaLyssa Smith is the youngest player in Hammon’s regular rotation. The Aces drafted Janiah Barker this year, but she hasn’t made her regular-season debut yet. They also picked up Ta’Niya Latson on a development contract after the Sparks waived her. With Pissott, they have another young player, and maybe someone they can develop for a long-term future with the franchise.
Add us as a preferred source on Google