While nobody expected the Seattle Storm to be battling at the higher echelons of the WNBA standings, they have had some serious struggles already this year. Creation has become a problem for the Storm, and a lot of responsibility has been placed on the shoulders of their rookie star, Flau'jae Johnson. A baptism of fire can do more harm than good for a young player's growth, so the signing of Sug Sutton after her release by the Portland Fire could be a genius move.
The Seattle Storm have won just one of their opening five games of the season. In one sense, this is no shock to anybody; this is a young roster building a culture for the future. However, the school of hard knocks is not always the best journey for development, especially when it has the potential to evaporate the confidence of one of your most exciting assets in Flau'jae Johnson.
Increased on-ball responsibility will be a valuable learning experience for Johnson, but asking her to be the team's primary creative option is not the role she is best suited to. She has already demonstrated that her greatest strength lies in hunting her own offense rather than serving as a full-time facilitator. That lack of playmaking has been a major issue for Seattle, which currently sits at the bottom of the league in assists at just 16 per game.
Johnson would benefit from a partner who can run the team's offensive game plan, and the Portland Fire may have just gifted their rivals a simple fix.
Sug Sutton is the playmaking option Seattle craves
In an unusual decision, the Portland Fire opted to cut their most significant playmaker, Sug Sutton, alongside Haley Jones and Kamiah Smalls. In a corresponding roster move, the team confirmed that Holly Winterburn and Frieda Bühner had their developmental contracts converted to standard deals.
While both players have shown glimpses of the potential they hold in the WNBA, waiving Sug Sutton is a more than questionable decision given her production for the Fire this year. So far this season, Sutton has recorded 11.7 points and 5.7 assists per game, while starting in two of her three appearances.
Portland's approach to the season has been somewhat similar to that of Seattle's: a team that is happy to establish an identity while gaining a future lottery pick in the process. This thought process is not entirely incorrect, but both teams cannot abandon the development of their current crop of players in the process.
The acquisition of Sutton would alleviate any added pressure that Flau'jae Johnson is feeling during her rookie year. However, this is not a straightforward addition for the Storm, as their roster is already at the 12-player limit, meaning they would need to waive a player to make room for Sutton. With seven recognised guards on their current roster (standard and developmental contracts), this may be a move the front office chooses to avoid.
It is more than likely that the Seattle Storm will ride out this season with their current players. This is a transition year for the team, and with Awa Fam on the verge of joining up with the playing squad, the front office will not rush into any hasty transactions. Still, this team is having trouble creating plays, and adding Sug Sutton could ease the pressure on Seattle's backcourt.
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