For 2010, Storm Hopes to Build Around Core
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Get Storm Headlines!The Seattle Storm locked up two of its core pieces earlier this month, signing Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel
Brian Agler and All-Star point guard 
Sue Bird to extensions. A third piece should officially be in place before too long. In meeting with the media to wrap up the 2009 season and look ahead to 2010, Agler and Storm CEO Karen Bryant expressed confidence in two-time MVP 
Lauren Jackson's future with the Storm both next year and beyond.
"We've both talked to Lauren at length," said Agler. "I think after going through what she did last year in terms of making her decision and being here this year, I think she has verbalized to both of us that not only is she going to re-sign - we're confident about that - but it wouldn't be a surprise to either one of us if she ends her career in Seattle. She's right at basically the halfway point of her career. She has a home here, feels good about everything. She's voiced that to both of us, that she'd like to finish her career right here where she started."
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"I don't think there's any question she's back," added Agler. "We haven't signed her yet - we can't sign her until the offseason - but all indications, everything we've communicated about with her has been extremely positive."
Jackson is one of just two free agents on the Storm roster. Reserve center 
Ashley Robinson will also be an unrestricted free agent. Every other player - save point guard 
Shannon "Pee Wee" Johnson, who has announced her retirement - is under team control (see chart below for more detail). That means that, barring trades, the Storm will bring back its starting lineup intact.
"I think you're always looking for a major addition if you can," said Agler. "Is it out there? You never know. But I think we'll be more in the tweaking mode with the thought of having more depth on the perimeter and becoming more athletic."
The Storm's bench figures to have a different look, starting with the loss of Johnson. Its composition will depend in part on the decisions of incumbent players. Agler shared that center 
Suzy Batkovic-Brown would like to return, but also has to balance that with her desire to start a family at some point in the near future. 
Janell Burse, who is under contract for next season, told reporters that she wants to weigh her options after her role off the bench was inconsistent for much of the season.
"I told her today, I don't want to be proactive on that right now," Agler said of his exit interview with Burse. "I want to let you think about our conversation, I want to think about what you've had to say and those kind of things."
Playing time was spread thin up front in part because the Storm needed to load up on post players to combat the uncertainty about Jackson's status. When she re-signed, the team had six post players on a roster cut to 11 by the league this season. 
Camille Little swung to small forward at times and rookie 
Ashley Walker ultimately moved to the wing full-time, but the makeup of the roster compromised the Storm's depth on the perimeter. Addressing that - and replacing Johnson, the team's first consistent presence at point guard behind Bird since Tully Bevilaqua in 2004 - will be key tasks this offseason.
"I think our team needs to become more athletic," said Agler. "Obviously we have to replace Shannon; we have to get another perimeter player there. I also think we need to get deeper on the perimeter. How we do that - whether we add two perimeter players or not - I think that's going to be an evaluation."
Forward La'Tangela Atkinson could figure into the Storm's future after opening eyes with her play as an injury replacement in the team's final two games of the season. The Storm will also have all three of its draft picks in the 2010 to add young talent. Tentatively, the Storm is slated to pick No. 11 overall as well as No. 24 in the second round and No. 37 in the third round, but that could change if the league awards an expansion team to the group of investors trying to bring the WNBA to Tulsa.
Then, there is free agency, where the Storm has been able to add veterans like Johnson because the team is a perennial contender and players covet the chance to play with Bird, Jackson and 
Swin Cash. The Storm could be on the lookout for another experienced player to help replace some of the leadership Johnson provided this season.
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Agler would like to find more minutes for a retooled Storm bench after riding his starters hard this season. All five regular starters averaged at least 30 minutes per game.
"I do think that we have to study how we manage our playing time," he said. "It's a balance of getting people experience slash trying to win every game you possibly can, because you do have a short season. Every game is huge. If you look at our season this year, because of how close the games were, two or three or four possessions can determine the outcome at any time during the course of the game. It is something that we need to find the way to get the best of both - get players experience, build our roster, yet try to win games. That's sort of the dynamic of my job."
Limiting minutes could also help the Storm - and Jackson in particular - stay healthy. While she was injured playing for the Australian National Team in 2008 and this year's stress fracture was triggered by an undiagnosed stress fracture suffered years ago, the Storm wants to help ensure that she is on the floor in the postseason after missing the team's last two playoff runs.
"I think we have to really find ways to manage and eliminate opportunities for her and other players to become injured," Agler said. "How do you do it? Maybe you don't practice them every day. Maybe you shorten the minutes that they play on the court. I think all those things will be considered going into next season."
There will be time to ponder those and other ideas during an offseason that figures to be the least eventful of Agler's three seasons in Seattle. Two years ago, the Storm added three new starters, all of them WNBA legends. Last offseason, the drama surrounding Jackson's return overshadowed everything else. This winter, the Storm will be able to focus on supporting a starting lineup that has established itself as one of the best in the league.
"I think we feel really great about the core group we have," said Bryant. "All of my exit interviews, this group is as motivated as ever. That loss was really challenging. They know what it takes to win in this conference. They're prepared to come back next year and give it another run and see what we can do."