Breanna Stewart’s extension shows she & the Liberty know the job’s not finished
The devil’s in the details as to why Stewart taking less now means so much more for the Liberty going forward
The biggest lie on Earth is that the United States doesn’t bully other countries.
The next-biggest is that Breanna Stewart was ever a free agent this offseason. Technically she was, the same as if someone points a gun at you and says jump and you jump, you are the person who jumped, technically; it was your brain sending the messages down the nerves to your muscles, though we know the truth is more complex than that. Or is it simpler? I suppose it’s whatever the person pointing the gun at you says it is.
Stewart was a free agent, legally, briefly, though everybody knew the Liberty would use the core designation on Stewart, giving them exclusive negotiating rights. The move was made with player and club simpatico with one another. The details of Stewart’s one-year extension, coupled with New York’s recent offseason moves, offer several reasons to feel optimistic about the Liberty’s title aspirations.
Stewart not only signed for less than the $242,000 supermax, but less than the plain ol’ Clark Kent max of $208,000. Her signing for less allowed the Liberty to more equitably retain Jonquel Jones, retaining a twin tower terror the league outside of Nevada had no answer for. Stewie and Jones had the second-highest point differential of every two-person Liberty lineup besides Jones and Ionescu.
Stewart’s contract is non-guaranteed. In practical terms that doesn’t really mean anything; they’re as likely to waive her as Eric Adams is to be visited one night by a series of ghosts who show him his past, present and future in order to quicken his wicked heart. In even practicalier terms, it means the Liberty have five players on guaranteed deals, with teams allowed six. That means New York still has a guaranteed slot available with which to entice free agents, a potential ace-in-the-hole against teams with more cap space who can’t offer that same guarantee. The same philanthropic spirit led Ionescu to sign a non-guaranteed deal last year, which paid off this offseason with the Liberty giving it to free agent Kennedy Burke (more on her later).
Should the Liberty hold onto that last guaranteed slot, they can use it to trade for a player on a guaranteed deal without having to trade one back — a potential perk if when an appealing trade offer is floated general manager Jonathan Kolb’s way. If an impact player becomes available and the Liberty can offer players on non-guaranteed deals instead of having to give up a rotation staple, the likelihood of that addition paying off skyrockets.
This entire flow of Stewie & The Libs —> first year together —> best in franchise history —> MVP —> core designation —> this deal = player & franchise in harmony is a right easement. The club and its best player appear to be in harmony, even down to the dissonant note of realizing the status quo isn’t good enough. Retaining flexibility is key in getting better, an obvious necessity after losing the way they did in the Finals to an Aces team that’s bringing back Candace Parker and Kiah Stokes and that’s added former Phoenix big Megan Gustafson, currently a London Lion.
If culture matters anywhere near as much as Xs and Os, then here too their leaders leave them in good hands. Stewart, Jones and Ionescu each gave up money or guaranteed money to fit the teal superteam under the cap. In Ionescu’s case, her sacrifice may pay immediate dividends. Burke, signed to the sixth guaranteed spot Ionescu could have demanded, leads the Euroleague in steals. That sound like someone a team whose biggest weakness under the brightest lights was point-of-attack defense could use?
Two new players wiil arrive late to training camp, due to Italian (Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna) and Spanish league (Zaragoza) commitments, respectively — or dis-respectively, if the taste of colonialism still rankles, as it can. Ivana Dojkić, 26, raised a lot of eyebrows early last year with Seattle, when she ran with the Storm’s starting five for a week and ran well, scoring and diming and doing both with efficiency and verve. Along with youth, shooting and depth behind Courtney Vandersloot, Dojkić can also play alongside Ionescu, and brings a high basketball IQ to both ends of the floor.
New York also welcomes Leonie Fiebich, 24, 6-foot-4 and not afraid to use it. The irony of superteams is how valuable secondary players who can create points for themselves are on one. Fiebich will be looked to for points off the bench.
Is it enough to overthrow arguably the modern day dynasty in Las Vegas? That we don’t know. We do know, from the words and actions of the Liberty and Breanna Stewart, that they aren’t resting on what they did a year ago. Which is as good a reason as any to feel hopeful next season could end even better.
