Team hopes to acquire free agent
BY CHRIS LAU • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • December 15, 2008


Director of player personnel and assistant coach Cheryl Reeve said Sunday that the Shock has "room under the salary cap to sign a top free agent." Teams can start signing players July 5.

Jackson, 27, was league MVP in 2003 and 2007. She is 6-foot-5 and has averaged 19.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in an eight-year career.

The 6-5 Snow, 28, averaged 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds this summer, on par with her career numbers. Her length and athleticism frustrate opposing guards who drive the lane.

And Thompson, 33, is the WNBA's second all-time-leading scorer. She has been with Houston since the league formed in 1997, and she logged 18.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in 2008. But after her team folded this month, there have been rumors that she's thinking about retiring.

"That's the word, but so was Brett Favre," Reeve said. "When you have as much ability still as Tina, I think it's difficult to walk away."

Detroit, which has won three of the past six WNBA titles, returns all of its core players -- guards Katie Smith and Deanna Nolan (the 2008 and 2006 Finals MVPs, respectively) and forwards Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Cheryl Ford.

The Shock has four free agents, of which only center Kara Braxton is restricted. General manager and coach Bill Laimbeer wants to see how much money she commands on the open market before considering whether to match.

Of the unrestricted free agents, point guard Elaine Powell has a spot if she wants to return, and the status of reserves Sheri Sam and Kelly Schumacher depend on how the roster shapes up.

"We're trying to bring in a free agent who complements the group we have," Reeve said. "We're pretty good as is, with our nucleus. For us to add a major player would be exciting."

6-foot-6 Braxton could draw big offers as restricted free agent
Center of Attention
by Ryan Pretzer

The Shock are also monitoring interest in another one of their centers, unrestricted free agent Kelly Schumacher. An eight-year vet who joined the team after Ford’s season-ending knee injury in late July, Schumacher initially appeared to be an odd fit, if only because she played against the Shock in the 2007 finals for Phoenix. Schumacher adapted well to her new role and Laimbeer praised her game smarts and professionalism. The 6-foot-5 center had an impressive defensive performance in the finals, which should help her free-agent stock. But if she's in no hurry to leave, Schumacher likely would be welcomed back at the right price. “I think Kelly really found a great comfort zone [in Detroit] that if you asked her even she’d be surprised at,” Reeve said.

The Shock also are trying to be proactive, scouring the free-agent pool for an impact player. “We would only be interested in the high-profile free agents that would be available,” Reeve said. “It’s not necessarily in regard to position.” Like Detroit’s other recent championship teams, the Shock might be able to get an elite player at a discount. It’s just a matter of whether she would sacrifice maximum market value for a shot at what money can’t buy.

“Most of the free agents who are out there would love to play in Detroit,” Reeve said. “I think that’s a nice situation for us. These players want to come to Detroit, and who doesn’t want to come win a championship?”

I might watch a game if Jackson came here

I'll be watching more.

Braxton will sign a nice with a pretty good team today so we'll see if Bill matches the offer.

Bill matched it! lol