Minnesota Lynx moves...
They traded Peters for Natasha Howard. To me, without looking at stats, this seems like a terrific trade. Howard was one of the top 2 or 3 kids coming out of HS - behind Ogwumike but ahead of Sims.
Howard sort of seemed to play in obscurity at Florida State - she averaged 20+ PPG as a senior but I don't recall hearing much about her while in college.
Stats are about the same. Peters is more of a shot-blocker, otherwise very similar. Difference is that Peters pretty much is what she is at this point. Howard theoretically has much more upside if she can develop her game. She regressed in year two, though.
Kind of like it for both sides. Peters fits into the defensive mentality of the Fever and gives them a player who knows how to play a defined role (rim protector off the bench). Plus, she comes back to Indiana and reunites with Achonwa, so the transition should be easy for her.
The Lynx are in much less need of a shot-blocker with Fowles in the fold. They can take a chance that Reeve and all the stars on Minnesota can help Howard develop. If it doesn't work out, they haven't lost much.
Howard was great at Florida State but relied more on athletic ability than on refined technique. In my opinion, her development as a player was stunted by having to try to do everything on a team where she was the only elite player. She didn't learn how to play within in a team concept. She was the team concept. It's a shame that she graduated before the cavalry (i.e. Bulgak, Romero, S. Thomas) came and turned Florida State into a legit team. Similar situation to Dearica Hamby, who I was high on but struggled as a rookie. Except that Wake Forest still stinks.
