I feel like you're expecting A 6'7 21 year old to be pro ready.
You mean, like Wilson was? Griner? Parker? Delle Donne?
If a player is a #1 or #2, the expectation is that the player will be pro ready and contribute from the first day. Heck, there are people (e.g., Shades) who said that Brittney Griner was a disappointment as a rookie, because she "only" averaged 12.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks as a rookie.
Also, Kalani has more of a mid range developed than Griner did at this point.
Not in games I have seen. And certainly not before the 2013 WNBA season (where I saw Griner in person). Midrange is not just from the elbow. It has to be from the baseline, the wing, etc.
I just don't agree with the idea that they don't need a big center. Look at how well the Bonner- Griner combo is working and Stewart- Howard. If they drafted Brown she could take the largest post player defensively and pull them out of the paint where then Wilson can go to work on the probably smaller forward. I watched Brown in every televised game and in person games. I do not think you're giving her the credit. Give either of them another year in college and a year or two in the pro's and you'll see more from both.
Bonner is a guard/wing. She has played there in EVERY year for the Mercury. She moved to the front court this year out of necessity. Stewart was always a power forward in the Lauren Jackson mold and not a center. Howard had an inside-outside game at Florida State, but she got buried on the Minnesota bench.
Point is, when you use these examples and try to compare them to Wilson-Brown, you are overloooking (with all due) several key factors.
Bonner and Stewart are both ridiculously good passers for their size. Not just passing out of double teams, but passes that lead to assists.
Bonner and Stewart were both shooters with range, who came to the league as shooters with range - both from outside the paint and from three (Bonner less so from three very early on, but quickly shot the three with much better consistency than in her rookie year).
In your example, Wilson is the Bonner/Stewart, next to a "center." Wilson does not yet have anything close to the shooting range of either.
Also, using this ignores Wilson's greatest strength - her physical strength/ability to score in the post (to, basically, bulldoze her way to the basket and use her strength and finishing abilities to score). As a rookie, she was beyond dominant from the post - and had to do so against the likes of Fowles, Cambage, Griner, etc.
Now, if you put Wilson down low and Brown out of the paint or at the elbow, she has to consistently hit that shot for it to be effective. If she is going to take time to develop, she cannot help right away.
Also, in your example, you would have Wilson having to defend Bonner, who can create off the dribble past her. You would also have to put Wilson on Stewart, which would be a much more difficult matchup. Brown would not be in any position to defend these two players, thereby giving Wilson much harder defensive matchups from the jump.
You put Wilson with Brown who knows how to pass well out of double teams and work well with a dominant post they can be the 1-2 that is needed to help elevate them into playoffs next year. Especially if Jefferson, McBride, and Plum all come back healthy and firing on all cylinders this team may push into top 6.
Another point to consider. SC won the national title after losing Coates. Her game did not mesh as well with Wilson up front as did putting Wilson as the primary post threat and surrounding her with guards who could shoot and athletic and versatile forwards.[/QUOTE]
