Springfield Storm Acquire Shooting Guard, Continue to Reload Roster
If you walk around the Springfield Storm's facilities you're likely to hear many things. The term "rebuild" is not one of them. Springfield executives are using a different word this offseason, "We aren't far off from being a finals contender in this league, we just needed to shake things up a little bit. A minor culture change if you will. Our team had gotten too complacent, too comfortable with the status quo. Our fans want more. It was time for a shakeup. Nobody should be comfortable with mediocrity. I'm sorry, but that's the way I see it. Consistently making the playoffs and fizzling out is not acceptable anymore. It's championship or bust. We're close. That's why we're retooling or reloading, whatever you wanna call it."
Springfield started the offseason shakeup by selling off numerous pieces whose roles on the team varied. Both centers from this past season are gone, including Shao Zibo who averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds per game this season but faltered in the semifinals where he shot just 1-6 from the field. Gone too is Umberto Sorgente, the all world shooting guard who posted solid numbers for Springfield this season, but is on the cusp of his 35th birthday and who also completely melted on the league's biggest stage.
The first new addition came on Wednesday, as Paco Tolosán was purchased off the transfer list. Paco is expected to slide into the SG position vacated by Sorgente, and brings with him a polished jumpshot with plenty of range. He also brings with him a reputation of an aggressive, gritty defender to the perimeter. He could potentially be a 40% 3 point shooter in his new offensive scheme, "He's a heck of a shooter man. We worked him out before the acquisition was finalized and saw what he could do from outside. He's got beautiful form on that jumper. I'm comfortable saying that he's already the best shooter on the team, and we've got a couple great ones. I think he'll be very important in this offense. He's a guy that can stretch the court out a little bit which is super important because Cezaris (Aksomas) and Fidelis (Koveras) are both slashers. This should give them a little more room to operate in the lane." The Storm are hoping he can be a lightning rod for the offense.
One of the most underrated additions to the starting lineup that is going to take place is the inclusion of Pat Rector, the super sub that has been Springfield's sixth man for a few seasons now. He averaged 12 points on 56% shooting, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 21 minutes per game. "Pat Rector has been underappreciated for a long time. He's been our main guy off the bench, our spark to that second unit. The best thing I can say about Pat is that he's such a team player. He's never once complained about his role on this team. He's a vocal leader and we'll enjoy having him in the lineup next season. He's a guy that can do a little bit of everything. The guy literally doesn't have a legitimate weakness in my opinion. He'll be an undersized power forward, but his long wingspan and strength will allow him to guard other forwards with ease. He can score inside and outside, he can drive, he can play hard nosed defense all the way out to the perimeter, he allows us to do a lot of things on both sides of the ball and I'm excited to have him in the lineup. He's earned it."
So if you're around the Springfield Storm, don't say that evil "R" word. This team is reloading for another run at the chip next season.
Last edited by C- Diddy at 4/6/2018 2:20:57 PM