When the Lynx signed and traded Devereaux Peters to the Indiana Fever for Natasha Howard prior to this season, it didn’t register as a move of great significance. An exchange of backup bigs, Peters was the more advanced, with four seasons under her belt to Howard’s two, and was the more efficient player who had played a role in two Lynx championships. In fact, it appeared that the move was made, at least in part, because Peters was at the end of her rookie scale contract, while Howard was not.
I figured Howard would plug in and provide some defense in the paint, grab a few boards, score the occasional bucket off the offensive glass, and hopefully not get in the way or bog things down.