The Indiana Fever have two priorities this offseason in preparation for next season.
The first of which, probably the most important, is to retain free agent Kelsey Mitchell. The Fever guard had a breakout season, averaging a career-best 19.2 PPG to turn Indiana's backcourt into one of the best scoring threats in the league (Caitlin Clark also averaged 19.2 PPG in 2024). New head coach Stephanie White implied that it was her intention to bring Mitchell back to Indy, naming Mitchell in the Fever's big three for next season.
The second issue is critical in its own right, however, as the Fever are in dire need of a capable wing. With Mitchell and Clark in the backcourt and Aliyah Boston down low, a solid small forward would round out this team as it currently stands.
But there is another option... one that has not been discussed.
This option would open up Indiana's options in both free agency and the draft. If the Fever retain Mitchell, it could create one of the best teams in the league in White's first year at the helm.
Move Caitlin Clark to shooting guard
When you think of Caitlin Clark, what about her game is the very first thing that comes to mind? It is obviously her shooting ability, as she is one of the greatest shooters in women's college basketball history. It is the reason the "Caitlin Clark phenomenon" is as polarizing as it is.
Watching Iowa basketball was like watching a 2010s Golden State Warriors game. Clark would hit a three, Iowa would force a miss, and Clark would hit another in transition. It was fast-paced, high-scoring, and extremely fun to watch.
But when you watch Clark in her rookie season in the WNBA, a few more things come to mind. Yes, Clark retained her shooting ability (leading the league in 3-pointers made), and she led the league in assists. But she also led the league in turnovers, and she led in that category by a landslide.
Clark likes to play fast, a great trait for any basketball player at any level. She pushes the pace after missed shots, turnovers, and even after makes. But Clark has a tendency to try and increase the tempo on the dribble, which leads to many of these errors. Even if she gets past half court on these plays, often she will try to finish the job herself, dribbling into trouble.
These are youthful mistakes, mistakes that Clark will outgrow. But this style of basketball, in the professional ranks, is not Caitlin Clark at her peak.
Going back to our Warriors analogy, when did Steph Curry dismiss his "3-point specialist" moniker and become a superstar? No, it was not back-to-back MVP's. Even in those days Curry was seen to be a benefactor of an elite system Steve Kerr built, alongside fellow stars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Following those MVP seasons, Curry was seen to be in Kevin Durant's shadow when the future Hall of Famer signed with Golden State.
But in between 2018 and 2022, Curry was seen engaged in almost inhumane workouts to push his endurance to the limit. He worked on his corner shots by running the full length of the floor, corner to corner, putting up hundreds of shots at a time. He would run through a screen, take a shot from the wing, run through a screen, take a shot from the top of the key, so on and so forth. No breaks in between, always moving, and always hitting his shots.
When the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals, Curry had mastered the ability to keep an entire defense off-balance. He would play the role of decoy, while still finding time to drop over 25 points per game.
This takes time to develop, and by no means does Clark needs to be a superhuman athlete by May. But Clark has already proven that she can thrive in catch-and-shoot situations.
Former Indiana head coach Christie Sides ran sets throughout the season to get Clark open shots. One particular set that comes to mind came in the second quarter of the Fever's matchup with Dallas on Sept. 15.
Caitlin Clark catch & shoot three 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Yrtvv1rZqX
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) September 15, 2024
Clark started on the left wing, took two screens on her way to the right wing, and then faked a cut to the basket. She instead retraced her steps for a third screen and was left wide-open at the top of the key, a shot that she nailed. This is not the only occurrence, but it solidifies the point: Clark plays a beautiful brand of basketball when she's constantly moving off-ball.
She also looks really good in the passing game in the off-guard position. Clark had her fair share of assists off the pick-and-roll, but how about those times she made the extra pass when the ball was swinging around? How about the outlet passes she made off defensive rebounds? There is a solid argument that Clark pushes the pace more effectively in those situations.
How would the Fever benefit?
For starters, talk about a matchup nightmare for backcourts around the league. If a shifty Kelsey Mitchell ran the point, head coaches would have to pick their poison when it comes to assigning their best defender. If they choose Mitchell, Clark will be a huge threat. If they choose Clark, that player could be completely taken out of the offense due to the amount of cardio they would endure.
You also cannot forget about Clark's ability to find the open player. Two point guards are better than one, and when the second one can shoot the lights out the defense will find themselves overcommitting.
It also allows Clark to get down the court quicker for either an outlet pass or an off-ball screen. As mentioned before, Clark is a scorer first.
Above all else, it also opens up the options for Indiana this offseason. As it currently stands, a 3-and-D wing is at the top of the wish list. Why not just go after a defender?
DiJonai Carrington will enter free agency this season and splits her time at guard and forward. The Fever wouldn't need her to score, just provide the defense and rebounding while Mitchell and Clark tear up opposing defenses. Carrington and Clark were a hot topic this season for off-court issues, but a player with Carrington's skillset would be a splash in free agency.
Regardless of the outcome this offseason, the Fever are just a few pieces away from becoming a serious threat in the WNBA. But wouldn't it be something if one of those missing pieces happened to already be on the roster?