In a shocking move, star player Julian Styles was traded from the Brooklyn Bolts to the Seattle Storm last weekend. Styles, a five-time All-Star, was looking forward to another season with the Bolts, but after a night’s sleep, he woke up excited about his new opportunity in Seattle.
“I feel wanted here,” Styles said. “At this point in my career, I’ve accomplished a lot of great things on an individual level, but I want to win a championship. This is a perfect opportunity to do that.”
The Storm introduced Styles alongside newcomers Mike Davis and Alex Lee at a news conference, unveiling the trade return that Seattle received from Brooklyn for their franchise cornerstone, Tyler James.
“It was a breath of fresh air,” Styles said about the trade. “I’m excited to bring everything I’ve learned over the past five years and help these guys out. My only thing here is I just want to help.”
Storm president Mark Thompson emphasized the basketball reasons for making the blockbuster trade, acknowledging the limitations the new collective bargaining agreement put on building a team for the future.
“These guys bring a special on-court skillset and toughness,” Thompson said. “Depth is increasingly important as the CBA has evolved the last couple of years. We don’t trade a person like Tyler James lightly. We were very specific in what we’d take.”
Styles is expected to slide into the starting lineup, according to Storm coach Rachel Patel, who coached Styles during the 2018-19 season and raved about his approach and attitude during that time.
Davis will help bolster a Seattle bench unit that already includes last season’s Sixth Man of the Year, and the Storm could also use his outside shooting to add some late-game lineup flexibility.
“We feel we could end up one of the deeper teams in the league,” Patel added.
Styles expressed comfort playing next to the Storm’s big men, comparing it to the situation he had in Brooklyn.
“I see it playing out great,” Styles said. “I played next to a center that is similar in skills. It’s easy when you know you’ve got a big guy back there that has your back.”
The Storm introduced their new players on a stage setup at the KeyArena. Team employees watched from above, and a few players showed up to watch the proceedings.
Thompson acknowledged shaking the roster up after the best season in franchise history was a big risk. But the talent on the stage made him comfortable doing so, especially when he considered how they would fit in with the team’s young superstar.
“You make a trade after advancing to the conference finals, it’s not done lightly,” Thompson said. “These guys come from winning environments. So, they appreciate what it looks like in the playoffs, they appreciate no skipped steps.”
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