Storm considers options to replace Lauren Jackson

A Storm season that began with enthusiasm has been thrown into uncertainty, giving first-year coach Brian Agler, until 5 p.m. today to solve the most daunting question in women's basketball: How do you replace Lauren Jackson?

Jackson, the franchise's star player since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2001, notified the team on Tuesday that she will undergo regular-season-ending surgery on her right ankle on Aug. 28. The Australian is currently playing in Beijing for her national team, playing through the injury in pursuit of gold.

But Jackson, 27, and her Australian doctors, who have already injected her with two cortisone shots to keep her on the court, said the swelling is severe enough that she will need post-Olympics surgery.

The WNBA's trade deadline is at 5 p.m. today, barely giving Agler, the Storm's director of player personnel, enough time to find a way to replace the two-time MVP, who leads the Storm in scoring (20.2) and rebounding (7.0).

"We are exploring all of our options, but our best option may be to do nothing," Agler said Wednesday. "We have a strong feeling about what we're up against. We've been without Lauren the past six weeks. It's not like we're headed into uncharted waters."

Seattle excused Jackson while she vacationed in Phoenix and trained with her national team, missing five WNBA games before the leaguewide Olympic hiatus. Led by guard Sue Bird's average 15.4 points, the Storm finished that period 3-2.

The emergence of trade pickup Camille Little, who started in place of Jackson, also was a factor. Little averaged 11.8 points on 52.9 percent shooting with 7.8 rebounds during the span.

"Lauren was so proud of her teammates," said Susie Jarosch, Jackson's Seattle-based agent. "She feels so much loyalty and responsibility toward her teammates, but ultimately this is about her health. She's disappointed, but the doctors told her it's a good decision to have the surgery."

The loss of Jackson might hurt the future of another Jarosch client, forward Kristen O'Neill. The former Washington standout has two days remaining on her fourth seven-day contract. Although Agler has money under the salary cap to tinker with his roster, he might opt to not offer O'Neill another seven-day contract and instead look for a player who can replace at least part of Jackson's production.

Jackson's procedure will need four to six weeks to heal; meaning the earliest she could return is the beginning on the WNBA Finals on Oct. 1 — if the Storm was to advance.

According to sources Wednesday, the Storm hasn't shopped Kelly Santos, Ashley Robinson, Shyra Ely or Katie Gearlds, the players who would seem to be the most logical trade chips. Agler could group one of the players and a first- or third-round pick in 2009 to get more value in return. The Storm already traded its second-round pick for 2009 to acquire Little from Atlanta.

Candidates to be added to Seattle's roster via trade are Chicago center Chasity Melvin and Minnesota forward Kristen Rasmussen. Both are in the final years of their contracts and would be solid rebounders and defensive players. Rasmussen, who is unhappy with her limited role with the Lynx, is a 6-foot-4 outside scoring threat.

Yet teams are unlikely to help the Storm, which is 17-9 overall and just a half-game behind San Antonio for the Western Conference lead. Seattle still has star power in Bird, Sheryl Swoopes, Swin Cash and Yolanda Griffith with a bench that spent the break jelling with each other.

"Our options are open," said Agler, whose team plays five of its final eight games on the road. "We're looking for a good player that can come in and help us."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com