Deciding that having a true backup point guard was needed most, the Lynx waived small forwards Shae Kelley and Asia Taylor on Tuesday, bringing their roster to the league maximum of 12 with Friday's season opener looming.
That number includes two rookies in center Reshanda Gray — the team's second-round pick in April's draft — and point guard Jennifer O'Neill.
O'Neill was kept because Anna Cruz — the Spanish point guard acquired in a draft-day trade — won't join the team until the end of the month.
O'Neill will earn minutes backing up Lindsay Whalen until Cruz arrives.
Kelley, a star for the Gophers this past season, was drafted in the third round (35th overall) by the Lynx in April. Taylor, drafted with the 36th overall pick in 2014, appeared in 22 games as a rookie, averaging 2.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said earlier in the week that she wanted to keep Monica Wright — usually a combo guard who backs Whalen up — in the shooting guard spot until she gets back to the top of her game; Wright had two knee procedures last year and missed the early part of camp this year with a calf injury.
That means O'Neill will get some playing time. Also, Reeve feels she can play Seimone Augustus some at the point position when she's on the floor with Wright.
And if the roster leaves the Lynx without a lot of depth at the small forward position, there is flexibility there. Both Wright and Augustus can play the wing at times, spelling starter Maya Moore, as can Devereaux Peters.
Veteran post player Asjha Jones, acquired to fill the void created by Janel McCarville's decision not to play this summer, is expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the season while recovering from a blood deficiency discovered in her pre-camp physical.
