Is it time for the New York Liberty to move on from their 2020 No.1 overall pick after another playoff exit? Head coach Chris DeMarco’s side was on cloud nine after becoming the first eighth seed in WNBA history to sweep the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the playoffs. But the Liberty fell from the clouds to the ground just as quickly in the next round, after getting swept by Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream. With back-to-back playoff failures, there is speculation that change is needed, and the “Geppetto” is one of the players currently on the trade radar.

NBC Sports’ NBA & WNBA analyst Trysta Krick also issued a blunt take on Sabrina Ionescu’s lack of impact this season, insisting that the threshold for keeping her has long gone.

“We [were] eliminated, and I have thoughts. Number one, Sabrina, you need to be traded. I’m sorry. You’re slow. Ever since that ankle sprain, you haven’t been yourself. We haven’t seen the shot-making. The passing has been abysmal for someone who’s supposed to be a playmaker,” Krick said on Instagram.

Sabrina Ionescu had a disappointing season by her own standards. This season marked her lowest scoring average since 2021 (14.6 points per game), a career-low in rebounds (3.8 per game), and her highest turnover average in recent memory. But most concerning of all, a career-low three-point shooting average.

Before high-volume shooters like Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, Kayla McBride, and Rhyne Howard dominated the three-point, Ionescu was regarded as one of the best in the business. To put it in perspective, in the 2023 season, she shot 44.8% from outside the arc. However, even that aspect of her game has been on a steep decline. For the second season in a row, Ionescu shot below 30% from deep, and her average has now dropped to 29.5%.

Ionescu’s depletion in form can be credited to her physical health. From a preseason left foot and ankle sprain to subsequent back soreness and lumbar strain, followed by injuries to the left foot late in the regular season, Ionescu endured an injury-riddled year, to say the least.

But that’s not to say everything went wrong for her this year. Returning from injury to play in the Commissioner’s Cup Final against the Las Vegas Aces, Ionescu contributed a team-high 26 points to go with five assists and rebounds to topple the reigning champions 93-85.

Following the victory, Ionescu shared her love and attachment to basketball. After enduring so many injuries, the 28-year-old was happy to be back on the court with her teammates.

“Every time I step out on the floor, whether it’s practice, offseason workouts, games, I just want to be my best… I don’t take this game for granted because it’s been taken away from me before. So every time I’m out there, I’m just continuing to try and be my best, improve, put myself in uncomfortable situations so I can grow from it. Tonight, my mentality wasn’t any different.” Ionescu said postgame.

And despite Liberty being unable to achieve their goal in the playoffs, Ionescu did try to bring up her influence in a few games. Game 2 of the first round against the Lynx, the Liberty guard recorded 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, along with four rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Ionescu brought that same fire inside her in Game 1 against the Dream in the semifinals, scoring a game-high 27 points. But she managed to produce only one assist, something which she pointed out needs attention after the Dream took the W at State Farm Arena.

“It doesn’t matter. We didn’t win. I don’t think personal stats or any of that stuff matters to me. I need to find a way to get everyone else in better positions.” Ionescu said after the Liberty dropped Game 1 against the Dream. She was not kidding around, as she dished out seven assists the following game.

However, her scoring dropped to 10 points, as she could not influence the series in any other way as a member of the Liberty’s Big 3. The Liberty lost to the Dream once again by just three points after a nervy overtime by both sides, and Ionescu took the loss upon herself postgame.

“It was my fault. I took ownership of that. I mean, this loss is on me. I got to take it on the chin, and I got to be better.” Ionescu said.

Krick did not take Ionescu’s mistakes lightly, and highlighted that her two turnovers in crucial back-to-back games are what got the Liberty eliminated.

“It’s not fair to Stewie (Breanna Stewart). It’s not fair to Jonquel (Jones). Like, I’m sorry, you already have Pauline Astier. You already have (Marine) Fauthoux. You don’t need Sabrina anymore. I’m sorry. Also, I don’t think this is her team. I know she thinks this is her team. It’s not her team.” Krick added.

While there is no doubt about Ionescu’s experience and the passion she brings to the court, the Liberty are currently in need of more, and the 28-year-old is not the one answering the questions.

Alarm bells were already ringing after qualifying for the playoffs as the eighth and final seed, and if not for the season-long heroics of FIBA Women’s World Cup MVP Breanna Stewart, even playoff contention would have felt impossible for the Liberty. The floor general finished fifth in the MVP voting after averaging 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in the regular season. She was also named to the All-Defensive Second Team and will most probably make All-WNBA once again. 

Ionescu obviously means a lot to the Liberty fans and the franchise. She was the No. 1 draft pick coming out of Oregon and a key orchestrator for the Liberty’s 2024 championship glory.

But with both Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones approaching 33 next year, a Satou Sabally signing that has not worked out amid the All-Star forward’s concussions, Chris DeMarco’s position as head coach on the hot seat, and now Ionescu’s performances on the decline, maybe the time has come for a major overhaul at Barclays Center. With such a landscape, maybe parting ways with Sabrina Ionescu might not be the most extreme idea after all.

The rumor mill has currently named the Golden State Valkyries and the Portland Fire as the best options for Ionescu to take her talents to. While the Valkyries would be content with their current roster, considering they are now in the WNBA Finals, the Fire are indeed an interesting option.

2027 will be the franchise’s second season as they look to follow the absurd trajectory made by their fellow expansion side, the Valkyries. Moreover, the Fire would be willing to spend big in the offseason and will be looking for their first franchise star. And with Ionescu’s current three-year contract worth $3.7 million according to Sportrac, that would be just the kind of statement signing they would need to announce themselves ahead of the season.

Of course, unrestricted free agents Napheesa Collier and Kelsey Mitchell also exist, but Sabrina Ionescu will be a relatively decent alternative if her trade rumors do become a reality.

Regardless, the offseason is long, and many things can change by the time May 2027 arrives. But one thing is for certain: this is not the last time we will hear the names Sabrina Ionescu and trade in the same sentence in the coming months.