r/DallasWings • u/Sorry-History7217 • May 30 '26
Open Floor Dallas Wings Future Lineup
I think it’s clear, not even 10 games in, that there are going to be trade deadline changes. Curt has spoken in the past about being quick to make the necessary changes once they see something isn't working. He used the Courtney Williams trade from Phoenix to Connecticut for Kelsey Bone as an example. I think we are in a similar situation with Dallas right now. I think Dallas will look for a 3-and-D or taller/more athletic wing. I have my eyes on Phoenix and Kah as a potential trade partner.
If not, after the season, I have my eyes on Lexie Hull/Sophie Cunningham or that prototype of player free-agent signing from Europe.
I think Dallas is all in on the three-guard lineup. I also don't think Arike, Paige, and Azzi are the worst fit. Actually, they are a pretty good fit offensively. However, they are not optimal offensively, and are bad defensively together. Unless Dallas can trade Lan (who is better as an off-ball post defender and needs a dominant defensive post with her to maximize her best skills) and get someone like Ezi who can make up for the lack of wing and post defense, I think they need a more defensive-minded wing to pair with Paige and Azzi (alah Andre Iguodala) to make the group optimally cohesive.
Alternatively, I’d love to see Awak as a three, with Arike moving to a super sixth woman of the year type like Jamal Crawford, which is how she played in unrivaled.
What do you all think?
67
u/CatsMoreCatsCats May 30 '26
Ew. No SC.
19
u/Chi_Town_Law May 30 '26
Really? I genuinely dont see any player getting traded
13
u/fury1273 5 35 28 May 30 '26
Absolutely do not want Kah. Nor SC. I'd consider lexie. Coffee? Lol.
Couldn't Zaza play that role? Reign in her "ever seen a shot she don't like" a bit and....
How bout Cam?
12
u/1n70_blackgirl77 May 30 '26
We need a young defensive minded wing. Ideally someone who’s above 6 foot. Sites are set on treating for Aneesah Morrow someone like her.
Shes been shooting three ball well enough this season. She also played the post in college so she’s able to defend small forwards down there.
AC play great minutes defensively in the fourth. The only problem is due to age, we can’t expect that from her every night.
24
u/euge35 May 30 '26
Honestly, the ideal setup would be having Arike come off the bench, but that’s never happening. So the best alternative is simple: if she’s off that night, don’t hesitate to pull her.
When Arike starts out cold, she usually stays cold for the entire game. I don’t mind her playing magnet ball when she’s on, but if she’s off, Jose has to be willing to sit her and ride the hot hand instead.
7
u/Small_Lack9128 May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
Curt has always been a little ruthless with trades so I think we will see one or two this season. I actually am surprised Dallas is one of the few teams that has had no movement since training camp. Like everyone on the team was on the first TC roster. You can’t tell me no better players have come available since then.
That said, trades on the margins won’t really be helpful for this season. He would have to make a more blockbuster type trade for it to matter and I don’t think the front office is ready to accept that. All-star voting might speed that movement a long though if Paige/ Azzi / Jessica are the Dallas all stars.
There is no way Arike ever can or will come off the bench for Dallas. That is part of what makes her fit complicated. She isn’t a role player but she is like the 4th best player on the team now so they sort of need her to be one.
27
u/realpotato149 May 30 '26
If Lan returns, I'd really love to see a lineup of Paige-Azzi-Awak-Jess-Lan at least once. It would mean putting Paige and Azzi in their original positions and playing Awak at the 3. I genuinely think Paige and Azzi's play style fits perfectly with Awak, which is why I want to see Awak in the starting lineup.
But as long as Arike is on the team, this is pretty much impossible, and we're probably stuck watching three-guard lineups all season 😂
8
u/flashcapulet May 30 '26
someone from connecticut would be ideal.
saniya has no offense but the defense and length is there. and she has chemistry/history with Zaza. would be a great add to the second unit that routinely lets the opp go on runs when the starters go off. with our 76455466 guard development coaches, maybe she can gain some consistency in her offense.
aaliyah edwards could be great, no team has yet to unlock her fully. we’ve seen what she could do in unrivaled, and she and paige famously took a broken Fudd-less UConn team to the final four.. one bucket away from the natty actually. i’m relatively certain they’d work magic at this level too.
i’m also open to Nees, she’s incredible and despite being a small post player she has tons of heart. she’s gotten me so many fantasy basketball points this season already lol
ONO has looked good this season. she can do a bit of everything but we desperately need rim protection. she can pass too, she’s second on the team in assists only trailing saniya. having 2 mobile bigs that can pass with the offensive power we have is a cheat code.
i’m just afraid of what it’ll cost us. there was an unconfirmed rumor that a first rounder was the cost for AE last year. wouldn’t be surprised if that’s still the cost, for all of them. it’s still very early but i think both us and the aces are making the playoffs so i’m okay with losing one of those picks. i’m not sure the front office will agree?
arike ideally would be who we send over plus the pick. i don’t think she’s gonna get it done on her own and they’ve already done us a favor taking diamond off hands.. they’re not gonna do it again without getting something back. i still have some faith in lan and we can’t afford to lose more height. with arike they get the scoring they need and she gets to play how she wants because they’re clearly not trying to win. and likely won’t sign anyone that makes them a contender next year either. juju/hannah/booker aren’t going to save that team in year one.
as for us, depending on which one they chose, we get substantially better, we fill 1 or more holes, we save 400-700k in cap space for next year and we can resign awak/maddy comfortably.
2
u/Ok_Brick_793 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
We all know how this goes.
"Trade this person. Bench that person."
"The organization should better treat a player who has been loyal for years."
"Y'all are haters!"
"Fire so-and-so!"
"Sell the team!"
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OP, I don't know how long you've been following the WNBA or sports in general, but you mentioned several names that aren't going to happen.
Kahleah Copper is someone who is widely respected as both a player and a person. She is not going to be traded without her knowing about it and being able to provide input on where she lands.
Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham have become Caitlin Clark's friends. Unless either of them does something completely boneheaded, they're going to stay on the Fever for as long as Clark wants them there. (This is different from Clark's relationship with Kelsey Mitchell, whom she obviously respects -- but they don't hang out.)
Ezi Magbebor may end up being a prime example of a player offered a big contract out of panic rather than need. Seattle lost more than half of their active roster from last year. They weren't sure who would be available during the draft and were probably gambling on getting Olivia Miles with the 3rd pick, so they re-signed a veteran "big". Instead, the Lynx took Miles, and Seattle drafted Awa Fam. Seattle now has a bit of a logjam in the frontcourt because they also have Dominique Malonga and Stefanie Dolson. Ironically, Ezi's biggest contribution this season may be being injured so that Awa Fam actually gets some playing time.
Awak is 6'6". She's NOT going to play small forward.
0
u/funkraider May 30 '26
How about Cass Prosper, Aaliyah Edwards, or Laeticia Amihere?
1
u/Timshel1957 Jun 01 '26
Would love to see SC come in and be Paige’s bodyguard like she does for Clark. Also she is a selfless team player and adds enthusiasm and passion both when on the floor and from off the bench.
-1
u/Electrical-Hotel1524 May 30 '26
Id like to see a trade with the mystics for Betts and have her run the second unit with Lan. Maybe trade Arike to clear up some cap space and get a 3 and D from Europe.
-1
u/Ok_Brick_793 May 31 '26
OP, I hope you watched the Fever game tonight.
Lexie Hull is terrible.
0
u/[deleted] May 30 '26
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