Valkyries can afford to buy at the trade deadline, but it's complicated
Just over a week ago, that seemed precarious. They opened a five-game road trip with a 31-point blowout defeat at WNBA-worst Connecticut, and injuries to key players were stacking up ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.
All-Star Kayla Thornton is out for the season, while Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini and Monique Billings are also sidelined without a clear timeline to return. The Valkyries could use more frontcourt depth and scoring punch.
Golden State has the cap space to address its needs, but would that be the smartest option?
The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement expires in October, and while talks have hit a few bumps, the cap is widely expected to rise. That, combined with two expansion teams (Toronto and Portland) entering the league next year, means nearly two-thirds of current players will be free agents this offseason.
Because of all the uncertainty, teams generally haven't built toward the future this season. There have been two trades so far, with 8-21 Dallas sending forward NaLyssa Smith to Vegas to help its frontcourt and shipping bench wing DiJonai Carrington to title contender Minnesota.
The Valkyries have all their draft picks for next season and beyond that they could use as trade bait. They also have the rights to 2025 first-round pick Juste Jocyte, a 19-year-old Lithuanian wing, plus forward Maria Conde, added in the expansion draft before she tore her Achilles overseas. Just Kate Martin and Carla Leite have contracts that extend beyond this season.
If the Valkyries wanted to add someone, they could add a veteran for a late-round pick or a player with time left on her deal. Washington is reportedly shopping Aaliyah Edwards, who's stuck in a crowded frontcourt but still under contract for another year. Emily Engstler, a 25-year-old wing who shot 47.4% from 3-point range last season, could also fit the Valkyries' style. The Mystics have shown a willingness to deal, sending Brittney Sykes to Seattle on Tuesday.
Acquiring Sky guard Ariel Atkins would cost Golden State, especially after Chicago gave up the No. 3 pick to get her, but she would change the Valkyries' offense. With the Sky out of contention, they could be open to flipping the 28-year-old, who averages 13.9 points per game, for a pick. A first-rounder would be a steep price for a potential 16-game rental.
Dallas forward Myisha Hines-Allen would cost perhaps a second-round pick and would get significant minutes as a backup big. Phoenix might look to dump center Kalani Brown's contract to trade for a scorer, and the Valkyries would have the space and could end up with a pick to go along with a 6-foot-7 center.
A first-round pick or promising young player could be too tempting to pass up, especially with multiple Valkyries veterans on expiring deals. Thornton, Hayes, Billings and Temi Fagbenle are unrestricted free agents this offseason.
However, the veterans are all players who could have been dealt a while ago to teams in need. Clubs that feel they are just one player away from a real playoff push would likely look to Connecticut's Marina Mabrey or Washington's Edwards for more of a splash. If the Valkyries aren't offered a first-rounder for a veteran, moving on from them doesn't seem worth it.
The Valkyries have used 14 different starting lineups and played 19 different players, both WNBA highs this season. With Billings, Hayes and Zandalasini returning at some point, Golden State may choose to ride it out, keep their picks, and push for a playoff spot without making a move.
It might be the least exciting, but smartest, move. The Valkyries aren't thinking about lottery odds anymore, but throwing everything at a playoff run has its risks, too, in a league set to evolve soon.
'That's for the front office, but we're good,' head coach Natalie Nakase said Tuesday. 'We're getting healthy, so I think we're good.'
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