#113: Let's look at some WNBA trade possibilities

I've been working ... a ton.

I was just in Harrisburg, Pa., putting together a joint press conference for my day job as part of a budget advocacy day.

For my second job, I've been producing some of the best – if not the very best – content that I've produced for The IX Sports covering the Atlanta Dream.

Film session with Jordin Canada. A look at pre-game handshakes around the league. An exclusive with Brionna Jones as she recovers from her injury.

I've had to prioritize what I spend my time on so that I can still spend time with my family, read, and disconnect a bit.

But we're back here for another edition of the Walking Bucket newsletter. No. 113, in fact.

And you won't want to miss Monday's edition as I reveal exclusively here my official media ballot for the upcoming WNBA All-Star Game.

Today, though, we are going to look at some trade possibilities around the league.

I posted on Bluesky and Threads (which has an unreal reach when it comes to the WNBA) for players or teams that should or could make a move.

I'll grab some of those for this exercise, as well as some others that I thought up of myself.

Of course, we are trying to make realistic trades, so I'm not going to have A'ja Wilson for Georgia Amoore in this space. We also want to make sure that the trades work when it comes to the salary cap.

Let's get to it.

Minnesota receives Kyara Linskens from Phoenix for a 2027 third-round pick

The Lynx are showing that they are one of the top teams in the league thanks to the play of Olivia Miles, Natasha Howard, and Nia Coffey in the absence of Napheesa Collier. Now is the time for Cheryl Reeve to gear up for a deep playoff run.

While the Lynx are deep, they could use one more big who can stretch the floor. Linskens has a 40 percent three-point rate and is able to play eight to 10 minutes for the Lynx as a floor spacer.

The cost will be cheap, but she could be a big contributor down the stretch.

Toronto receives Shakira Austin and Lucy Olsen from Washington for a 2027 first-round pick, Julie Allemand, Izzy Harrison, and Kia Nurse

The Tempo really wanted to land Austin this offseason. They had a deal agreed upon, but with Austin being a restricted free agent, Washington had a chance to match it. They did just that, offering her a three-year max deal.

While both teams can make the playoffs, both should be looking ahead to 2027 realistically. The Mystics are young and making noise, but are at least a year away from being true players. The Tempo are dealing with brutal injuries and are lacking a true impactful post player.

That's where Austin would make sense to come to Toronto. The price is steep, giving up a first-round pick in a loaded draft class. But as long as that pick is outside of the top two, Toronto can live with it going to Washington.

For the Mystics, it would give them another guard to push Amoore for the starting role, a veteran in Nurse that they can look to flip, and another first-round pick to go along with the one that they got from Chicago. Plus, it allows them to play first-round pick Lauren Betts more as they look to develop her.

Los Angeles receives Jacy Sheldon from Chicago for Ta'Niya Latson and a 2027 second-round pick

The Sky are in a position where they need to recoup as much draft capital that they possibly can. They gave up a first-round pick for Sheldon, who is a player I like, but she's also on her fourth team in three years.

With Kelsey Plum set to miss around four weeks, the Sparks need playmaking. One thing they have made clear is that they are looking to win and are not looking to develop players.

That allows Latson to become available and get a look in Chicago. While they won't be able to get a first-round pick back for Sheldon, a second rounder and Latson is good value for Sheldon, who can fill in while Plum is out and come in for defensive assignments late in games.

Atlanta receives Olivia Nelson-Ododa from Connecticut for Sika Koné, Indiya Nivar, and a 2027 second-round pick

The Dream are one of the favorites to win the WNBA title, and while their starters are balling, their bench unit could use some help.

When Bri Jones returns, Naz Hillmon will return to the second unit with Te-Hina Paopao, Isobel Borlase, and Madina Okot, but they're missing one more piece.

Enter Nelson-Ododa, who will likely be moved before the trade deadline. She doesn't give the Dream the spacing that Karl Smesko likes, but she gives them much-needed length that they'll need going up against other teams in the playoffs.

Hillmon is capable of playing the three, with Ododa and Okot playing the four and five throughout the game when Jones and Angel Reese need a breather.

Nivar is an interesting player who is a lockdown defender, and the Sun can get a second-rounder from the Dream for ONO. Koné remains a wild card looking for a team to unlock her potential.

Las Vegas receives: Cameron Brink and Karlie Samuelson
Portland receives: Rae Burrell and Janiah Barker
Los Angeles receives: Jewell Loyd, 2028-first round picks from Portland and Las Vegas

OK, is this trade going to happen? No, it isn't, but I can't stop thinking about Cam Brink being on a different team. There are a few coaches who could really develop her, and I don't think that Lynne Roberts is on that list. Becky Hammon, though, is.

Vegas being able to get Brink and have her play 20 minutes per game with Samuelson as a bench shooter would help them make another push for the WNBA Finals. This banks on Dana Evans getting healthy and filling the Jewell Loyd role.

For the Fire, they get Rae Burrell, who is another player who needs a change of scenery to truly break out. It gets crowded quickly with Burrell, Bridget Carleton, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Carla Leite, but long term, Burrell is a better player than Barker. They also get a rookie in Janiah Barker as a lottery ticket.

For the Sparks, they want to compete, but can they? Plum is out, so Loyd could fill that role for them, but they can also net two first-round picks from Vegas and the Fire in a loaded 2028 class.

This is the most unrealistic trade in this piece.

Indiana receives Li Yueru from Dallas for Damiris Dantas and a 2027 second-round pick

Yueru can play, but is limited. However, the Chinese National Team is insistent that she needs to have a big role to make it "worth it" for her to play in the WNBA. We've seen that come up in Los Angeles and Seattle, and now it's happening in Dallas.

The Fever are a team who could use another big. I like KK Timpson's ability as a rim protector, but I'm not there yet with her offensively. Yueru could step in and help the Fever's second unit.

The Wings won't have a lot of power in moving Yueru, as teams know the situation there. Getting a matching contract and a 2027 second-rounder is probably the best-case scenario for them.

Seattle receives Ta'Niya Latson and a 2027 second-round pick from Los Angeles for Jade Melbourne

We're focusing on Los Angeles more than expected today, but that injury to Plum has them at an interesting point with a decision to make.

Again, they aren't wanting to develop players with the focus being on winning. Melbourne isn't the best point guard that they can get, but she can help fill the void left by Plum.

Erica Wheeler is ranked last in the WNBA in net points, so the Sparks need some help.

Latson can get some run in Seattle and get a true chance to develop.