The rich get richer.
A day after reports of landing superstar and future Hall of Famer Candace Parker, the Aces are adding more reinforcements in the front court.
FIrst reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the veteran forward made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals. She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent she'll be surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after reports of landing superstar and future Hall of Famer Candace Parker, the Aces are adding more reinforcements in the front court.
FIrst reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals. She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent she'll be surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall of Famer Candace Parker, the Aces are adding more reinforcements in the front court.
FIrst reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals. She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent she'll be surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals. She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent she'll be surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals.
She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent she'll be surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals.
She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that she will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent she'll be surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals.
She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that she will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent that&nbsp; surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals.
She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that she will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent that will surrounded with.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals.
She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that she will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent surrounding her.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender, able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

The rich get richer.
A day after landing superstar and future Hall-of-Famer Candace Parker, the Las Vegas Aces are reportedly adding more reinforcements in the frontcourt.
As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Multiple league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheNextHoops</a> that <a href="https://twitter.com/Alysha_Clark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Alysha_Clark</a> has agreed to join the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a>
&mdash; Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619857345626136576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

After missing the 2021 season while recovering from a Lisfranc injury, the 10-year veteran made her return in 2022 for the Washington Mystics, averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals.
She suffered the second worst three-point shooting season of her career (30.3% on 3.4 attempts), but there's reason to believe that she will bounce back in Vegas. Not only is she a career 38.4% shooter from deep, it's easy to envision her feasting on open looks due to the talent surrounding her.
Clark remains a strong perimeter defender who's able to credibly defend multiple positions. She's made two All-Defensive teams in her career (2019, 2020), though she's understandably slipped from that level post-injury.&nbsp;
This is a valuable add for the Aces, who didn't have much depth behind All-Star wing Jackie Young last season. Riquna Williams is more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 3/4 hybrid like Clark (or Young); the Aces even experimented with three-big lineups as a counter to their depth issue last year. Provided Clark stays healthy, that issue should no longer exist.

As first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next, the Aces have reached an agreement with two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark.

WNBA Free Agency: Las Vegas Aces to sign forward Alysha Clark

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that -- they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor -- but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (1.5 attempts combined).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice -- and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings -- could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (1.5 attempts combined).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice -- and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings -- could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts combined).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice -- and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings -- could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice -- and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings -- could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice &mdash; and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings -- could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice &mdash; and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings &mdash; could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice &mdash; and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings &mdash; could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and got to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free throw averaged would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate -- the percentage of possessions that ended in a free throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice &mdash; and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings &mdash; could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and got to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free-throw attempts would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third-lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate &mdash; the percentage of possessions that ended in a free-throw attempt -- ranked 8th in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice &mdash; and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings &mdash; could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and got to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free-throw attempts would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third-lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate &mdash; the percentage of possessions that ended in a free-throw attempt &mdash; ranked eighth in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly five assists per game via InStat tracking.

As the WNBA world continues to wait for the Breanna Stewart domino to fall &mdash; she's reportedly choosing between joining the New York Liberty or returning to the Seattle Storm &mdash; we're starting to get free-agency movement elsewhere.
First reported by <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal/status/1619814344363220992?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Megdal of The Next</a>, the Washington Mystics are set to sign guard Brittney Sykes once deals are eligible to be finalized. A few minutes later, <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619816053445640192?s=20&amp;t=S6WqaY1FLW70tND4miw-4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports</a> reported that Sykes' deal will be for three years.&nbsp;
The Mystics were The W's best defense last season, allowing just 96 points per 100 possessions. Their guard duo of Natasha Cloud and Ariel Atkins led the way &mdash; both earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team last season. Adding Sykes to this group seems to be an aggressive double-down of their ethos.
Sykes is coming off a strong defensive campaign in her own right. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team behind her event creation. Not only did she lead The W in steals (2.0, 65 total), she was <a href="https://stats.wnba.com/players/traditional/?sort=BLK&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;Height=LT%206-0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of two players under 6-feet</a> to block at least 20 shots (22), with Mercury star Skylar Diggins-Smith (30) being the other.
Adding Sykes to a roster with Cloud, Atkins, rookie standout Shakira Austin and underrated Elena Delle Donne is unfair for opposing offenses. The cast could be stronger if they're able to retain any of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (UFA), Elizabeth Williams (UFA) or the point-of-attack hounding of Rui Machida (reserved free agent).
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The offensive fit seems less clear, at least on the surface.
While the Mystics were an elite defense last season, they ranked seventh (out of 12) in offensive rating (101.7) &mdash; and were closer to 10th (Sparks, 97.6) than fourth (Wings, 104.6). Delle Donne missing 11 games played a part into that, as they scored <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661322&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=203399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at an elite clip</a> with her on the floor, but that undersells some of the issues they worked through in half-court settings.
Even with Delle Donne on the floor, teams were able to comfortably sag off at least two players (Cloud, Austin) to shrink the floor. Sykes doesn't solve that spacing issue; she's a career 28.9% shooter from deep, and has effectively cut that shot out of her diet over the past two seasons (averaging 1.5 attempts).
There are areas where Sykes can help. Her downhill juice &mdash; and willingness to push outside of traditional transition settings &mdash; could help put pressure on defenses. She took 114 shots at the rim, and got to the line 3.5 times a game last season; the rim number would've led the Mystics, and the free-throw attempts would've ranked second to Delle Donne (3.7).
The Mystics as a whole struggled to garner much traction inside. Only 25.2% of their shots came at the rim last season, the third-lowest mark in the league. Their free throw rate &mdash; the percentage of possessions that ended in a free-throw attempt &mdash; ranked eighth in the league.&nbsp;
Sykes also showcased the ability to handle more on-ball opportunity last season. Scoring is still Sykes' primary calling card, but it's worth noting that she averaged a career-high 3.7 assists last season. She's had even more responsibility overseas, where she's averaging nearly 5 assists per game, via InStat tracking.

The Washington Mystics are reportedly signing guard Brittney Sykes. Nekias Duncan breaks down how she fits with her new team.

WNBA Free Agency: Brittney Sykes to sign with Washington Mystics

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due the injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans ... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain", IE not getting pregnant during her two-year deal</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans ... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain", IE not getting pregnant during her two-year deal</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain", IE not getting pregnant during her two-year deal</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain", IE not getting pregnant during her two-year deal</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain," i.e. not getting pregnant during her two-year deal</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain," i.e. not getting pregnant during her two-year deal.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain," i.e. not getting pregnant during her two-year deal.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season.</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, It's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain," i.e. not getting pregnant during her two-year deal.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season.</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, it's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest-paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting that Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part of Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain," i.e. not getting pregnant during her two-year deal.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season.</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, it's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest-paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting that Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part in Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of The W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels ... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

The Las Vegas Aces just shook the league.
Months after winning their first title in franchise history, and with the backdrop of multiple star talents &mdash; Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard, Allisha Gray &mdash; changing teams via&nbsp;trade&nbsp;this offseason, the Aces have made the first free-agency splash.
Candace Parker, one of the best basketball players to ever grace the planet, announced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-cIIYyMde/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">earlier today on Instagram</a> that she plans to join the reigning champions instead of returning to the Chicago Sky.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Full statement from Candace Parker on her decision to sign with the Aces. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h">https://t.co/ers2dP0l3h</a> <a href="https://t.co/rG1UePbqt9">pic.twitter.com/rG1UePbqt9</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1619463948776116224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/alexaphilippou/status/1619481461521895425?s=20&amp;t=ZuSHUUU5BAE4LBe379txJw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Alexa Philippou</a>, Parker's deal with the Aces will be for one year. The signing won't become official until February 1 (Wednesday) at the earliest, which is when players are allowed to formalize new agreements.
In a perfect world, it would be easy to get excited about the prospect of Parker and A&rsquo;ja Wilson &mdash; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/35546744/wnba-free-agent-candace-parker-sign-las-vegas-aces" target="_blank" rel="noopener">played a role in recruiting Parker</a>&nbsp;&mdash; playing together.
I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s going to be a better defensive frontcourt in The W, provided both stay healthy. Wilson won last year&rsquo;s Defensive Player of the Year award due to her work as a scheme-versatile anchor. Parker, the (controversial) 2020 DPOY, is still an elite defender in her own right. The amount of different looks the Aces will be able to throw at teams will be insane.&nbsp;
On the other end of the floor, Parker remains a star due to her ability to operate as a hub. She can pry folks open with handoffs and screens, or even initiate some pick-and-rolls if you want to have a guard screen for her. She isn't able to toast bigger defenders off the bounce with the same regularity as her prime years, but Parker can still get busy in the mid-post or lower.&nbsp;
This is a slam dunk on the court, but the on-court stuff feels secondary right now. Frankly, it&rsquo;s hard not to think of Dearica Hamby in this situation.&nbsp;
I don&rsquo;t think trading Hamby, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/aces-trade-allstar-forward-dearica-hamby-to-the-sparks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in what can certainly be viewed now as a salary dump</a>, is a bad thing on its face. Heading into the offseason, the Aces had the least amount of cap space in the W, <a href="https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/summary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Her Hoop Stats</a>. In order to add reinforcements of any kind to the roster, there would have to be some sort of cap casualty &mdash; whether that was Hamby or Riquna Williams. Even after moving Hamby, the Aces ranked 12th out of 12 teams in available cap space.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
It makes sense that the Aces would choose to move Hamby after winning a title without her being a major postseason contributor due to injury. Kiah Stokes filled in admirably, and the Aces ultimately won the title behind their small-ball lineups featuring Williams.
Sadly, it's hard to view this solely through a basketball context.
Not long after we learned about the trade, Hamby made a post on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsXXblSRPN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you can read it in full here)</a> thanking her teammates and Aces fans... and leveling some uncomfortable-at-best allegations at the organization. Some of the accusations include:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Being accused of signing her contract extension knowingly pregnant, without informing the team.</li>
<li class="p1">Not holding up "her end of the bargain," i.e. not getting pregnant during her two-year deal.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking precautions to prevent pregnancy.</li>
<li class="p1">Not taking her offseason workouts seriously, in light of her pregnancy and availablity ahead of next season.</li>
</ul>
The allegations were so serious that the WNBPA immediately released a statement, saying they would seek an investigation into the organization.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WNBPA Statement <a href="https://t.co/JDVtmNgzkU">pic.twitter.com/JDVtmNgzkU</a>
&mdash; WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheWNBPA/status/1616924611412897792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

The vast majority of players in the WNBA are black women. An allegation of a black woman being, in Hamby's words, "lied to, bullied, manipulated, and discriminated against" by management shouldn't be taken lightly.&nbsp;
And if any of this is true, it's an especially bad look for the Aces. They rightfully made waves last offseason by hiring Becky Hammon and making her the highest-paid coach in The W. More pressing is the fact that the two most influential voices in the organization are black women: team president Nikki Fargas and general manager Natalie Williams.
How do you go about making things right in that scenario, much less recover from that kind of publicity?
Also, it's at least worth noting that Parker is a mother in her own right. She mentioned the importance of her family in her post, and how that factored into her decision to join the Aces. This isn't to suggest that Parker deserves any ire for signing with Vegas, because she doesn't; if there was foul play at hand, any criticisms should start and stop with the guilty parties within the Aces organization.
But how does Parker feel about the allegations? How much was she made privy to before agreeing to sign? It's fair to ask that much, though the opportunity to ask won't appear until next week at the earliest.
(Full disclosure: I plan to take part in Parker's introductory presser, either in person or on Zoom if that's an option. If I'm not able to ask Parker those questions, I'm certain another member of The W media will. At the very least, they should.)
Without the Hamby/Aces investigation being complete, there's only so much room to opine. What I will say is that this just feels... weird, man. There will be time for a deeper dive of the on-court fit, but I think we should make sure nobody was harmed first.

Nekias Duncan gives his initial, complicated thoughts on the Aces signing Candace Parker.

Aces to sign Candace Parker, though it's hard to be excited right now

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 FTAs, T-8th), and is the biggest reason why the Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for 4th with Doncic in scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in clutch scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 FTAs, T-8th), and is the biggest reason why the Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for 4th with Doncic in scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in clutch scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth), and is the biggest reason why the Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for 4th with Doncic in scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in clutch scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for 4th with Doncic in scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in crunch-time scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for 4th with Doncic in scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in crunch-time scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, but DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for 4th with Doncic in scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in crunch-time scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, but DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for fourth with Doncic in clutch scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free throwa attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in crunch-time scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, but DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for fourth with Doncic in clutch scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in free-throw attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in crunch-time scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, but DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for fourth with Doncic in clutch scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in total free-throw attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Award talk is always fun &mdash; or annoying, depending on where you land with The Discourse&trade;. The NBA is filled with talent, giving us plenty to enjoy on a night-to-night basis. It also makes it incredibly tough to parse out awards.
Listing a top-five MVP ballot means "disrespecting" the sixth guy who didn't make it. There are at least five centers &mdash; Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Jarrett Allen, Nic Claxton and Joel Embiid &mdash; fighting for two All-Defensive center spots, and that's ignoring Anthony Davis. This stuff is&nbsp;tough,&nbsp;man.&nbsp;
If there's one award that may wind up being a landslide, it's the newly announced Clutch Player of the Year award.&nbsp;
We don't have an official guideline; the award's description is simply the "player who best comes through for his teammates in the clutch." It's vague, yet simple &mdash; reward the guy that makes big plays when it matters.
(My hope is that it doesn't become the late-game version of Sixth Man of the Year, where the scoring leader wins regardless of any other area of the game. In short: Scoring should matter, as should playmaking and making big stops defensively.)
Let's put it out there now: This should be De'Aaron Fox's award to lose.
He feels like an award casualty candidate in other discussions. His career year &mdash; 24.0 points on 59.3% True Shooting, 6.1 assists (2.6 turnovers), 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game &mdash; just happens to coincide with Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Ja Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Damian Lillard and Devin Booker losing their minds individually. That's just in the Western Conference, which could complicate Fox's All-Star candidacy.
Add in Eastern Conference guards like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and the All-NBA conversation is going to be tough for Fox too.&nbsp;
Clutch Player of the Year, though? Fox has been inevitable.
In clutch time &mdash; which NBA.com defines as the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime, with the score within 5 points either way &mdash; <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/clutch-traditional?CF=FGA*GE*30&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=FGM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leads the NBA</a> in made baskets (44) while converting a ridiculous 60.3% of his shots. Among 59 players to attempt at least 30 clutch shots, Fox trails only Bradley Beal (65.6% on 32 attempts) in efficiency.&nbsp;
(As a brief aside, have we forgotten how good Beal is? He's missed games, and has taken a bit of a step back with Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis taking more ownership of the offense, but Beal is still slapping up 22-3-5 on 61.0% True Shooting. He's converting over 57.0% of his twos!)
Anyway, it starts with the drive for Fox, as it always does. He has a special ability to generate paint touches on a whim. He's one of the five fastest players in the NBA; he knows that, his opponents know that and he knows his opponents know that. What makes Fox dangerous is how he leverages that speed by decelerating &mdash; it's like he's realm shifting out there when he puts on the brakes.
That dichotomy makes him nearly impossible to stay in front of. At this point, it feels like we only see full-speed Fox in doses. Just the&nbsp;fear of him turning on the jets can throw defenders off-balance. Because he's able to create fruitful advantages, he's a dominant paint scorer&nbsp;and&nbsp;someone who can involve others when opponents toss too much attention his way.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/8hgc9f" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
On the season, the Kings are generating a robust 1.16 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Fox drive, per Second Spectrum &mdash; sixth among 77 players with at least 300 drives under their belts this season. When filtering for clutch time, that number rises to 1.2 PPP.
Fox doesn't do it on his own, of course. The two-man game between him and Domantas Sabonis is tough to deal with. Sabonis' utility as a handoff hub, post hub and screening partner helps attract attention and pry Fox open.
Kevin Huerter, one of the NBA's most dangerous off-ball weapons, makes life easier for Fox. Keeping him one pass from Fox keeps help defenders away. And using Huerter as a (ghost) screener adds another layer for defenses to deal with. Huerter can feed favorable matchups to Fox for exploiting, or the Kings can flow out of HORNS Flare &mdash; with Huerter setting or ghosting a screen for Fox before flying off a screen for Sabonis &mdash; to induce further strain on the defense.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/3v4ya1" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Fox has also had some&nbsp;moments&nbsp;defensively late in games. His effort overall has improved this season. He's always been able to ramp things up on the ball when needed, but I've been impressed with how he's toggled his help assignments late, especially when you factor in the load he's carrying on the other end.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7gx5g4" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
Overall, the Kings are 13-10 in "clutch" games with Fox this season, much better than last season's 11-19 mark. It's fueled by their offense, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/clutch-advanced?dir=A&amp;sort=OFF_RATING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lapping the field</a> in clutch offensive rating (130.4) by nearly&nbsp;six points.&nbsp;You can primarily thank Fox for that.
OTHER CANDIDATES
<ul>
<li>Hey, that Luka guy is pretty good. He's tied for fourth in clutch scoring (99) and leads the NBA in assists (23) and steals (8), oddly enough. The Mavs have gone 16-10 in clutch games featuring Doncic. They've also won the Doncic clutch minutes by 41 points, the fifth-best mark in the NBA.</li>
<li>While we're on bigs, Jokic is tied for 10th in scoring (70 points) and second in assists (22) while only turning the ball over five times. The Nuggets have outscored opponents by 69 points in Jokic's 83 clutch minutes &mdash; easily the best mark in the league. He just had a game-winning floater on Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.</li>
<li>Jalen Brunson's third in crunch-time scoring (101), has canned nearly 46% of his threes, has gotten to the line a ton (36 free-throw attempts, tied for eighth) and is the biggest reason why the New York Knicks have a winning record (13-10) in clutch games.</li>
<li>Fox has made more clutch buckets than anyone, but DeMar DeRozan slightly edges him out in total scoring (113 to 108). No player has gotten to the line more than DeRozan, where he's drilled 42-of-45 foul shots (93.3%) during money time. He remains a terrifying mid-range scorer, with a filthy pump fake to bait you into easier points. The Bulls being 8-14 (and a minus-5 point differential) in clutch games isn't his fault, but that'll hurt him in the race.</li>
<li>Speaking of mid-range mastery and elite foul drawing, it's hard to ignore the production of Gilgeous-Alexander. He's tied for fourth with Doncic in clutch scoring (99) and slightly trails DeRozan in total free-throw attempts (41). Subpar efficiency (40.6% FG) and the Oklahoma City Thunder's bleh record (9-17, minus-16 differential) in SGA's minutes hurt him.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Nekias Duncan takes his first glance at the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award and why De'Aaron Fox leads the pack of candidates.

De'Aaron Fox early front-runner in NBA Clutch Player of the Year race

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes, and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skillset and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring. Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes, and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skillset and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring. Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes, and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skillset and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring. Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skillset and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring. Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot chances and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skillset and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring. Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot chances and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skill set and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring. Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot chances and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skill set and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring.
Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot chances and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skill set and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring.
Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain him for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if Hachimura proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot chances and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skill set and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring.
Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain Hachimura for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if Hachimura proves to be a poor fit.

If you had the Los Angeles Lakers bolstering their forward room before the trade deadline &mdash; and sending off multiple future picks to do it &mdash; you can pat yourself on the back.
Don't pat too hard, though, because I doubt you had this deal on the bingo card.&nbsp;
On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-news-report-los-angeles-lakers-finalizing-trade-to-acquire-washington-wizards-rui-hachimura-kendrick-nunn-kyle-kuzma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakers were acquiring former lottery pick Rui Hachimura</a> from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second round picks &mdash; a 2023 second via Chicago (looking real top-40ish), the least favorable of LA or Washington's 2028 second rounder and LA's 2029 second-rounder.
More of a starter trade than a star trade, but you have to crawl before you walk.
The optics of this deal aren't great for Washington; it's not fun trading away a somewhat recent top-10 pick for three second-rounders and a bench guard you don't have long-term belief in. That doesn't mean the move was thoughtless.
Replacing Hachimura's salary with Nunn's makes the Wizards' tax figure a little easier to deal with this season &mdash; they're now $1.3 million below the tax line, <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/spots/lakers-make-low-risk-gamble-on-rui-hachimura-1753/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Keith Smith</a> &mdash; which could make them a candidate for more deals before the deadline. And if there was no intention of retaining Hachimura in the offseason, it's best to get&nbsp;something&nbsp;for him.
(And speaking of the offseason: It's clear the Wizards are gearing up to retain Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker who's blossomed into a multifaceted player.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The Laker side is more fun to think about.
They've needed reinforcements for a while, especially in the frontcourt. Prior to the deal, LeBron James was really the only bulky, athletic forward on the roster. The slight-bodied nature of the Lakers' wing/forward room has been an issue all season long. Hachimura won't solve that by himself, but he serves as a step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see how Hachimura slots in defensively. He's a mixed bag on the non-glamour end, able to bang and slide with 4s, and manage well enough against 3s. At worst, he should be able to funnel twitchier wings inside to Anthony Davis once he makes his return.&nbsp;
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/mrb7l7" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
To be clear, the Lakers do not (or at least should not) view Hachimura as an on-ball stopper. If he can serve as an innings eater of sorts, that will allow LeBron and Davis (when healthy) to patrol the back line. The collective size and length of those three &mdash; combined with the screen navigation they get up top from Dennis Schroder &mdash; should be the foundation of a solid defensive unit.
Beyond his stature, Hachimura's skill set should be useful for the Lakers. He's a load to deal with when getting downhill. That really shines through in transition, where he's generated 1.19 points per possession (PPP) on transition opportunities over the past two seasons per InStat tracking.
The Lakers rank sixth in the league in transition frequency per Cleaning The Glass, and seventh in the league in pace. Their willingness to push off misses and turnovers should vibe well with Hachimura. That intention picks up when Russell Westbrook is on the floor, an important note considering their time together in Washington.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/9cu7qh" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
In the half-court, expect Hachimura to make his money as a complementary piece. He's shown the ability to punish sloppy closeouts by mixing in strong drives with mid-range pull-ups.&nbsp;
His propensity for turnarounds lead to underwhelming results against mismatches, but he's still someone teams shouldn't feel&nbsp;comfortable&nbsp;stashing smaller players against.
The swing skill for Hachimura will be his three-ball. This is a Laker team starved of reliable shooters &mdash; not just in terms of efficiency, but players that defenses allocate extra attention to. Hachimura hasn't accomplished the latter yet, and his efficiency has continued to fluctuate.
He drilled 44.7% of his threes last season, and was even better when filtering for catch-and-shoot looks (47.0%). The volume just wasn't high enough for it to matter (2.7 catch-and-shoot attempts on 2.9 overall per game), especially when considering his previous reputation. It doesn't help that Hachimura is down to 33.3% on catch-and-shoot looks this season, in line with the first two seasons of his career (32.1%).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
In order for this trade to pop offensively, Hachimura will have to ramp up his aggression against smaller defenders &mdash; someone with Hachimura's physical gifts drawing 38 shooting fouls over his last 70 games is hard to reckon with &mdash; or become a much more willing (and efficient) shooter from deep. Ideally, the Lakers get both, and I don't think either is out of the question.
Hachimura has shooting touch worth believing in. It's also not like Hachimura has dealt with the cleanest path of half-court development once you factor in roster changes, coaching changes and the start-and-stop nature of his availability the past three seasons.&nbsp;
With the Lakers, he'll have space to explore. LeBron will always draw two to the ball. There will be catch-and-shoot chances and catch-and-drive pockets.&nbsp;
Zooming out, this is a reasonable gamble for the Lakers considering the price point. If you can get someone with Hachimura's skill set and traits while giving up one (1) asset of moderate consequence (Chicago's second rounder), it's worth exploring.
Though Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers plan to retain Hachimura for the long haul, they also didn't give up enough to "force" them into that decision if he proves to be a poor fit.

Nekias Duncan analyzes how Rui Hachimura's acquisition can help the Lakers and the role he'll need to fill.

Exploring Rui Hachimura's fit with the Los Angeles Lakers

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. are joined by Mark Schindler of WNBA.com to discuss the early moves and rumors of WNBA free agency, then dig into under-the-radar NBA rookies.
If you'd like to join the online Dunker Spot watch parties, you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIMESTAMPS
2:00 -- (W)NBA news
15:00 -- WNBA offseason discussion
1:17:00 -- Jeremy Sochan
1:25:30 -- Mark Williams
1:31:00 -- Malaki Branham
1:38:00 -- Walker Kessler
1:43:30 -- Jaylin Williams + Orlando Robinson
1:51:00 -- Shoutouts (Ochai Agbaji, Jabari Walker, Max Christie)
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Nekias Duncan and former NBA video coordinator and assistant coach Steve Jones break down teams, players, and rumors around the NBA every week.

The Dunker Spot

WNBA Offseason Thoughts & NBA Rookie Takes

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 -- and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 -- enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators, or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available -- Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season -- her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents -- or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6'5 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators, or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available -- Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season -- her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents -- or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6'5 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available -- Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season -- her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents -- or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6'5 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season -- her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents -- or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6'5 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season &mdash; her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents -- or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6'5 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season &mdash; her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst-case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents &mdash; or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6'5 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season &mdash; her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst-case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents &mdash; or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6-foot-5, 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation -- and the attention they draw -- can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season &mdash; her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst-case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents &mdash; or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6-foot-5, 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation &mdash; and the attention they draw &mdash; can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby -- and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes -- when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season &mdash; her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst-case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents &mdash; or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6-foot-5, 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation &mdash; and the attention they draw &mdash; can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby &mdash; and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes &mdash; when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

The reigning champion Las Vegas Aces have made their first move of the offseason.
On Saturday morning, the Aces announced the trade of All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to the Los Angeles Sparks. Along with Hamby, they'll be sending a 2024 first-round pick to the Sparks for the rights to Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second-round pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has acquired the rights to center Amanda Zahui B. and a 2024 second round pick from the <a href="https://twitter.com/LASparks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LASparks</a> in exchange for the contract of Dearica Hamby and a 2024 first round pick.
&mdash; Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces/status/1616828749663866880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Hamby has been a crucial part of the Aces' recent success, winning Sixth Woman of the Year twice (2019, 2020) and making a pair of All-Star teams (2021, 2022) within the past four seasons. Her ability to pley 3-through-5 &mdash; and more importantly, defend 3-through-5 &mdash; enhanced the Aces' lineup versatility.
Hamby often served as a connector for the Aces offensively, making heady short-roll plays, flowing into handoffs with Vegas' bevy of talented creators or simply keeping things moving with strong drive-and-kick sequences. Her ability to handle the ball allowed her to kick-start transition opportunities; they don't call Hamby "Big Guard" for nothing.
When available &mdash; Hamby is currently pregnant, though <a href="https://twitter.com/MylesEhrlich/status/1580338051091660800?s=20&amp;t=A6Umio7P6hgHOreszMUGew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hopes to be ready</a> by the start of the 2023 season &mdash; her versatility could be a huge boost to the Sparks.&nbsp;
In a worst-case scenario, Hamby can serve as a bit of frontcourt insurance. The Sparks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/los-angeles-sparks-acquire-former-allstar-jasmine-thomas-from-connecticut-sun" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently traded away Olivia Nelson-Ododa</a> as part of the package to bring in Jasmine Thomas. More critically, Nneka Ogwumike and her sister Chiney Ogwumike are both unrestricted free agents.
For the Aces, this gives them a bit more flexibility. Before today's trade, the Aces had the lowest amount of cap space in the W (roughly $138K) with two roster spots to fill. They'd essentially have two minimum contracts to work with.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
With this deal, their cap space balloons to over $300K. If they're able to reach an agreement with Zahui B., it's likely her figure would come in lower than Hamby's ($169K). That would give the Aces the ability to be players among mid-tier free agents &mdash; or higher, if their targets are willing to take paycuts to join a ready-made contender.
Zahui B. garners intrigue as a big with center size (listed at 6-foot-5, 184) but stretch elements to her game. She's comfortable pulling from deep, particularly above the break. She's two seasons removed from averaging nearly five three-point attempts, and knocking those down at a respectable 34% clip.&nbsp;
You'd love for that to be higher, but her blend of volume and comfort relocating around the arc has garnered the attention of opposing bigs. For three-point shooters, their reputation &mdash; and the attention they draw &mdash; can surpass the efficiency you may see on the box score.
For an Aces team that often saw teams aggressively help off Hamby &mdash; and mostly ignore Kiah Stokes &mdash; when spaced on the perimeter, Zahui B.'s presence could further unlock possibilities for an already-elite offense.

Nekias Duncan gives his early thoughts on the trade between the Las Vegas Aces and Los Angeles Sparks.

WNBA trade: Aces deal All-Star forward Dearica Hamby to Sparks

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. are joined by Jackson Frank of Liberty Ballers (SB Nation) and Dime Uproxx to discuss all things Sixers.
If you'd like to join the Dunker Spot online watch parties, you can join here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIMESTAMPS
3:00 -- (W)NBA News (Allisha Gray*, Mitchell Robinson, Christian Wood)
11:00 -- All-Star update
23:00 -- Sixers discussion
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You Want Philly Philly?

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind. I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: Per Howard&nbsp;
As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: Per Howard Megdal of The Next,&nbsp;
As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: Per Howard Megdal of The Next, the Wings are expected to receive the #3 overall pick in this year's draft, as well as a future first round pick in 2024 or 2025
As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: Per Howard Megdal of The Next, the Wings are expected to receive the #3 overall pick in this year's draft, as well as a future first round pick in 2024 or 2025 from the Dream in exchange for Gray.
&nbsp;
As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: Per Howard Megdal of The Next, the Wings are expected to receive the #3 overall pick in this year's draft, as well as a future first round pick in 2024 or 2025 from the Dream in exchange for Gray.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Our <a href="https://twitter.com/howardmegdal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@howardmegdal</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNextHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thenexthoops</a> reports that the trade return for <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> will be this year's third overall pick and another first round pick in either 2024 or 2025. Much more to come on today's show with <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBALOVE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBALOVE</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFreeAgency?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFreeAgency</a> <a href="https://t.co/qHxiW4HoNp">pic.twitter.com/qHxiW4HoNp</a>
&mdash; Locked On Women's Basketball Podcast (@LockedOnWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/LockedOnWBB/status/1616131271687651356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: On Saturday, the Dream and Wings officially announced the deal, with the Dream sending the third overall pick of this year's draft, as well

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: On Saturday, the Dream and Wings officially announced the deal, with the Dream sending the third overall pick of this year's draft and a 2025 first round pi

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Stop me if you've heard this before: We have another trade in the WNBA.
It's been reported, twice over, by Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports that the Dallas Wings were expected to trade versatile wing Allisha Gray over the offseason. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/wnba-trade-rumors-news-dallas-wings-forward-allisha-gray-expected-to-be-traded-connecticut-sun-chicago-sky-washington-mystics-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the latest report</a> from Williams, four teams &mdash; Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Washington Mystics, and Atlanta Dream &mdash; were listed as potential suitors.
It would appear that Gray has finally gotten her wish. Per ESPN's M.A. Voepel, Gray will be traded to the Atlanta Dream. From his feed:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Sources tell ESPN that an agreement is in place for guard Allisha Gray to be traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaDream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AtlantaDream</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/DallasWings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DallasWings</a>. Details being finalized. <a href="https://twitter.com/Graytness_15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Graytness_15</a> was 2017 <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WNBA</a> rookie of year out of <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GamecockWBB</a> and was 3x3 Olympic gold medalist in 2021.
&mdash; M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAVoepel/status/1615865386121187328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

UPDATE: On Saturday, the Dream and Wings officially announced the deal, with the Dream sending the third overall pick of this year's draft and a 2025 first round pick to the Wings for Gray.

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

As we wait for the details to roll in, I think it's still fair to call this a slam dunk for the Dream. Gray narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth last season, but make no mistake: She's that type of talent.
Gray averaged career-highs in points (13.3) and assists (2.5) while also grabbing 4.8 boards and racking up 1.1 steals per contest. Even those numbers don't do Gray justice. She's an additive on both ends; someone who can spread the floor at an elite level (40.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), attack titled defenses (66.1% FG inside of three feet), and defend multiple positions at a high level.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/wnba?TeamId=1611661321&amp;Season=2022&amp;SeasonType=All&amp;PlayerIds=1628277" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Per PBP Stats</a>, the Wings outscored opponents by 69 points (plus-3.1 net rating) in nearly 1200 minutes with her on the floor last season, playoffs included. They were outscored&nbsp;by 93 points (minus-12.0 NET) in 372 minutes without her. This may shock you, but that was one of the biggest swings in The W last year.&nbsp;
Adding Gray to a Dream roster headlined by Rhyne Howard &mdash; the reigning Rookie of the Year who also made the All-Star team last season &mdash; is truly fun stuff. As noted by <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1615866720585150464?s=20&amp;t=bv5DdMIkDVXTSzPIpp85gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WNBA.com's Mark Schindler</a>, there may not be a two-way wing tandem in the league like Howard and Gray.&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Both Gray and Howard are dangerous off the ball, with Howard having a little more gravity due to her slippery nature around screens. Gray showed last season that she can handle more ball-screen usage than originally given credit for. Howard got increasingly comfortable getting downhill against defenses geared to stop her.&nbsp;
There shouldn't be much overlap between to the two. Don't be shocked if we see the Dream flow into more option-based reads in the half-court. Picture, for a moment, Howard coming off a pindown on one side and Gray coming off a pick on the other. The lead guard would have the option to feed one of them for a shot or drive, or receive receive a ghost screen from one of them to further strain a defense.
With as much handling that Cheyenne Parker did on the perimeter &mdash; as a high-post hub or a dribble handoff hub above the three-point line &mdash; there's room to invert the offense as well. The Dream led The W on field goal attempts from dribble handoffs (5.8) last season, per InStat tracking.
Gray's comfort pulling against defenders going under handoffs (or leaving a gap when switching), and ability to get downhill makes her a viable piece in a handoff-heavy offense.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/umem9l" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
For a Dream team that ranked 11th (out of 12 teams) in offensive rating last season, they could move into a different tier with the Gray acquisition. The fit is&nbsp;that&nbsp;good.
Defensively, Gray is tenacious defending 2s and 3s, with the ability to slide with 1s and body up 4s in a pinch. She navigates screens well, and, more impressively, her motor never seems to die out. Even if she does get hung up on a screen, she can still challenge (and sometimes block) shots from behind.
I fully expect her and Howard to bring chaos to opposing offenses.

Nekias Duncan gives his early thoughts on the Atlanta Dream's acquisition of Allisha Gray.

WNBA trade: Atlanta Dream acquire Allisha Gray from the Dallas Wings

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense, though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.&nbsp;
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on 2s, 36.2% from 3), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18): 9.1 points (40.8% on 2s, 33.8% from 3), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22): 9.8 points, (55.8% on 2s, 39.1% from 3), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense, though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.&nbsp;
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on 2s, 36.2% from 3), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18): 9.1 points (40.8% on 2s, 33.8% from 3), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22): 9.8 points, (55.8% on 2s, 39.1% from 3), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.&nbsp;
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on 2s, 36.2% from 3), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18): 9.1 points (40.8% on 2s, 33.8% from 3), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22): 9.8 points, (55.8% on 2s, 39.1% from 3), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on 2s, 36.2% from 3), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18): 9.1 points (40.8% on 2s, 33.8% from 3), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22): 9.8 points, (55.8% on 2s, 39.1% from 3), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box-score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on twos, 36.2% from three), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18): 9.1 points (40.8% on twos, 33.8% from three), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22): 9.8 points, (55.8% on twos, 39.1% from three), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box-score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on twos, 36.2% from three), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18 games): 9.1 points (40.8% on twos, 33.8% from three), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22 games): 9.8 points, (55.8% on twos, 39.1% from three), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box-score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on twos, 36.2% from three), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18 games): 9.1 points (40.8% on twos, 33.8% from three), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22 games): 9.8 points, (55.8% on twos, 39.1% from three), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec. 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much so that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard&nbsp;play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box-score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on twos, 36.2% from three), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18 games): 9.1 points (40.8% on twos, 33.8% from three), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22 games): 9.8 points, (55.8% on twos, 39.1% from three), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec. 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box-score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on twos, 36.2% from three), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18 games): 9.1 points (40.8% on twos, 33.8% from three), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22 games): 9.8 points, (55.8% on twos, 39.1% from three), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec. 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc &mdash; in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th) &mdash; to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

With 6:45 left in the first quarter, Terance Mann brings the ball up the right side of the floor.
Kawhi Leonard (yeah, he's playing) attempts to set a flat screen on Tobias Harris to help pry Mann open, but mostly whiffs on the pick. Mann finds himself in the right corner, staring down Harris as the clock ticks.&nbsp;
Ivica Zubac steps up to set a screen this time, this time to Mann's left. With the right side emptied, Mann could run Harris off a bruising screen and force Joel Embiid to defend the 2-on-1 with minimal help.&nbsp;
Instead, Mann rejects the screen and continues driving to his right. He's able to get two feet in the paint, <a href="https://youtu.be/WwY__zWQArs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashing around</a> while drawing the attention of Embiid and (a trailing) Harris. That opens up a window for a dump-off pass to Zubac, leading to two points.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/7rb8ot" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
It's a simple possession that takes half the shot clock to complete. It features three things we haven't seen enough of from the Los Angeles Clippers this season: Kawhi as a screener, a paint touch from a guard and easy, efficient offense being created.
The Clippers have been disjointed all season long. Their 23-23 record and minus-0.7 net rating screams "mid," not "sure-fire title contender." There's obvious bail to shoot; of the 46 games the Clippers have played, their best three players &mdash; Kawhi, Paul George and Zubac &mdash; have only appeared in 15 games together. Even with that, the Clippers have <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?CF=GROUP_NAME*E*leonard:GROUP_NAME*E*george:GROUP_NAME*E*zubac&amp;GroupQuantity=3&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;slug=advanced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely won those minutes</a> &mdash; plus-14 (+2.6 NET) in 260 minutes.
That's probably the most concerning portion of this Clippers season for me. It's one thing to be searching for continuity; everyone was already banking in maintenance days for Kawhi, specifically. I am not here to argue about the merits of that; do it on your timeline, if you must.
But it's another thing to be searching for&nbsp;answers. It's felt more like the latter from the Clippers this year. That's baked into some of the lineup choices of course, but you've also seen it with the&nbsp;roles&nbsp;on the roster.
No player speaks to this dynamic quite like Mann. His rise in the rotation has been a joy to watch. From energy piece, to connector, to "Hey, he's kinda baking Rudy Gobert right now" to connector-plus-defensive-stopper to... point guard? To point guard!
Mann has started the last five games as the nominal point, and he's mostly produced. His box-score numbers are up: 15.4 points (59.4% from two, 45.8% from three on 4.8 attempts), 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists (0.8 turnovers) per game.
Naturally, his usage <a href="https://go.nba.com/zu548" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is way up</a>: Mann ranks second on the team in touches per game (68.6), time of possession (4.8), and fourth in seconds per touch (4.2) and dribbles per touch (3.4).
Mann has done a solid job of mixing in his snappy nature with more on-ball patience. He's served as&nbsp;the&nbsp;rim threat among the Clippers' starters, parlaying that gravity into reads like the one above.&nbsp;
To that point: On trips featuring a Mann-led ball-screen during this stretch, the Clippers are generating 1.13 points per possession (PPP) &mdash; a mark on par with Luka Doncic's league-leading clip.
(Of course, the volume and responsibility isn't close between those two &mdash; Mann's at 13 picks per 100 possessions during this stretch, while Luka's at nearly 69 per 100 on the year &mdash; but the point is that the Clippers have been getting good stuff from Mann as of late.)
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Pick-and-rolls aren't the only part of half-court offense though. And zooming out, the Clippers have posted a 95.7 offensive rating in the half-court; that ranks 21st over the last five games, and is only slightly better than their season-wide mark (94.8, 24th).&nbsp;
The idea of Mann kicking off possessions has a similar feel to Marcus Smart (or Derrick White) with the Boston Celtics. If Mann (Smart/White) is tilting the defense with a drive, that means he's kicking it out to Kawhi and George (Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown). The theory is sound.
Mann doesn't have the kind of passing chops that Smart does, which lessens the overall impact of that gambit. Beyond that, Smart's role in that dynamic is a bit of a luxury. The Clippers currently&nbsp;need&nbsp;Mann to shoulder that kind of load right now.
That speaks to the growth Mann has shown throughout his young career, but it also signals a problem team-wide. And this is where we put on our glasses and look at what the Clippers have gotten out of John Wall and Reggie Jackson lately.
It ain't good.
Let's take a cursory glance at the box-score numbers since the beginning of December, shall we?
<ul>
<li>John Wall (16 games): 9.6 points (37% on twos, 36.2% from three), 4.9 assists (2.4 turnovers), -68 in 351 minutes</li>
<li>Reggie Jackson (18 games): 9.1 points (40.8% on twos, 33.8% from three), 2.6 assists (1.8 turnovers), -58 in 430 minutes</li>
<li>Terance Mann (22 games): 9.8 points, (55.8% on twos, 39.1% from three), 2.2 assists (0.8 turnovers), +32 in 530 minutes</li>
</ul>
The efficiency isn't really close. Narrow it down to the latest five-game sample, and the gap <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?LastNGames=5&amp;TeamID=1610612746&amp;PerMode=PerGame&amp;DateFrom=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is even wider</a>.
On drives specifically, you really start to see difference between the three. Per Second Spectrum, here are the numbers on drives that feature a paint touch since Dec. 1:
<ul>
<li>Wall: 81 drives, 0.82 PPP on direct plays (Wall shoots, or passes it to a player who immediately shoots)</li>
<li>Jackson: 82 drives, 1.01 PPP</li>
<li>Mann: 82 drives, 1.08 PPP</li>
</ul>
Add in just how much better Mann has been defensively, and you start to understand why we're getting close to recycling the "Do the Clippers need a point guard" question from the past two seasons.&nbsp;
It's undeniable that they've gotten underwhelming results from their point guard stable this season, so much that Mann has had to shoulder more of that load as of late. The Clippers could certainly benefit from better point guard play.
Do they need an actual point guard? I'm still not sure I'd press that button, though it's worth mentioning they've <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-clippers-interested-in-mike-conley-suns-a-fred-vanvleet-suitor-jazz-eyeing-john-collins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently been linked</a> to Mike Conley, per the reporting of Substack's Marc Stein. Maybe they think so.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Conley could help some of the half-court quarterbacking. He's averaging a career-high 7.5 assists this year, and can still get busy behind the arc. On the flip side, he's in the midst of his worst inside-the-arc season; he's converting a career-low 42.9% of his twos, with a lot of that due to a career-low 50% clip inside of three feet.
If they're interested in Conley, would they be willing to kick the tires on a reunion with Chris Paul? Like Conley, he could provide some structure in the half-court. There's a similar aversion to the rim, and uptick in volume from beyond the arc. Both have partial guarantees for next season (and beyond, for Paul). I'm just sayin'.
Before he was eventually moved to the New York Knicks, the Clippers were <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/clippers/news/report-clippers-still-interested-in-acquiring-derrick-rose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">linked to Derrick Rose</a> as a potential suitor. Rose currently finds himself outside of the Knicks' rotation; I'd doubt it would take much to acquire him if there was still interest there.
The answer could be another wing to operate as the tip of the spear. Maybe the perpetually-available Eric Gordon, since we're on the topic of reunions.
Regardless of which pathway is chosen, the current setup feels untenable. They haven't done enough from beyond the arc, in terms of volume (12th in three-point rate) or efficiency (37.3%, 10th), to compensate for the lack of juice they're getting at the rim &mdash; 23rd in rim rate, 26th (63.8) in efficiency.
Until we see change in one or both of those areas, the Clippers' title hopes will be just that: hope.

Nekias Duncan highlights Terance Mann's recent success at point guard and what the Clippers need to do to get back on track.

With the Clippers searching for direction, where should they turn?

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. are joined by Monica McNutt of ESPN (and everywhere else) to discuss the latest trades in the WNBA (1:00) before analyzing the New York Knicks (14:10).
For those who want to join our Dunker Spot online watch parties, you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lavender & Eucalyptus

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury.&nbsp;In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada, and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if either of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first round pick, snagging the #10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their pick (#4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada, and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if either of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first round pick, snagging the #10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their pick (#4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if either of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first round pick, snagging the #10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their pick (#4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first round pick, snagging the #10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their pick (#4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first-round pick, snagging the No. 10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their pick (#4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first-round pick, snagging the No. 10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their pick (No. 4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first-round pick, snagging the No. 10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their selection (No. 4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first-round pick, snagging the No. 10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their selection (No. 4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high post passing), 1.6 blocks, and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first-round pick, snagging the No. 10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their selection (No. 4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free-agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high-post passing), 1.6 blocks and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% FG) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

It would appear the Connecticut Sun aren't done making moves.
Not even 24 hours after reportedly agreeing to trade superstar Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a three-team deal, the Sun have moved another franchise staple.
Jasmine Thomas, who has spent the last eight years of her 12-year career in Connecticut, is being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports. In return, the Sun are getting a three-player package headlined by former UConn star Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Sun will receive: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and the rights to Kianna Smith. The Sparks receive: Jasmine Thomas, and Connecticut&rsquo;s 2023 first round draft pick (No.10 overall). <a href="https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1">https://t.co/kYTq2IXUi1</a>
&mdash; Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href="https://twitter.com/Khristina/status/1615016958734245896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Thomas has long established herself as one of the best guard defenders in WNBA history, with five All-Defensive team selections under her belt to boot. She only appeared in five games last season, with her campaign being cut short by an ACL injury. In her last full season (2021), Thomas averaged 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals while converting 40% of her threes (3.1 attempts).
Even accounting for some slippage, Thomas should be a positive two-way contributor for the Sparks next season. With multiple guards set to hit the market this offseason -- Brittney Sykes, Jordin Canada and Lexie Brown are unrestricted free agents -- Thomas' acquisition also serves as a bit of a buffer if any of them leave for greener pastures.
Though it's a late first-round pick, snagging the No. 10 overall pick is no small thing for the Sparks. They didn't have a first this year, with their selection (No. 4 overall) currently residing with the Washington Mystics (from the Atlanta Dream) due to the <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/02/05/report-la-sparks-to-acquire-chennedy-carter-in-blockbuster-trade-with-atlanta-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennedy Carter trade last offseason</a>.
For the Sun, this deal serves as another example of prioritizing younger (and versatile) talent. Honoring Jonquel Jones' trade request helped open the door to use the core designation on Brionna Jones, effectively ending her free-agency tour before it began.
In this deal, I'm enamored by the potential of Nelson-Ododa. Due to injury and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/report-liz-cambage-set-to-leave-the-los-angeles-sparks-chiney-ogwumike-olivia-nelson-ododa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a contract divorce</a>, the Sparks' frontcourt rotation was a bit of a revolving door last season. That opened up playing time for Nelson-Ododa, who showcased fun flashes on both ends of the floor.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Across her last seven games (six starts), she averaged 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists (though that undersells her high-post passing), 1.6 blocks and 0.7 steals in a shade over 25 minutes.
The Sparks used her as a connector offensively, letting her handle the ball on the perimeter to flow into handoffs or to pick out the occasional cutter. She showcased solid feel as a screener, often doing a good job of getting her ball-handler and herself open.
What's encouraging is the scoring. Nelson-Ododa was intentional about looking for her own offense as the year went on. That's seemingly continued in overseas play, where she's averaging 11.3 points (65.3% from the field) in the WNBL right now. Despite being slight, she looks more comfortable using her body to create openings for interior shots.
<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; overflow: hidden;" src="https://streamable.com/e/bymreu" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></div>
The defense mostly speaks for itself. The former Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year is long and rangy, allowing her to defend quicker forwards in space. Even if traditonal centers can move her off her spot, her length allows her to alter shots anyway. I'm already excited to watch her and Alyssa Thomas wreck worlds whenenver they share the floor.
(The spacing issues between those two might not be as pronounced as it sounds on paper. Thomas is a wicked post threat and aggressive sealer; Nelson-Ododa's passing can be utilized higher on the floor, generating enough room for both to exist in the half-court.)
Jasmine Walker hasn't quite found her footing in The W, but her ability to stretch the floor -- she drilled roughly 37% of her threes during her <a href="https://rolltide.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jasmine-walker/6426" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four-year college career</a> -- and put the ball on the deck is worth monitoring. Kianna Smith appeared in 11 games for the Sparks last season, with heavier bench minutes coming during Carter's absence from the rotation.

Nekias Duncan examines the four-player trade between the Los Angles Sparks and Connecticut Sun.

WNBA trade: Sparks acquire former All-Star Jasmine Thomas from Sun

Nekias is a fan of tall passers, switch-y bigs, and Spain pick-and-rolls. He’s always here to remind you that the best way to beat a switch is with a slip.  He has written for Bleacher Report, SB Nation, Dime, Five Reasons Sports and Miami Heat Beat. Nekias is a writer and podcaster for BasketballNews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @NekiasNBA.