2025 WNBA trade deadline grades: Report cards for every deal

With the WNBA trade time limit on Thursday, the contenders have become serious about upgrading their roster within the narrow count allowed by the league’s hard salary cap.

On Sunday, League-Agni Minnesota Links Taking an important step, ruling the best player Dijonai Carrington From Dallas Wings In exchange for Diamond MillerInjured Carley samuelson And 2027 seconds-round pick.

Carrington, who did not get the success, which she was not included as a restricted-free agent as a restricted-free agent after joining the Dallas through the sign-end-tride, should give a big boost to Minnesota with a defensive skill that has earned her as a “seatbelt” because she has the ability to slowly oppose.

Meanwhile, the wings are looking for the future because they manufacture around the number 1 pick Piege BeukersMiller, who moved to another place in 2022, has a chance for more sports than receiving on a links team that is more concentrated on winning the trophy than developing young talent.

What is the meaning of Sunday’s business for both of us teams.

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Dijonai Dribers through defenders for Carrington 2

Dijonai Dribers through defenders for Carrington 2

Get lynx:
Yes Dijonai Carrington

Wings meet:
F Diamond Miller
Yes Carley samuelson
2027 second-round draft pick

Minnesota Grade: A-

Prevent an extended absence from MVP Front-Runner Nefeesa colirWhich gave up Saturday’s record-setting win Las vegas ekka With ankle injuryMinnesota should cruise on top overall seeds with a six-game cushion in the rest of the WNBA.

This gives links the advantage of focusing on how they match in playoffs, especially a potential final against the defending champion in a possible final. New York LibertyCarrington can play an important role with her on-ball defense if she comes to pass the series.

Carrington’s time in Dallas was a useful reminder that defensive stoppers do more to improve a defense roof than their floor. In the defensive rating, WNBA was not enough to add Carrington to lift the wings beyond the 10th, because he lost his early jobs after 12 games and reduced the time of playing.

In Minnesota, Carrington League-Leading is included in a rock-solid system such as One Connecticut sun Planned when he received a defensive player of the year votes and earned an all-defensive first team Honors An Marg to win the best player in the previous season. In fact, Lynx’s 95.1 Defense Rating WNBA has approximately three lower marks per 100 property compared to any other team.

The second for connecticut in the defensive ratings in the previous season, Minnesota has completed that without the benefit of a true perimeter stopper. Kayla macbridge Got defensive assignment Sabarina Eonacu In the last year’s final, a role he played as much as possible. But moving away from the plate of McBrid can help him aggressively help.

Depending on how the matchups go, I could also start Carrington in the playoffs with McBrid. Also things have gone for links this season, small ahead Bridget Carlton When she finished third in the best voting behind Carrington last year. Carlton is making 36% of its 3S in 2024 below 44%.

The shooting is still better than Carrington, who is shooting 26% at 3S this season, put in players with at least 50 shot attempts in the Lower 10 of WNBA. Maintaining the vacancy has been important for Minnesota’s crime, which has seen all five beginnings at least a 3-pointer per game. It will be interesting to see how Carrington fits in that regard.

Even if Carrington is a reserve for strict links, it fills a requirement. The newly acquired Samuelson suffered a leg injury, requiring season-ending surgery, the rotation of Cheryl Reev was a player he trusts. Minnesota Natasha Hydman and in the top of WNBA claims two and Jessica ShepardBut there is a status difference between 5 -Foot -8 Hidman and 6 -Fore -4 Shepard.

Miller, the second overall pick in 2023, could never achieve the trust of Reav. Miller had a knee surgery last May, out of rotation and played a total of 456 minutes in the last two sessions. Miller had some better efforts recently, but Wednesday was a playoff preview in the game of play time against New York. Miller played four minutes as Reeve essentially tightened his rotation to seven players. Links was probably a player, with expanding the finals for the best-seven this season.

Apart from Miller, the long -term cost here was minimal for Minnesota. The team’s 2027 seconds-round pick will probably come at the end of the round, and Samuelson will be an unrestricted free agent that is the next offsen. The Links had no use in signing Samuleson, except for an unexpected change for the WNBA collective bargain agreement, which was keeping it in the rest of the season on the roster.

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Diamond Miller adds to smooth jumper

Diamond Miller adds to smooth jumper

Dallas Grade: B

We will eventually look back at the brief time of Carrington with wings as a poor fit for both sides. Carrington did not get an extended role, which could be expected after playing with a competitive team and Dallas did not get the improvement he wanted. The unrestricted free agency with Carrington moved towards the free agency and the wings returned to the lottery, anything can be found in a positive.

It is possible that after business, Miller can show more skills that made him an all-a-American in Maryland. She has been effective this season at the time of sporadic playing, which is 43% out of 2s and 37% compared to 3 to 14 -26 and 37% compared to 37% in 2024.

The combination of Miller’s size (6 -Foot -3) and circumference skills fit well into a winging team with one of the smallest backcorts of WNBA. The 6-foot Bueckers team has a non-post longer than only 5-11 seasons, with a pair of 5-8 Arik Ogunbole And JJ Quinly Beginning and emerging as 5-10 crooks Aziaha James From the bench.

Looking forward, I am curious how the protected list of Dallas shakes for the upcoming expansion draft. Assuming the league follows the same rules as last year Golden State Valcaries Extension, six spots are available in wings. Bueckers and Maddy segist The most obvious options for Dallas are. It leaves four spots between Arik Ogunbole – an unrestricted free agent that can be chosen as a core player – Miller, three beginnings (Quinerly, Luisa Geiselsoder And Lee Euru) And key reserve james.

Already, the wings had to forgive the experienced center Tera McCowon To make place for two new people on your roster. Although Dallas cannot place Samuelson on the roster due to his injury, there should be a place for him at the time of business. McCowon did a average career-lo 12.9 MPg and was not part of the long-term plans of the wings.