Grading the Trade: Minnesota Lynx swap Hampton for Osahor
By Mike Peden
On Thursday night, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve noted the team’s desire to find post players to fill out their training camp roster. They landed one in Chantel Osahor.
A trade was announced Friday, with Minnesota acquiring Osahor from the Chicago Sky in exchange for Keisha Hampton. Osahor was taken by Chicago in the second round of the draft. The 6-foot-2-inch forward out of Washington played second fiddle with Kelsey Plum’s scoring record commanding a lot of attention, but Osahor earned a reputation as a rebounding machine. As a senior, she led the NCAA in rebounds (15.8 per game) and double-doubles (30). She also tied the Pac-12 record for most rebounds in a season.
Osahor also carries a few offensive tricks. She is one of two players in Washington history to surpass 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. In her senior year, Osahor averaged 15.8 points and 4.1 assists per game. Her passing ability rose steadily over time, posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.8 in her final season at Washington, a respectable figure for a post player.
However, Osahor’s most notorious asset is her three-point shooting. Her flat-footed stance is unorthodox, but her shooting motion is not, hitting 37.2 percent behind the arc as a senior.
Should Osahor make the final roster, she could give Minnesota a young anchor in the post, especially on the defensive end. Being an understudy to Rebekkah Brunson and Sylvia Fowles can only boost her learning potential. With Janel McCarville deciding not to participate this season, Osahor gives the Lynx a solid passer from the inside.
Osahor’s perimeter presence could be the most noteworthy addition as Minnesota seeks to expand their arsenal of three-point shooters. Plenette Pierson, who signed with the team as a free agent, has stepped up her range in recent years, and the three-point prowess of Alexis Jones factored into Minnesota’s decision to draft her Thursday night. Even if Osahor doesn’t get much playing time, the Lynx now have some reliable shooters among their posts, allowing them to diversify their offensive schemes. The trade leaves Minnesota without a true wing to back up Maya Moore, but filling that spot hasn’t been a huge concern since her arrival.
Hampton made her WNBA debut last year after originally being drafted by Seattle in 2012. The 27-year-old didn’t get much floor time with Minnesota, but she performed admirably in a regular season meeting with Indiana last September, knocking down four triples en route to 13 points. Overall, Hampton shot 33 percent from three-point range for the Lynx last season.
If nothing else, the trade for Hampton helps Chicago unclog a logjam among their posts. Between Imani Boyette, Stefanie Dolson and first-round draft pick Alaina Coates, the Sky are covered at center. With Elena Delle Donne now playing for the Washington Mystics, Chicago could use some new three-point threats, and Hampton has a chance of fulfilling that role.
Gauging the winner of this trade will require some time, especially with Osahor transitioning from college to pro ball, but Minnesota has a history of shrewd transactions in the Reeve era. Based on available data, Osahor could be the latest example of Minnesota’s roster management acumen.