WNBA Offseason Primer: Atlanta Dream

January 15 marked the official start of WNBA free agency. The WNBA released an official list of core players, reserved players, unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents.

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With the help of The Summitt’s WNBA salaries database compiled by our own Howard Megdal, we’ll take a look at each WNBA team going into free agency, aiming to answer the following questions:

Which players are free agents?
Which players are still under contract?
Who are some potential prospects worth targeting in the upcoming WNBA Draft?
Which players on the free agent markets would be good fits to add for 2018?

SEATTLE, WA – JULY 21: Layshia Clarendon

The Atlanta Dream finished last season with a record of 12-22. Atlanta was without four-time All-WNBAer and six-time All-Defense honoree Angel McCoughtry, who sat out the season to rest. The Dream were one of four WNBA teams (Los Angeles, Minnesota, Connecticut) in 2017 to have three All-Stars: Tiffany Hayes, Layshia Clarendon and Elizabeth Williams.

The Dream came out of the All-Star break with their sights set on a playoff berth. Instead, they cratered down the stretch, losing nine in a row and 11 of their final 13 games. Head coach Michael Cooper was fired following the season. The Dream hired Nicki Collen (most recently an assistant coach for the Sun) to be the team’s next head coach back in October.

Now let’s break down Atlanta’s situation — current free agents, players still under contract and the status of their 2018 draft picks.

Unrestricted free agents (UFAs): G Matee Ajavon, F Sancho Lyttle, F Aneika Morello, F Tamera Young

Restricted free agents (RFAs): none

Reserved player: F Damiris Dantas

Core player: F Angel McCoughtry

Players under contract:

G Brittney Sykes through 2019 (team option)
G Tiffany Hayes through 2018
G Layshia Clarendon (contract details unknown — re-signed to multi-year deal February 1, 2017)
F/C Elizabeth Williams through 2018 (team option)
F/C Imani Boyette through 2019 (team option)
F Bria Holmes through 2019 (team option is for ’19 season — currently expecting, will miss 2018 season)

2018 draft picks: No. 4 (owed to Chicago), No. 15 (via Chicago), No. 16 (owed to Connecticut) and No. 28

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Tiffany Hayes

With McCoughtry back in action, it will be interesting to see if the Dream look to play small more often to get Clarendon, Hayes, Sykes and McCoughtry on the floor together with one of their two centers.

Either way, the Dream will need to work via free agency and with their second round pick to add guard/wing depth and find somebody to play some minutes at the four spot — Lyttle and Dantas (just 25, has flashed some shooting ability) are both candidates to return. Related: How many minutes to Williams and Boyette log together in 2018, if any?

Update (1/31): With the news of Renee Montgomery agreeing to terms on a deal, the Dream have another player in what looks to be a crowded backcourt for the moment. Our own Howard Megdal has Mississippi State’s Victoria Vivians at 13 in version one of The Summitt’s 2018 WNBA Mock Draft Big Board. Sitting at No. 15, perhaps the Dream could flip that pick with one of their guards to move up a few spots to look to secure Vivians to balance out the roster.

With Montgomery in the mix, the power forward spot ought to be the team’s new top priority.

Players to possibly target in free agency:

Unrestricted free agent Jessica Breland (The Summitt’s No. 5 UFA) would make some sense as a starting four to round out a starting lineup that would have lots of length, some switchability and enough size inside to control the defensive glass. Breland’s shooting would be useful to stretch opposing defenses some as well.
If unable to land Breland, Atlanta could look to retain and develop reserved FA Damiris Dantas. RFA Tianna Hawkins of the Mystics could give them some more shooting. Reserved players Cayla George and Kayla Thornton also have shown some flashes from the perimeter.
Tamera Young is one of several wings on the market; Young logged minutes at both forward spots last season for Amber Stocks in Chicago before being dealt to Atlanta, where she did not factor into the rotation quite as much.

What are your expectations for the Dream in 2018? Which players would make for a fun fit with Angel McCoughtry, their three All-Stars and new head coach Nicki Collen?