Las Vegas Aces trade Kayla Alexander to Indiana Fever
By Ben Dull
Bill Laimbeer and the Las Vegas Aces are making moves. The Indiana Fever announced Thursday that they had acquired center Kayla Alexander and the Aces 2019 third round pick in exchange for Indiana’s 2019 second round pick.
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That isn’t the only move Laimbeer and the Aces made on Thursday. Las Vegas announced the signing of unrestricted free agents Tamera Young and Carolyn Swords. Young is a veteran two-way wing who split time last season between Chicago and Atlanta. Swords looks to be the more relevant free agent addition made in tandem with this Alexander trade.
Swords, too, will be a veteran presence for the Aces. She also has played for Laimbeer in the past, which likely factored into the decision to sign her. Not all second round picks are slam dunks to make a roster right away in the WNBA, but this may prove to be a special case.
The Fever second round pick acquired in this trade could be a good one if the Fever miss the playoffs in 2018. The Aces hold the top pick in the 2018 second round already in what is expected to be a deep draft.
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Indiana is a team that has work to do in constructing the roster for their next playoff team. The Fever may be in a position with their roster where they see Alexander as an upgrade at the five spot. She has some versatility to her game offensively, with range to knock down open midrange jump shots.
Alexander, 6’5, has enough size at her position that she can be asked to credibly bang inside with Sylvia Fowles or Brittney Griner. Two other centers — Natalie Achonwa and longtime stalwart Erlana Larkins — are also under contract with the Fever for the upcoming WNBA season.
Time will tell as to whether Laimbeer and the Aces will bundle some of their second round picks together as part of a larger deal this offseason.