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Chicago Sky deal Astou Ndour in sign and trade with Dallas Wings

By Nicholas Niendorf

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 14: Astou Ndour #45 of the Chicago Sky looks on before the game against the Dallas Wings on July 14, 2019 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 14: Astou Ndour #45 of the Chicago Sky looks on before the game against the Dallas Wings on July 14, 2019 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Chicago makes its first move of free agency with a sign and trade

The Chicago Sky traded restricted free agent Astou Ndour to the Dallas Wings in a sign-and-trade deal on Tuesday, per Winsidr reporter Rachel Galligan.

There is no official report on what the full deal is yet. A league source tells High Post Hoops the transaction is likely related to ongoing talks between Chicago and Dallas concerning Skylar Diggins-Smith.

News of the deal broke less than an hour after it was reported by Galligan that the Sky had matched the Atlanta Dream’s offer sheet to Ndour.

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The 6-foot-5 center broke out late last season after Sky center Jantel Lavender suffered a season-ending foot injury. Ndour started in 11 regular-season games, averaging 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Prior to Lavender’s injury, Ndour had only played more than 12 minutes in a game once last season and had also missed time due to commitments to the Spanish national team.

Following the WNBA’s landmark collective bargaining agreement—which increased individual max salaries at a significantly higher rate than it increased the overall salary cap—it was always going to be difficult, if not impossible, for the Sky to retain all of its free agents, despite Sky general manager James Wade’s hopes. Whether Chicago is bringing back a player into that new cap space is still unknown, but the deal may open up minutes for swiss army knife wing Gabby Williams in her more traditional role in the front court, as well as playtime for second-year forward Katie Lou Samuelson.

Chicago has not made any other moves yet in free agency. With Stefanie Dolson, Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley on the open market, and restricted free agents Kahleah Copper and Jamierra Faulkner under team control, Wade still has a number of decisions to make in the coming days.

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