The Atlanta Dream are just one win away from making the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013. And they’re doing it all without Brionna Jones, who was a key piece last season when the Dream won 30 games for the first time in franchise history.
Jones missed the beginning of the season after suffering a knee injury while playing in Europe. She made her debut in July and had some good performances in limited minutes, but she only played nine games before being ruled out for the end of the season.
Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon held down the frontcourt in her absence with some help from 6’6” rookie Madina Okot and late-season addition DeWanna Bonner. Given how well the Reese-Hillmon pairing has worked out, the Dream should consider trading Jones and her million-dollar contract in the offseason to give themselves some financial flexibility to improve the supporting cast.
The Dream have gotten some good minutes out of Okot and Isobel Borlase, but they lack depth, especially on the wing, and could do with some better role players for next season.
Trading Jones would give the Dream financial flexibility
The Dream have three million-dollar players on the roster with Jones, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard. If Reese makes an All-WNBA team this year, she is eligible to negotiate an EPIC extension. Even if Reese does not make All-WNBA or simply doesn’t take the extra money, Atlanta doesn’t have a ton of financial flexibility to bring in quality role players and depth pieces. Trading Jones would give them that flexibility.
Even after missing most of the season with an injury, Jones could attract some attention on the trade market. The Minnesota Lynx, for example, will be desperate for a star big if Napheesa Collier leaves. Both the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are in dire need of size and rebounding in the frontcourt.
Whether the Dream would consider moving Jones will likely come down to their trust in Okot. The question of Bonner’s WNBA future should also factor in. If Bonner is ready to play another season and wants to stay in Atlanta, she would give the Dream some extra size and length.
Angel Reese has been great for the Dream
Reese is not a traditional center and is undersized in some matchups. But she has the athleticism and physicality to play and thrive at the five. In Chicago, Reese was the face of the franchise and the lone All-Star. In Atlanta, she has All-Star teammates in Gray and Howard. Nevertheless, she is having her best season yet, averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game, along with 12.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals. She was also named Defensive Player of the Year.
She has responded well to her first playoff experience, too. Reese faced a tough Washington Mystics frontcourt in her first series, but prevailed and put together two good performances as the Dream swept their young opponents.
Now, she is battling Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Han Xu—with just as much success. Reese has been everywhere defensively against the New York Liberty and scored very efficiently over the first two games, totaling 40 points on 14-26 shooting.
Reese’s success this season certainly makes one wonder where Jones would fit in next year.
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