The Minnesota Lynx’s biggest problem this season was the team’s lack of size and quality frontcourt depth. It wasn’t supposed to be such an issue. Cheryl Reeve brought back 6’5” Dorka Juhasz, who was fresh off a EuroLeague MVP season, and added 6’4” Czech center Emma Cechova. She also re-signed Napheesa Collier and convinced Natasha Howard and Nia Brodie to come to Minnesota.
Unfortunately, the Lynx never got to see much of their full frontcourt depth. Collier and Juhasz started the season injured and only played 16 and 21 games, respectively. Cechova tore her ACL just three games into the season. Now, Collier might leave in free agency, and relying on Cechova, who barely has any WNBA experience and will be fresh off a devastating injury, is risky.
The Lynx need more size than they had this season, but size isn’t everything. Cheryl Reeve likes a specific kind of big, and, unfortunately, that type of player does not grow on trees.
“We’re not the only team that would like to have some size—size that shoots threes and can pass and can defend and rebound,” Reeve said in her exit interview. “That’s what I’m looking for.”
The Lynx could trade for Ezi Magbegor, who averaged over two blocks and six rebounds per game for two straight seasons before missing much of the 2026 campaign with injuries, but her max contract is not great. Awak Kuier would be an even better target. There’s just one problem: Kuier is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Dallas Wings can match any offer sheet she signs with another team, so stealing her away from Dallas could be tricky.
Awak Kuier would be a great addition for Minnesota
Awak Kuier is not a center, but she is 6’6” and an outstanding defender. She averaged almost 2 blocks per game for the Wings while only playing 18.6 minutes per contest. The Lynx would be terrifying defensively with Kuier and Brodie at the two forward spots and Howard at the five. Collier could also slot into any of those spots if she stays in Minnesota.
Kuier is also a capable 3-point shooter, knocking down 39% of her two attempts per game for the Wings.
So far, Kuier has not been a great rebounder in the WNBA, averaging just 3.9 rebounds per game this past season. However, she has been much better in EuroLeague games, where she usually plays more minutes than with the Wings. She averaged almost 8 rebounds per game in last year’s EuroLeague season.
With her defensive versatility, length, and 3-point shot, Kuier might be closer to checking all of Reeve’s boxes than any other players who could be available this offseason.
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