Dallas Wings Draft Preview: How to make the most of their three first-round picks
The Dallas Wings are in a unique position in the 2023 WNBA Draft. They have three picks in the first round, giving them a chance to add some young talent to their roster that already features stars like Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally. But how should they use those picks? Here is a preview of the draft for the Wings, who are looking to take the next step after reaching the playoffs for two consecutive seasons.
What are the Wings' needs?
The Wings made some big moves in the offseason, trading away fan favorites like Allisha Gray, Marina Mabrey and Kayla Thornton, and acquiring former All-Stars Natasha Howard and Diamond DeShields. They also hired Latricia Trammell as their new head coach, replacing Vickie Johnson. The Wings are hoping that these changes will help them become more competitive in a loaded Western Conference.
However, they still have some holes to fill on their roster. They lost some depth and versatility in their backcourt and frontcourt, and they could use some more shooting and defense. They also have some young players who are still developing, such as Awak Kuier, Charli Collier and Veronica Burton. The Wings have five picks in the draft, including three in the first round (No. 3, No. 5 and No. 11). They could use those picks to address their needs or trade them for more established players.
Who are the best prospects available?
The 2023 WNBA Draft is considered to be a strong one, with several potential stars and impact players. The consensus top two picks are Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, two dynamic guards who dominated college basketball as sophomores. Bueckers led UConn to the Final Four and won several national player of the year awards, while Clark led the nation in scoring and assists at Iowa.
The Wings are unlikely to get either of them, as they are expected to go No. 1 and No. 2 to the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever respectively. However, they still have plenty of options at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 11. Some of the best prospects available are:
- Ryan Howard: A versatile wing who can score from anywhere on the court. She averaged 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a senior at Kentucky.
- Naz Hillmon: A powerful post player who can dominate inside. She averaged 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game as a senior at Michigan.
- Rhyne Howard: A skilled forward who can stretch the floor and handle the ball. She averaged 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists per game as a senior at Texas A&M.
- Aaliyah Edwards: A physical forward who can rebound and defend multiple positions. She averaged 10.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore at UConn.
- Hailey Van Lith: A speedy guard who can shoot and create off the dribble. She averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game as a sophomore at Louisville.
What should the Wings do with their picks?
The Wings have several options with their picks, depending on how they want to build their team for the present and the future. They could keep all three of their first-round picks and draft the best players available, regardless of position or fit. This would give them more talent and depth on their roster, but it could also create some logjams or redundancies.
They could also trade one or more of their picks for more experienced players who could help Source: Conversation with Bing, 4/11/2023(1) Dallas Wings WNBA draft picks 2023: Round-by-round selections. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/dallas-wings-wnba-draft-picks-2023-round-by-round-selections/ar-AA19Hchs Accessed 4/11/2023. (2) 2023 WNBA Draft preview: Dallas Wings. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/2023-wnba-draft-preview-dallas-wings/ar-AA19vHzy Accessed 4/11/2023. (3) Mystics, Wings pull off draft day trade involving No. 4 overall pick. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/more-sports/mystics-wings-pull-off-draft-day-trade-involving-no-4-overall-pick/ar-AA19H7ZF Accessed 4/11/2023. (4) 2023 WNBA Draft: An inside look at the draft process for the Dallas .... https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/2023-wnba-draft-an-inside-look-at-the-draft-process-for-the-dallas-wings-who-control-the-first-round/ Accessed 4/11/2023. (5) 2023 WNBA Draft preview: Dallas Wings - MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/2023-wnba-draft-preview