Lynx Land Carrington: A Championship Move or a Risky Gamble?
Hey Sideline Fam, get ready for a WNBA blockbuster! In a move that sent shockwaves across the league, the Minnesota Lynx, already sitting at the top of the standings, have traded for veteran guard DiJonai Carrington in a deal with the Dallas Wings.
In exchange for Carrington, the Lynx sent the Wings forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson, and a 2027 second-round pick.
Carrington, 27, is coming off a fantastic season where she was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player and a first-team all-defensive selection. This season, she's been a force, averaging 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds. Her postseason resume is just as impressive, with appearances in the 2022 WNBA Finals and back-to-back semifinals in 2023 and '24. This is a move clearly aimed at a championship run.
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Diamond Miller
For the Lynx, this trade means moving on from Diamond Miller, the No. 2 overall pick from just a year ago. Miller, who made the all-rookie team, has been struggling with injuries and has seen limited action this season. Her absence from the team's historic 53-point rout on Saturday had raised some eyebrows, with coach Cheryl Reeve saying the decision was not injury-related. The Lynx also part with Samuelson, who was out with a foot injury.
The Collier Conundrum
The trade wasn't the only major headline for the Lynx. Star forward and MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier left Saturday's game with a sprained right ankle after a collision with a teammate. While she was able to walk off on her own, the extent of the injury is still being determined.
Some questioned why Collier was still in the game with the Lynx up by 43 points, but coach Reeve defended her decision, saying, "I don’t think like that. She had a sub there, and she wasn’t going to play in the fourth quarter." She acknowledged that "people are going to rail on me," but stood by what she felt was the right call.
Carrington could make her debut with her new team as soon as Tuesday when the Lynx visit Seattle. This move signals that the Lynx are all-in on winning a title, but the potential health of Collier and the assets they gave up in the trade will be major storylines to watch.
What do you think, Sideline Fam? Does this trade make the Lynx unbeatable?
