The move was excellent process, and Dallas shouldn’t stop there
On Monday, the Dallas Wings shocked the WNBA world by trading forward NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces for a 2027 first-round draft pick. In-season trades are rare in the W, but Dallas has already executed two meaningful deals this year after acquiring Li Yueru last month. General Manager Curt Miller has been uniquely aggressive as he looks to build around superstar guard Paige Bueckers.
Smith, a fourth-year big out of Baylor, came to Dallas from Indiana in the four-team Satou Sabally trade last offseason. Coming off a disappointing year for the Fever, Smith and the Wings were hoping a change of scenery could unlock the potential that made her the No. 2 overall pick in 2022. But after just 18 games with the franchise, Dallas decided it was time to move on.
Though Smith is undeniably talented, she’s struggled to impact winning at the WNBA level. At 6’4”, she’s athletic and long, with the ability to score in the post and clean the glass. However, the soft factors of her game leave a lot to be desired— her processing, decision-making, feel for the game, and defensive effort have been consistently poor.
That negative impact is reflected in Smith’s on/off numbers. Per WNBA dot com, the Wings have a -10.3 Net Rating with Smith on the court compared to +2.5 when she’s off. Both the offense (98.5 on, 105 off) and defense (108.2 on, 101 off) have been markedly better when she sits. Smith isn’t a plus passer at her position, she doesn’t shoot threes, and she operates from inefficient areas on the floor. On defense, she gets lost in rotation and is overpowered by skilled post scorers. She tends to leap and gamble when guarding the rim, often letting opposing bigs go right around her with ease. All this had led to inconsistent minutes in Dallas’s rotation.
Maybe Smith can figure things out in Vegas. After all, she’ll be playing for one of the best coaches in the league and a historically dominant frontcourt partner. It’s a great situation for Smith to be in, and I wish her the best. That said: WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THE LAS VEGAS ACES THINKING AND HOW FORTUNATE ARE THE DALLAS WINGS THAT THEY WERE THINKING IT?
By all accounts, Smith has been a net-negative player for the majority of her career. She is a restricted free agent in 2026 and, in all likelihood, not in Dallas’s long-term plans. And you’re telling me the Wings were able to move her for a future unprotected first-rounder in what many are projecting to be one of the greatest draft classes of all time? This is a trade that reeks of desperation from the Aces, as the depth of their roster around A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray has been horrendous. It’s right place, right time for Dallas, who were more than happy to provide the Aces with a rotation player at an extortionate rate.
Some would argue that the Aces are not likely to be bad enough in 2027 to deliver a quality draft pick to Dallas. But here’s the thing: a lot can change between now and then. Heck, Vegas is struggling RIGHT NOW, hanging around at the bottom of the playoff race at .500 despite employing one of the best players of all-time in her prime and another All-WNBA caliber wing. Everyone in the league is a free agent next year; Wilson and/or Young could theoretically test the market and leave the franchise. What if Wilson misses time next year? There’s a wide range of outcomes here.
And the 2027 draft class is LOADED with talent: JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, Mikaylah Williams, Madison Booker, and MiLaysia Fulwiley will all be eligible. Even players like Kymora Johnson, Tessa Johnson, and Oluchi Okananwa are great depth options. The Wings now have two bites at the apple in this generational class. Whether they keep both picks or use one as trade bait, these are premium assets to hold.
Apart from the fact that the Wings extracted incredible value in the Smith deal, I’m encouraged because it seems to indicate an important organizational message. The front office realizes that Paige Bueckers is That Player, the one you build your entire franchise around for years to come. To set the foundation for success in the Bueckers era, Dallas needs to accumulate assets and build through the draft; they must pursue a legitimate second star and supporting cast on the same timeline. Adding a 2027 first to the war chest is huge, but they shouldn’t stop there.
With the CBA expiring at the end of this season and most of the league entering free agency, the 2026 offseason carries a lot of unknowns. Dallas is rebuilding, and I’d bet most (if not all) of their impending free agents will go elsewhere next year. So, the Wings should use the NaLyssa Smith trade as a jumping-off point and start the fire sale. See if a playoff team will give you something for DiJonai Carrington (who has also struggled mightily in Dallas). Maybe you can salvage a second-rounder or flyer for Teaira McCowan and Myisha Hines-Allen. And yes, if someone is willing to pay a premium, Dallas should move on from Arike Ogunbowale.
Ogunbowale has been the heart and soul of the Wings since she was drafted in 2019. She’s given so much to the organization, and it’s electric to watch her when she’s cooking. But if the early returns are any indication, she is not an ideal co-star to pair with Paige Bueckers. It’s too risky to commit to a long-term future with this backcourt, as Ogunbowale’s impending free agency likely means Dallas must offer her a long-term max contract to retain her services. And that is an investment that would be unwise to make. So, if there’s a team that thinks Ogunbowale is the missing piece for a run this year, get as much as you can.
Despite their trying season, Dallas is in a good spot. The hardest part is done: they have a Paige Bueckers. Fellow rookies Aziaha James, JJ Qunierly, and Luisa Geiselsöder have looked promising and could be role players of the future. And the Wings will likely pick in the lottery in 2026, where there are several players (Awa Fam, Olivia Miles, Lauren Betts, Flau’jae Johnson, Azzi Fudd) who could become stars next to Bueckers. “Ultimately, the balance between now and the future is something that you’re always trying to look at as a GM, and certainly building for the future,” Miller told reporters after trading Smith. To keep that balance leaning in the right direction, the Wings should continue to wheel and deal.