The Minnesota Lynx made a trade ahead of Monday’s WNBA Draft, sending the No. 8 and No. 13 pick in the 2022 draft to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for a first and second-round pick in 2023.
The Lynx came into Monday’s draft with four draft picks. But with limited roster space and no draft picks, there were no guarantees that all four would make the team.
Instead, the Lynx are looking to stockpile picks for the future in an effort to rebuild.
“We believe this year’s draft is a good draft, however, with the players that we currently have under contract and the limited roster space remaining, we made the decision to turn our attention to future opportunities,” Lynx head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve said in a statement.
The future is an uncertain one for the Lynx. Sylvia Fowles has announced that she will retire after the 2022 season leaving the team in a short-term window.
The Lynx have signed free agents Angel McCoughtry and Layshia Clarendon in an effort to send Fowles out as a champion but Napheesa Collier will miss most of the season as she is expecting her first child in May.
With the Lynx having to carry Collier’s contract for the entire season, there wasn’t enough space to add another player. She will also count against the Lynx roster, which carries 11 players including Collier.
The Lynx still own the 22nd and 28th overall pick in this year’s draft, which begins on Monday night at 6 p.m.
