RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Richyyy]

Syl to Minnesota, Erika de Souza to Chicago, Reshanda Gray and Damiris Dantas to Atlanta. Links to come.

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Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/

[UofDel_Alum]

OMG! Is this accurate?

[idchafee]

YES!

No, DeSouza isn't as good as Sylvia, but she's plenty good enough. See you in the Finals, Sylvia!

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This space for rent

[Richyyy]

First non-twitter news outlet to get it posted, so LWB can have the hits: http://lovewomensbasketball.com/2015/07/27/lynx-dream-and-sky-complete-a-3-way-trade-involving-fowles-and-de-souza/

Lynx get a Sky second-rounder tossed in, Atlanta get Minnesota's 2016 first. Chicago get Erika and that's it.

_________________
Independent WNBA coverage: http://www.wnbalien.com/

[UofDel_Alum]

[Scarab]

From press release sent to season ticket holders this morning:

Dream Finalize Three-Team Trade with Minnesota and Chicago

Atlanta sends veteran Erika de Souza to Chicago and receives
Damiris Dantas, ReShanda Gray and 2016 First Round Draft Pick from Minnesota


ATLANTA, July 27, 2015 - The Atlanta Dream has announced that it has completed a three-team trade Monday with the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky.

The Dream has dealt veteran center Erika de Souza to Chicago and in exchange has received second-year forward Damiris Dantas and rookie Reshanda Gray from Minnesota along with the rights to the Lynx' first-round selection in the upcoming 2016 WNBA Draft.

Chicago will send Sylvia Fowles and the rights to its own 2016 second-round pick to Minnesota to complete the three-team swap.

"Damiris Dantas is a an emerging young talent who has earned a place in this league," Atlanta Dream head coach Michael Cooper said. She adds another skill player to our front line and can also step out and hit the jumper. She brings youth to our roster which is what we need."

Dantas, a 6-3 forward from Brazil, is in her second professional season and had appeared in 46 games (27 starts) while averaging 5.9 points and 4.5 rebounds. Her career field goal percentage is a solid .532 (107-for-201). She has seen action in three postseason contests. Dantas was Minnesota's first-round selection (12 th overall) in the 2012 WNBA Draft. She also represented her native country Brazil at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"Reshanda Gray is a very good young player in this league," Cooper said. "She is a tough player that competes on the boards at both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. She is versatile and can play and guard a number of different positions. She will also add to the overall skill and youthfulness on our roster and adds a lot of skill and physicality to the four-spot."

Gray, a 6-4 forward, has played in a total of 10 games during her rookie season after being selected 16 th overall by Minnesota in the 2015 WNBA Draft. She should see an increased opportunity for playing time in Atlanta after logging an average of 3.7 minutes per contest this season with the Lynx while recording averages of 0.6 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.2 blocks in that limited action. Gray played collegiately at California where she was recognized as the 2015 Pac-12 Player of the Year and a finalist for both the Wade Trophy and Wooden Award while recording averages of 17.4 points and 7.1 rebounds.

"As we look to make a strong playoff push in the second half of the season, we are excited to add two young and very talented post players to our roster," Atlanta Dream President and General Manager Angela Taylor said. "Damiris and Reshanda both are versatile posts who bring skillsets that will complement the other players on our roster. Both should make an immediate and long-term impact on our franchise."

"While we are thrilled about these new additions," Taylor continued "the organization also wants to thank Erika de Souza for all that she has done on the court and in the greater Atlanta community during her eight seasons with the Dream. We will forever be grateful for her contributions to this organization's success."

de Souza played a total of seven-plus seasons in Atlanta where she saw action in a total of 211 regular-season games (207 starts) and was a member of three Eastern Conference Title winning squads. She totaled 2,527 points, 1,784 rebounds, 295 blocks and 232 steals during her Dream tenure.

In addition, de Souza appeared in 28 playoff games for the Dream, opening as the starter in each of those 28. She has helped guide Atlanta to six consecutive postseason appearances and three WNBA Finals (2010, 2011, 2013) while averaging 10.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. She currently ranks 15 th on the WNBA's all-time rebounding list with a 7.5 per game average and sits in ninth place on the league's all-time field goal percentage list at .533.

TRANSACTION: Atlanta Dream trade Erika de Souza to the Chicago Sky in exchange for the rights to the Minnesota Lynx' first-round draft pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft along with Damiris Dantas and Reshanda Gray. Minnesota receives Sylvia Fowles from Chicago and the rights to the Sky's 2016 second-round pick.

The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream is in its eighth season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The Dream plays their home games at Philips Arena. Atlanta has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past six seasons, winning conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010.

Season and single-game tickets for the 2015 season can be purchased by calling (877) 977-7729 or visiting www.AtlantaDream.net
###

_________________
Dream Founding Fan/STH
Be afraid. Be very afraid. One Team. One Dream baby!

[caune]

[idchafee]

[bekcat1]

[dtsnms]

[idchafee]

You guys really think Atlanta got hosed? I don't. Yes, de Souza was a solid player, an all star. But was she going to lead them to a title, at the age of 33? I can't see it. And if they'd held onto her for a year or two more, she'll be too old to get anything for. This way, they get two young players, one of which I think will be good (Dantas), and a 1st round pick that they can either use or trade away in another deal.

[Genero36]

How exactly did Minnesota pull this off?

F- Moore
F- Brunson
C- Fowles
G- Augustus
G- Whalen

That's an all-star team.

[tfan]

[animals31089]

wow susprised wonder if someone gets cut off the Dream roster to make room maybe DMJ.

[pilight]

The Dream are throwing in the towel on this season.

Erika is past her prime. Cashing in for a couple of young and promising players plus a first round pick doesn't seem unreasonable for a team that is not planning on winning a championship this year.

_________________
I'm a lonely frog
I ain't got a home

[UofDel_Alum]

[bekcat1]

[pilight]

[Shades]

I think ATL made out. de Souza is old and part of the reason ATL is off this year. Dantas is better than people are giving credit. Gray might develop at a place where she could actually get some minutes PLUS they get that all important extra first round pick.

ATL might have given up on win-now mode, but I think the real ATL fans might be happy about this.

_________________
Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned

[animals31089]

[Shades]

[Randy]

I have no comments on this trade at this time, but reserve my right to second guess it, if it goes badly.

Be interesting to see how Erika does on a team with a real PG. A little shocking to see the only remaining original Dream player traded.

[UofDel_Alum]

Lineup for Chicago;

guard - Vandersloot, Faulkner
guard - Cappie, Quigley, Gemelos
Center - De Souza, Dos Santos, Parker
Forward - Tamara, Breland
Forward - EDD, Laney

Goodlet will be released, This is a lot better defensive team.

[jewelsongs]

[jap]