DHJ Quick Take: Curt Miller On The Wings’ Deadline Approach
Dallas Wings general manager Curt Miller addressed the trade deadline Monday, walking through the salary-cap math that limits what front offices can do and a post-All-Star schedule that leaves almost no room to integrate a new player.
- Is Dallas making a move? Miller said there is constant dialogue between general managers across the league and that what happens over the next week remains to be seen.
- What makes it difficult? The salary cap, plus six games in the first 12 days after the break, which leaves front offices little practice time to work a new player in.
- How hard is the stretch? Eight of Dallas’ first 10 games out of the break come against teams currently in playoff position.
- What’s next? Dallas hosts the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Curt Miller said Monday that general managers across the WNBA are in regular contact as the trade deadline approaches.
The Dallas Wings general manager met with reporters at practice. The deadline falls next week.
“The deadline is right around the corner, and there’s constant dialogue between general managers across the league,” Miller said. “Ultimately, what happens over the next week remains to be seen.”
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Dallas enters the second half at 18-9. The Wings rank fifth in the league at plus-5.1 points per 100 possessions. Six straight wins in July gave them the longest streak in franchise history. A 99-98 overtime loss to the New York Liberty on July 20 at College Park Center ended it.
The Cap, And A Calendar With No Practice Days
Miller has said since the offseason that the roster needs size.
Dallas grabs 8.8 offensive rebounds per game and rebounds 30.8% of its own misses. The Wings lead the WNBA in defensive rebounding rate at 72.7%. They take more shots per game than any team in the league at 72.6.
Jessica Shepard averages 14.9 points and 12.0 rebounds in 33.3 minutes. She shoots 59.7% from the field. Awak Kuier averages 16.8 minutes across 24 games. Li Yueru has appeared in 19. Alanna Smith, the reigning co-Defensive Player of the Year, has played 20 games at 14.2 minutes and 3.8 points.
“It’s much harder to make trades than people realize because of the salary cap,” he said. “Then you also have to consider our schedule. We play six games in the first 12 days after the All-Star break, so practice time is extremely limited. Every general manager has to think about how to integrate new players when there’s almost no opportunity to practice.”
Miller said eight of Dallas’ first 10 games after the break come against teams currently holding playoff position.
“It’s a very difficult stretch,” Miller said. “You’re always balancing the short-term vision with the long-term vision. That’s part of what makes being a general manager fun — having all these conversations leading up to the trade deadline.”
Dallas rebuilt much of this roster in a single offseason. Shepard signed a multi-year deal after seven seasons with the Minnesota Lynx. Arike Ogunbowale re-signed on a seven-figure, multi-year contract. The Wings had lost Luisa Geiselsöder and Haley Jones to the Portland Fire in the expansion draft. Jones has since returned on a Development Player contract after being waived by Portland.
“We entered free agency with specific targets, and we were fortunate to land several players who were extremely important to what we wanted to build,” Miller said.
‘Championship Windows Don’t Stay Open Forever’
Miller was asked how he weighs winning now against keeping together a core that could need extensions after the season.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned early in my career, especially during my time in Connecticut, is that you can’t be afraid to make bold moves when you have a championship opportunity,” Miller said. “It’s easy to become comfortable with sustained success, but championship windows don’t stay open forever.”
Connecticut traded Chelsea Gray to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016. Jonquel Jones won league MVP with the Sun in 2021.
“Moving Chelsea Gray wasn’t easy, but acquiring Jonquel Jones became a win for Connecticut while Chelsea thrived in Los Angeles,” Miller said. “Those are the kinds of deals you’re looking for.”
“The difficult negotiations are with teams that are only focused on trying to ‘win’ the trade,” he said. “Those conversations are much harder to finish.”
What’s Next
Dallas hosts the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, July 29. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT at College Park Center. It is the Wings’ first meeting with Atlanta in more than two months. The Dream are 16-10. Atlanta leads the WNBA in offensive rebounds at 11.1 per game
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Alanna Smith Practices Monday With Dallas Wings, Status Day-To-Day
- ‘It Was Really Special’: Paige Bueckers, Jessica Shepard Start Opposite Sides In 2026 WNBA All-Star Game
- ‘I’ve Been Asking For A Rematch Since High School’: Azzi Fudd Seeks Stephen Curry Showdown After Winning WNBA 3-Point Contest
- ‘I Was Just Locked In’: Dallas Wings Rookie Azzi Fudd Becomes First Rookie To Win WNBA 3-Point Contest
