MN Lynx Make Trades and Signings

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has executed a sign-and-trade deal with the Seattle Storm, sending restricted free agent forward Natasha Howard to the Storm in exchange for a 2018 2nd-round draft pick (17th overall) and the right to exercise a swap of 1st-round draft picks in 2019.

“We appreciate Natasha’s valuable contributions to our team over the last two seasons and wish her well in her new journey with the Seattle Storm,” said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve.

Originally selected by Indiana in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 2014 WNBA Draft, Howard was acquired by Minnesota on Feb. 2, 2016 in a sign-and-trade deal that sent restricted free agent Devereaux Peters to the Fever. Howard appeared in all 68 regular-season games in her two seasons with Minnesota, averaging 5.5 points (on 53.5% shooting) and 3.0 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. She tallied a career-high 21 points vs. San Antonio on July 2, 2016, one of 12 double-figure scoring nights in a Lynx uniform.

Howard holds career averages of 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 132 games with Indiana and Minnesota, shooting 47.2% from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line. She saw action in 15 postseason games in her two years with the Lynx, averaging 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game overall while helping Minnesota capture the 2017 WNBA Championship.

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has re-signed forward Cecilia Zandalasini and has signed free agent forwards Lynetta Kizer and Endy Miyem. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not released.

“We appreciated Cecilia joining us late in the season last year,” said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve. “She is coming off an exciting 2017 that included the Italian National Team narrowly missing qualification for the 2018 World Cup. Her performance at Eurobasket 2017 was described as the ‘greatest FIBA EuroBasket Women debut of all time’. We look forward to having Cecilia for a full WNBA season and are excited about her future as a Minnesota Lynx.”

Zandalasini, a 6-1 forward from Broni, Italy, completed her rookie season with Minnesota after signing as a free agent on Aug. 28. She saw action in the final three contests of the regular season, totaling 19 minutes, two points and one rebound. Zandalasini appeared in five playoff games, contributing two points and one assist in 11 minutes en route to her first WNBA title. She is currently playing for Famila Schio, averaging 9.5 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 13 Italian league starts and 10.9 ppg and 3.5 rpg in 11 EuroLeague contests.

“I’d like to welcome both Lynetta and Endy to the Minnesota Lynx organization,” said Reeve. “Both Lynetta and Endy are skilled front court players with successful basketball resumes who will provide quality depth behind Rebekkah and Sylvia.”

A six-year WNBA veteran, Kizer played in 20 games for Connecticut last season, averaging 6.0 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 11.9 mpg while shooting 48.0% from the field. Originally selected by Tulsa in the 3rd round (29th overall) of the 2012 WNBA Draft, the 6-4 forward has also played for Phoenix and Indiana during her career, highlighted by a trip to the WNBA Finals with the Fever in 2015. A Maryland graduate, she tallied a career-best 9.6 ppg (55.6%) with 3.2 rpg in 33 games for Indiana in 2016 and holds career averages of 6.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 13.5 mpg, hitting 48.5% from the floor and 80.9% from the line in 166 contests (28 starts).

Miyem, a 6-2 forward from Reims, France, is in her second season with the Italian club Famila Schio, where she is averaging 10.8 ppg (48.4%) and 3.9 rpg in 13 LegA games along with 9.2 ppg (48.5%) and 3.0 rpg in 13 EuroLeague outings. A two-time Olympian, she was part of France's silver-medal-winning entry at the 2012 London Games and was the team's leading scorer (10.6 ppg on 51.5% shooting) in 2016, when they placed 4th in Rio de Janeiro. She has also represented France at the FIBA World Championship for Women in 2010 and 2014 and has played at the club level for Dynamo Kursk (Russia) and Bourges (France).

 

MN Timberwolves Make Trades

Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire Gary Neal and Second-Round Draft Pick from Charlotte

Minneapolis/St. Paul — The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced they have acquired guard Gary Neal and a 2019 second-round draft pick from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for guards Mo Williams and Troy Daniels. The pick acquired by the Wolves in the trade was originally acquired by Charlotte from Miami in a draft day trade on June 26, 2014.

“This was a difficult decision because of what Mo brought to our team and the impact he had on our young guys,” said Wolves head coach Flip Saunders. “As a coach, you wanted to keep him because of his professionalism and understanding of what you wanted out of him as a player. He scored 52 points against Indiana and did everything we asked him to do. On the other side, we knew we were moving in a different direction with our youth so we felt it was in our best interest to make the deal. We thank Mo and Troy for their contributions and wish them the best of luck in Charlotte.

"In moving Mo, we felt it was important to get a proven scorer and three-point shooter like Gary," said Wolves President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Flip Saunders. "Gary was a solid rotation player with San Antonio for three years and an important contributor in the Spurs’ playoff runs. We also get a second round pick, which is another future asset for us.”

Neal, 30, is in his fifth season in the NBA and has career averages of 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 21.5 minutes per game. He has appeared in 43 games for Charlotte this season, averaging 9.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.7 minutes per game. In 2013-14, Neal played for Milwaukee (30 games) and Charlotte (22 games), averaging a career-high 10.5 points in 21.4 minutes per game. Neal spent his first three seasons in the NBA with San Antonio (2010-13), where he averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 207 games. He has appeared in a total of 45 playoffs games with San Antonio and Charlotte, averaging 7.5 points in 18.3 minutes per game.

Williams, 32, is averaging 12.2 points and 6.4 assists per game in 41 games (19 starts) this season with Minnesota after being signed as a free agent this past summer. He tallied eight double-doubles, his most in a season since tallying 12 during the 2010-11 season. An 11-year NBA veteran, Williams has averaged 13.3 points and 5.0 assists in 750 career games between Cleveland, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Portland, L.A. Clippers and Utah.

Daniels, 23, appeared in 19 games for the Wolves after being acquired from the Houston Rockets on Dec. 23, 2014, averaging 2.8 points in 8.1 minutes per game. For the season he is averaging 2.8 points in 7.3 minutes per game.

Wolves Acquire Forward Adreian Payne from Atlanta

Minneapolis/St. Paul — The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired forward/center Adreian Payne from Atlanta for a protected future first round draft pick.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Adreian to Minnesota," said Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders. "Adreian fits the mold of a young, athletic and talented player who we believe will fit in well with our young and talented core. We’ve liked him for a while and look forward to seeing him grow with us in a Wolves uniform."
Payne, 23, was selected by Atlanta with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He's appeared in three games with the Hawks this season, averaging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game. Payne has appeared in 17 games between the Fort Worth Mad Ants and Austin Spurs in the NBA D-League, averaging 12.9 points, on 48.3% shooting, 8.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.2 minutes per game.

Drafted out of Michigan State, Payne averaged 16.4 points on 50.3% shooting (42.3% from three-point range) and 7.3 rebounds per game as senior in 2013-14 with the Spartans. His play earned him Second-Team All-Big Ten and Honorable Mention Associated Press All-American. Payne finished his collegiate career as one of just nine players in MSU history with 1,200+ points and 700+ rebounds, as well as wrapping up his career as the school's all-time leader in blocked shots.

Lynx Trade Guard Sugar Rodgers to New York Liberty

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has executed a sign-and-trade deal with New York, sending guard Sugar Rodgers to the Liberty in exchange for the right to swap third-round picks in the 2015 WNBA draft.

Rodgers, a 5-9 guard, was originally selected by the Lynx in the second round (14^th overall) of the 2013 WNBA Draft. She appeared in 28 games during her rookie season, averaging 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds while logging 7.6 minutes per game. Rodgers shot 31.7% from the floor and 31.3% from three-point range.

The 2013 WNBA Champion Lynx will kick off their 16th season in the WNBA on the road at Washington on Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. The 2014 home opener will be on Sunday, May 18 vs. Connecticut at 4 p.m., which will feature a historic ring ceremony and championship banner raising for the 2013 WNBA Champions. Full-season and half-season memberships are available by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com or by calling 612-673-8400.

Lynx Trade Forward Charde Houston to Phoenix

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has executed a sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix, sending forward Charde Houston and the 24th overall pick in the upcoming 2012 WNBA Draft to the Mercury in exchange for the 18th overall selection in this year's draft.

“Charde was an important part of our team for the last four years,” said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. “She was able to positively impact our team, not only with her play on the court, but also with her personality off the court and with the fans. Charde had expressed an interest getting more playing time, and hopefully this trade will give her a larger opportunity. We are appreciative of everything she has done for our organization and wish her the best in Phoenix.”

A four-year veteran out of Connecticut, Houston was originally selected by the Lynx in the third round (30th overall pick) of the 2008 WNBA Draft. She was named an All-Star during her sophomore season in 2009, averaging career highs with 13.1 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game. Last season, Houston averaged career lows in minutes (7.8 mpg), points (2.9 ppg) and rebounds (1.7 rpg) in 27 appearances. She holds career averages of 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18.3 minutes per game.

The Lynx have six draft picks in the upcoming 2012 WNBA Draft, which will be held in April. Minnesota holds two picks in the first round (3rd and 12th overall), three in the second round (18, 19 and 20) and one in the third round (31).

The 2011 WNBA Champion Lynx will kick off their title defense with the team's Home Opener on Sunday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Target Center against the Phoenix Mercury on ABC. Lower-level tickets are available for as little as $10 a game for the 17-game home season and can be purchased by calling 612-673-8400 or visiting the Lynx website at www.lynxbasketball.com.

Lynx Execute Sign-And-Trade Deal

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced that the team has executed a sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix, sending guard Alexis Hornbuckle to the Mercury in exchange for a 2013 second-round pick.

"Alexis was a key member of our championship team last year," said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. "Many of her attributes extended beyond the court, as she provided valuable leadership to our team and a winning mentality. On the court she plays with a lot of energy and intensity and is a good defender. Unfortunately for all of us, with our depth at the guard position, there just wasn't a lot of playing time available. We think this trade provides her with more of an opportunity, and that's something she wanted. We thank her for her contributions to our team and wish her nothing but the best in Phoenix."

Originally acqui red via trade by the Lynx on July 26, 2010, Hornbuckle averaged 1.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 7.2 minutes per game last season, her second with Minnesota. Hornbuckle, drafted by the Detroit Shock with the fourth overall selection in the 2008 WNBA Draft, owns career averages of 4.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 123 games.

The Lynx, who own the No. 3 pick in the upcoming 2012 WNBA Draft, will kick off their title defense with the team's Home Opener on Sunday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Target Center against the Phoenix Mercury on ABC. Lower-level tickets are available for as little as $10 a game for the 17-game home season and can be purchased by calling 612-673-8400 or visiting the Lynx website at www.lynxbasketball.com.