Becky Hammon would welcome another star in Las Vegas. However, she is not treating trade deadline chatter as fact.
Asked Thursday about a report suggesting Napheesa Collier could be moved, Hammon joked that she wished Collier would join the Aces. Then she quickly shifted to the reality of the market.
“Until it’s in ink, some of these things are just talk,” Hammon said before Las Vegas hosted New York.
Hammon acknowledged that the WNBA’s hard salary cap makes major trades difficult to complete. Any deal would require the contracts and roster math to line up almost perfectly.
Hard-cap squeeze
“It’s very different on the NBA side, which allows for a lot more movement because there’s just more leniency,” Hammon said. “There are more ways to get creative on that side.”
Las Vegas has already added guard Mai Yamamoto for the rest of the season. Still, the Aces have dealt with several availability issues since that signing.
Janiah Barker is out for the season. Kierstan Bell and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus have also remained unavailable, while NaLyssa Smith missed Tuesday’s win over Portland.
That does not mean the Aces will force a move.
Waiting for ink
Hammon said verbal agreements and rumored deals can change before they become official. She also noted that larger salaries can make trades difficult to complete without packaging players.
“There are only so many players, and it has to fit practically perfectly,” Hammon said.
Hammon said she will not put much weight into trade chatter until a deal is finalized. Until then, Las Vegas has more immediate concerns than speculation.
Up next
The Aces host the New York Liberty on Thursday, July 30, at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Pacific.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
