With the August 2nd WNBA trade deadline just around the corner, the Toronto Tempo are believed to be aggressively pursuing some help in the post to aid their playoff push.
At 10-17 on the season, the club is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. However, they remain just 5 games back and appear to be positioning themselves as buyers heading into their first deadline day.
Two names that have recently been linked to the club are Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks, and Aaliyah Edwards of the Connecticut Sun. The Tempo are believed to have sent out preliminary offers to both clubs for the players, which are believed to have included a future 1st round pick as part of the compensation package.
Toronto would obviously love to add a young, controllable asset to their front court to help elevate a team that is currently averaging the 3rd fewest rebounds per game across the league. Moreover, the Tempo have the 4th fewest blocks per game, and second fewest defensive rebounds per game as well.
To date, the Tempo have largely lived and died by the long ball, relying on their 3 point shooting and perimeter scoring to carry them to victory. The club has the 3rd best 3PT% across the association, while also converting on 83.3% of their free throw attempts (second best in the W). However relying on their shooting from the charity stripe and beyond the arc can only get a first year franchise so far.
In order to take the next step forward as a franchise, they’ll need to improve their post play, and add a forward with some length to help clean up the glass in their own end. To that extent, both Brink and Edwards fit that need. However, at the moment it seems as though both the Sun and Sparks aren’t willing to part with either player at the current offer from the Tempo.
Despite dangling a first round pick to other clubs, it remains to be seen what year the Tempo are offering. Because WNBA lottery odds are cumulative over two seasons, both Portland and Toronto will only have the current season to factor into their odds on draft lottery night. As such, it’s been speculated that the 1st rounder is likely to be for 2028 rather than 2027.
And with how quickly the landscape can change roster wise in the WNBA, that may be giving teams another reason for pause when looking to swing any deals ahead of the trade deadline.
Toronto are currently dealing with a slew of injuries that are further exacerbating their need for front court help. Brittney Sykes will miss the remainder of the season with a left foot injury, while Isabelle Harrison and Nyara Sabally are both out with knee and rib injuries as well.
Toronto is off on Wednesday before taking on the Minnesota Lynx in an 8pm showdown on Thursday night. They then take on the Valkyries on Sunday, August 2nd in what will be the teams first game following the passing of the 3pm trade deadline earlier that afternoon.
Photo: John Mac. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.