Lynx acquire frontcourt help in 2 deals for draft picks
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Lynx acquired Stephanie Talbot from Phoenix and Alaina Coates from Chicago in two separate trades on Tuesday for draft picks next year.
Talbot started 24 games in 2017 and eight in 2018, averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds. She stepped up for the Mercury late last season after the team moved DeWanna Bonner to power forward in place of Sancho Lyttle, who was injured. Phoenix received a second-round pick in the 2020 draft.
Coates, who played for South Carolina's 2017 NCAA championship team, was the No. 2 pick in the draft that year for the Sky. She didn't play that year because of an ankle injury that cut short her senior season in college. She averaged 3.4 points and 3.2 rebounds last season for the Sky. Chicago received a third-round pick in the draft.
The Sky traded for Jantel Lavender on Monday from Los Angeles for a second-round pick making Coates more expendable.
Lavender adds depth in the frontcourt for Chicago. She averaged 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds last season.
