Connecticut Sun draft needs following huge offseason additions

With a season that led to Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, the Connecticut Sun were just one quarter away from taking home the top prize. But now instead of running it back, they’ve made two major moves in an attempt to get over the top and win the first title in team history.

And via the addition of DeWanna Bonner, who won two championships with the Phoenix Mercury, and point guard Briann January, the Sun are going for it all in 2020.

WNBA title odds: 6/1 (DraftKings Sportsbook projected odds)

Offseason moves

The surprise move of the offseason was the Sun trading restricted free agent and second-leading scorer Courtney Williams to the Atlanta Dream as part of a three-way deal that brought January and a second-round pick from Phoenix. January was the point guard for the 2012 champion Indiana Fever and one of the most dominant players in that franchise’s history. Last season she averaged 6.5 points and 3.3 assists in 26.6 minutes per game for the Mercury.

Bonner was brought in via sign-and-trade, costing the team based in the Mohegan Sun Casino two first-round picks in 2020 (No. 7 and No. 10 overall), and their first in 2021 as well. One of the most dominant post players in league history, Bonner is a three-time All-Star, three-time sixth woman of the year, and two-time champion in Phoenix. She averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season.

Additions

DeWanna Bonner (sign-and-trade with Phoenix)
Briann January (trade from Phoenix)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (trade from Seattle)

Departures

Courtney Williams (traded to Atlanta)
Shekinna Stricklen (free agency to Atlanta)
Layshia Clarendon (free agency to New York)

2020 WNBA Draft

Picks

No 1st round pick
#23 (second round)
#35 (third round)

Needs

With a starting rotation that seems pretty set, and the return of Jonquel Jones to pair with Bonner on the post, the Sun will want backcourt scoring. Bringing home favorite daughter Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis will help, as she is one of the purest shooters in basketball, but they’ll still need some offense.

Look for players like Leaonna Odom out of Duke, or Kitija Laksa from South Florida: both pure scorers that can get to the rim or shoot it from very deep. Williams is the best mid-range shooter in the league, and replacing her inside-outside game to compliment the post players and shooters will fill a need.