February 20, 2024
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Dan Padover’s Atlanta Dream sequence with new additions joining Rhyne Howard
By The Next
Dream GM talks adding veteran experience, versatility in free agency
On today’s episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover joins host Howard Megdal to talk about the Dream’s free agency additions so far and the team’s aspirations for the 2024 WNBA season. So far, Atlanta have added point guard Jordin Canada and wing Aerial Powers, as well as forwards Nia Coffey and Tina Charles; center Iliana Rupert will sit out the season to focus on the Olympics.
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Notably, the Dream’s newcomers will add significant league experience to a relatively young roster, which Padover explained was one of the team’s biggest needs this off-season.
“We made a conscious effort this offseason, to add experience,” Padover said. “I think down the stretch of the season this past year, we felt that a little bit. Second youngest team in the league, very talented, but you can only go through it by having gone through it before. And we got some real life experience for some of our young players this year that I think is going to go really well for us next season … Just to make us a more experienced group when we get into those tight games, both end of season and hopefully in the playoffs as well.”
While Canada brings defensive strength and versatility to the point guard position, Padover says there is also plenty of room for her skillset to evolve with the Dream:
“I think she has continued to improve her playmaking ability when she adds different things,” he said. “I think her increased range has helped her create space in multiple different ways, right, because people have to come up on her a little bit more. Now, I think the most intriguing thing about Jordan is what she can create on the floor for other players, just by her pure ability to get into the paint to get into the teeth of the defense. And when you have players who are surrounding her, I think the potential for the team is endless.”
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“I also think it’s going to create even easier opportunities for Jordan, because of the weapons she’ll have around her. But her three ball improvement is a credit to her work. I think she’s done an amazing job the last few years of just adding a little bit more to her [game] every year. And it makes her life easier, right? Because when they have to respect that shot, it just opens up so many things for her. I think she’s really seeing the value in that,” Padover continued.
Padover and Megdal also discussed Atlanta’s plans for centerpiece Rhyne Howard, how Haley Jones is continuing to develop her skillset, the team’s hopes to make a deeper playoff run, and the value of roster and coaching continuity. Subscribe to the Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast to keep learning about the WNBA, women’s college basketball and much more!
