Finding a way to win after a 4-30 season requires drastic change. The Atlanta Dream believe they did just that today, acquiring forward Chamique Holdsclaw today in exchange for the 13th pick in the draft (which they had previously acquired in a trade from Los Angeles). Holdsclaw has posted career stats of 17.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game so far in her career.
“Coming back has been something that I have been thinking about for a while,” Holdsclaw said. “The only thing that was holding me back was my body and being healthy. I realized that if I had the chance I would like to play this summer.”
Holdsclaw has had her share of personal problems during her career. Holdsclaw missed the end of the 2004 regular season and playoffs, later revealing she was suffering from clinical depression. Then she retired suddenly in 2007, never giving a reason.
In Holdsclaw, Atlanta gets a bona fide scorer and rebounder. That’s good news for a team that was 10th and and 13th, respectively, in those two areas over last season.
During her playing days, Holdsclaw had success wherever she has been. She became the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Tennessee history under Pat Summit. Then she became a star as a professional right away, as she won the 1999 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. She went on to accumulate 17.7 points, 8.3 boards, 2.6 steals, and 1.3 steals that season.
MY THOUGHTS
It was no secret that the Dream lacked legitimate options on offense last year. Betty Lennox provided a good deal of points, although not necessarily consistency. Holdsclaw could step in immediately and join Lennox as one of those legitimate threats to score.
It also could give the Dream the potential to have a dangerous starting five. But it’s not that simple; getting Holdsclaw is still a risk. When the Dream start play in ’09, she will be 31 years of age (turning 32 during the season), and won’t have played a WNBA game for nearly two years.
Then there’s guard Nikki Teasley, who was signed at the end of last season but didn’t see any playing time, as she had a child in June and wasn’t in basketball shape last season. But at her best, Teasley is a good playmaking guard. If Teasley and Holdsclaw return to form, they give the team a nice offense alongside Ivory Latta (who has been doing big things in Europe this winter) and Lennox.
“I am looking forward to having her,” said head coach and general manager Marynell Meadors. “She elevates our team to another level.”
Atlanta is taking a big gamble by placing so many chips behind two players that haven’t played for a while. But if it works out the Dream should be much better than the 4-30 record the team posted last year
Bagriansky can be reached at jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
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