The trade deadline is the final chance for teams to make a big move to bolster their playoff chances or get assets for players who do not fit into the team’s future. The Fever may not even have to make a move to get a big boost with Caitlin Clark’s eventual return from injury still on the horizon. They also have the option to make a move, though.
BleacherReport’s Lee Escobedo proposed a mock trade to bring Satou Sabally to Indiana. The Fever would have to give up Natasha Howard and a future first-round draft pick.
Satou Sabally was a free agent many Fever fans hoped would sign with the team after the 2024 season. She had made it clear that she was ready to leave Dallas and could have fit well in the Fever’s system. However, Sabally landed with the Phoenix Mercury, and the Fever signed Natasha Howard instead.
The Fever just found a rhythm
The Fever only returned a handful of players from last year’s roster, brought in a ton of new faces, and hired a new head coach. Even before the season started, it was obvious that the Fever would need some time to find a rhythm and build chemistry. When Caitlin Clark suffered her first injury, that timeline got extended.
The Fever just found their rhythm, winning eight of their last ten games and rapidly rising through the standings. Natasha Howard has been a significant part of that recent success.
Her stint with the Fever started off a bit slowly, and, for a while, Howard didn’t have the expected impact or looked like the greatest fit with the rest of the roster. That changed quickly, and Howard has emerged as a steady presence. She scored 18 or more points in four of her last ten games and recorded three double-doubles.
Making a trade would destroy the Fever’s chemistry
Making a big trade including a starter who plays almost 25 minutes a game would cause a big shake-up. It would destroy the rhythm and chemistry that the Fever worked so hard to build up. Doing that when the Fever already have a playoff spot well within reach and just started to build chemistry seems like a risky move, especially considering Satou Sabally’s injury history.
The Fever will already have to work hard to retain their rhythm when Caitlin Clark returns from her injury—whenever that will be—and don’t need another big-time player to incorporate into their system.