How Curt Miller Shaped the Dallas Wings Championship Future

They doubted him all offseason, but Curt Miller has been doing his best job.

Basketball is a game of runs. One moment you could be down, and the next, you could be winning or making a comeback. That’s the funny thing about basketball—no matter how far behind you are, you’re never truly out of it. And that’s why momentum is so important when it comes to the game.

For the Dallas Wings, they’ve seen better days, and that’s where Curt Miller steps in. Momentum was a word Curt Miller used often during his introductory press conference.

Miller spoke about how Dallas had a clear plan this offseason. After making a number of new roster moves, he discussed what it took to build this new team. Teams typically rebuild through three primary ways: the draft, free agency, or trades. This offseason, Miller successfully accomplished all three.

In the press conference, Miller brought in the best guard defender in the league, DiJonai Carrington.

I would argue that if you redraft… She would be the No. 1 draft pick in 2021,” Miller said.

Carrington is getting ready to continue to add to her breakout season—a season in which she helped the Connecticut Sun reach the WNBA semifinals and won Most Improved Player of the Year. Carrington also averaged double-figure points for the first time and posted career-high numbers across the board. In her breakout year, Carrington averaged 12.7 points per game, 5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals.

Now the question is: Can Carrington take another leap in her game? The answer should be yes. With this trade, the opportunity is truly there. Now that she will have an even bigger role in Dallas, Carrington will have more chances to show off her two-way ability. As the best perimeter defender in the league, she only needs to continue to build her offensive game. There’s no reason she can’t be an All-Star this season.

However, Carrington was not the only player Miller brought in who had a breakout year. Miller also acquired Carrington’s teammate with the Sun, Tyasha Harris.

Last season with the Connecticut Sun, Harris had her first year averaging double-figure points as well. Harris averaged 10.5 points per game on great shooting splits from the perimeter. She posted her second-highest shooting percentage from the 3-point line at 39.5% on four attempts per game. Harris also averaged a career high in assists per game at 3 and rebounds at 1.8 per game.

“We have a lot of people in what we believe that are in the prime of their careers…multiple players coming off career years. There was a mindset of trying to get players in the prime of their career” said curt miller.

NaLyssa Smith’s Homecoming

Additionally, Curt Miller was able to find players who he felt would help the team in the long run. But not just players who are here now—those who want to stay and continue to play in Dallas.

One of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason was none other than NaLyssa Smith.

After having a somewhat up-and-down career with the Indiana Fever, Smith is looking for a fresh start. That fresh start is back home in the state of Texas.

Smith has all the tools in her bag to become a dominant forward in the WNBA. Under the leadership of Miller and the rest of the Wings organization, the question is—will she take the next step?

The biggest question, though, is how will Smith fit into the new system for the Wings? It’s shaping up that Miller is building a team that is quick, defensive-minded, and versatile at every position. The benefit of this is that Smith thrives in transition and is one of the best slashers in the game. All she needs to do is refine her perimeter shooting and become a more consistent defender. If she does, Smith would be an amazing frontcourt piece alongside Teaira McCowan.

Building for the Long Run

This offseason, Miller has been putting in a lot of work with the Wings.

Miller didn’t just add “big names” this offseason—he started building a foundation for the future.

Roster moves such as Smith, Carrington, Harris, and Myisha Hines-Allen have helped push this franchise closer to a playoff berth. Adding a new head coach in Chris Koclanes gives this team an identity for the future. Front office and coaching staff moves, such as the hiring of Jazmine Thomas, Nola Henry, and Travis Charles, help support everyone in the building.

This spring, the Wings will also have a chance—and will most likely be—drafting Paige Bueckers to their organization. Bueckers is an efficient, dynamic playmaker who thrives in big moments. Pairing Bueckers with Arike Ogunbowale, DiJonai Carrington, and Ty Harris will prove to be an incredible guard rotation.

From day one, the Wings will arguably have one of the best backcourts in the WNBA. The way Miller is building a long-term title contender, Bueckers could be the piece that ties everything together.

Here Comes the Hotstepper

In one offseason, Miller has transformed the Wings into a stable and steady franchise.

Right now, he could walk into any place in Dallas and hear the song “Here Comes the Hotstepper.”

Miller has done an incredible job his first year in Dallas, wheeling and dealing.

Miller spoke about the fact that Dallas had a clear plan this offseason. After a bunch of new roster moves, he talked about what it took to execute that plan. Teams normally rebuild through three primary ways: the draft, free agency, or trades. Miller, this offseason, accomplished all three.