Dallas Wings predicted to clear space for Paige Bueckers by trading 2x All-Star

Paige Bueckers hasn't set foot on a WNBA court yet, but she looks like the league's next star.

The UConn guard has even signed a NIL deal with the new Unrivaled 3x3 tournament, and most insiders and analysts have her as the No. 1 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.

The Dallas Wings are slated to be on the clock first. And with the prospect of landing a top-notch prospect like Bueckers, Chicago Sun-Tribune's Annie Costabille believes they could look to move 6-foot-4 forward Satou Sabally to make room for Bueckers.

“There is an understanding around the league that Sabally will be on the move after the Wings make her a core player this weekend, when GMs can begin sending out qualifying offers and core tags. What’s unclear is where she’ll end up. The Sky’s chances of landing Sabally are slim, but the No. 3 pick opens the door to a potential conversation with Wings GM Curt Miller," Costabille wrote.

Paige Bueckers might not want to play for the Dallas Wings

Paige Bueckers controls her destiny. While she could clearly make more money as a pro, NIL deals won't make that much of an issue for her.

She still has one year of college eligibility left, and the Dallas Wings have been one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the WNBA. They've been around the league since 2016, and they've had five coaches during that span. They don't even have a coach right now.

That's why ESPN's Michael Voepel believes Bueckers could choose to stay under Geno Auriemma's wing for another season if she doesn't think she'll be in a favorable situation in Dallas.

"Sources around the league have indicated that the LA Sparks, who got the No. 2 pick in the lottery, would have been Bueckers' preferred option. Like the Wings, the Sparks also currently don't have a head coach. But LA is a gigantic market and a team that could also have used a guard like Bueckers," Voepel wrote.

From a talent and skill standpoint, Bueckers is most definitely ready to take a leap and turn pro. So far, she's averaged just over 19 points with four rebounds and four assists per game on nearly 56% shooting. Her scoring prowess and rising popularity will make her a huge asset for whichever team ends up getting her, assuming she decides to declare for the WNBA draft.