Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover has orchestrated one of the most remarkable rebuilds in recent WNBA history, guiding the franchise to its first finals appearance since 2013 through calculated trades, strategic patience, and impeccable timing.
The Dream will face the Golden State Valkyries in a best-of-seven championship series beginning Saturday, capping a transformation that began when Padover arrived from Las Vegas in 2021 with a clear mandate: build through the draft and trades rather than splashy free-agent signings.
Drafting the Foundation
Padover’s first masterstroke came in 2022 when he acquired the No. 1 overall pick from Washington, selecting guard Rhyne Howard and then landing Naz Hillmon with the 15th selection through another traded pick. “None of it gets off the ground without Rhyne and Naz,” Padover reflected. “They had a belief in each other and that we could try to build something here.”
The duo’s chemistry became the cornerstone of everything Atlanta would achieve, providing both veteran leadership and rising star power that attracted other key pieces.
Trading for Excellence
Building on that foundation, Padover executed a series of trades that transformed the Dream from promising young team to legitimate title contenders. He secured Allisha Gray in exchange for two draft picks, creating a formidable core alongside Howard and Hillmon before addressing the point guard position with Jordin Canada from Los Angeles in 2024.
“Got to give credit to Lish,” Padover noted of Gray’s acquisition. “She was on the trade market, but she circled this as a place she wanted to go to. It worked out for all parties involved.”
Free Agency Masterstroke
The coup de grâce came when Padover signed veteran forward DeWanna Bonner at the end of the regular season after Phoenix Mercury granted her release. “It happened that Phoenix and her worked out a deal to allow her to make a run in the postseason and that turned into a mini-free agency with a bunch of teams that went after her,” Padover explained. “We were fortunate that we had made a run at her the last few free agencies. She has a great relationship with our players, which helped.”
ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo praised the acquisition: “If they don’t have Angel Reese this year they aren’t in the finals. They got the gift of DeWanna Bonner at end of season. They picked her up for nothing.”
Coaching Change Pays Dividends
Following consecutive playoff appearances under Tanisha Wright, Padover made the bold decision to part ways with the coach after the 2024 season. The search committee’s top criteria: a basketball purist aligned with the organisation’s core values.
Their choice, Florida Gulf Coast’s Karl Smesko, has delivered immediate results. “Karl was born to be a basketball coach. He’s extremely humble and hard working and just a phenomenal basketball mind,” Padover said. “To have 30 wins his first two years and then make the WNBA finals in Year 2, puts him up there in elite, elite company.”
Retaining the Core
The condensed free-agency period under the new collective bargaining agreement threatened to derail Atlanta’s momentum, but Padover navigated the compressed timeline brilliantly. In just 48 hours, he secured commitments from Howard, Gray, Canada, Hillmon and others.
“To lock up five players in 48 hours is crazy, usually you don’t lock up one that quickly,” Padover admitted. “It’s a two-week process in a normal year.”
He credited extensive preparation: “It was so important to have done your work earlier and them knowing who you are and that you care. We knew speed was important because people were out there making them good offers. We made them feel whole as quickly as possible and showed them how much we wanted them.”
Why it Matters
<padover's patient approach demonstrates that sustainable success in professional sports often requires resisting the temptation for quick fixes. His methodical rebuilding—prioritising draft capital, strategic trades, and player development over splashy free-agent signings—has created a model that other franchises will study. More importantly, Atlanta's return to the finals after a decade-long absence validates that thoughtful, long-term planning can overcome financial disadvantages and reinvigorate fan bases in markets hungry for championship contention.
