Was the Las Vegas Aces’ trade for NaLyssa Smith a smart gamble or sign of desperation?

The Las Vegas Aces are 16 games into their 2025 campaign and currently sit seventh in the standings with an 8-8 record, remaining flat on the season. There are rationalizations for the team’s mediocrity, beginning with the chemistry gap caused by an offseason shake-up and the acclimation to an ever-changing league.

But, at what point does “the learning curve” no longer become an excuse for Vegas? When is it time to admit the shortcomings of this Aces team?

An unfortunate truth for this Vegas squad is that anything less than elite will be deemed abnormal or unacceptable for a team that once had the league around its finger. An 8-8 record is decent, and a lot of teams would be grateful to sit at the .500 mark. But, when you’re the Las Vegas Aces, it looks like a failure compared to the established expectations.

The Aces’ most significant blemish isn’t even losing; it’s their lack of consistency over 16 games. They’ll win a game by double digits, then lose by double digits. Then, they’ll skate by with thin win, only to lose the next game by an even thinner margin. It’s a very uncommon reality for a team that once looked invincible. And it’s now to the point where it’s more than just growing pains and adaptations: It looks like Vegas’s reign is coming to a close.

Rolling the dice—again

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If there’s any indication that the Aces are between a rock and a hard place, it’s the fact that they’re still trying to find ways to make their roster work. Earlier this week, the Aces traded a future first-round draft pick to the Dallas Wings in return for former No. 2 overall pick NaLyssa Smith.

To execute the deal, Vegas also had to waive Liz Kitley and Tiffany Mitchell.

The trade appears to be a shift for Aces, and a move they believe can have an immediate impact, as letting go of two rotational pieces and a future first-round pick is not a minor decision. While Smith has had a down year thus far, her first in Dallas, she had some solid flashes through her first three seasons in the league, which she spent with the Indiana Fever. That was enough for the Aces to have the confidence to make such a sudden and committed move this early in the season.

Whether it is enough to smooth the Aces’ rocky season is to be determined.

There is still a long road ahead

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It is often said that comparison is a thief of joy, especially in sports. This is particularly true when comparing the current version of your team to more desirable versions. When you look at the past half-decade of Aces basketball, it isn’t hard to find a more enjoyable iteration of this squad.

In contrast, this team is easy to pick apart and feel uneasy about. It’s an abnormality to see this team perform like this. However, it’s only 16 games into the season, and either one of two things can happen: It can get better or get worse. So, enjoy the ride and all that comes with it.

Based on the leadership and veteran experience of this team, there’s still hope for them to find some sort of groove. Will it be a championship groove? No, probably not. Could it be a nice postseason run and at least some more enjoyable in-season basketball? Of course. The biggest thing is being realistic, and while this isn’t the championship Aces they once were, they are still have all the tools to be a darn good basketball team.