The Phoenix Mercury have acquired Monique Currie from the San Antonio Stars in exchange for veteran guard Shay Murphy, rookie Sophie Brunner and a third round pick in the 2018 draft.
To make room on the roster, the Stars waived guard Sequoia Holmes. With the extra roster spot, the Mercury signed 6’6 Angel Robinson.
The addition of Currie, who’d been enjoying a vintage season in San Antonio but wasn’t part of the long-term plans in San Antonio at age 34, instead gives the versatile forward an opportunity to play for a contender.
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But the Stars, already struggling offensively with Currie, will have a hard time without her. The team is scoring 92.6 points per 100 possessions, last in the league. But the departure of Currie will mean more shot opportunities for many younger players on the roster, who is virtually everyone else.
Currie, meanwhile, can provide an additional scorer for a Mercury team that’s just ninth in the league in offensive efficiency, despite the breakout season of Brittney Griner and continued excellence of Diana Taurasi. Currie previously played with the Mercury in 2015, alongside Griner and Leilani Mitchell.
“We are very excited to bring Mo back to the Mercury family,” Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said in a release. “She is a known commodity in this league, a proven scorer who can contribute right away. We know how she fits in Sandy Brondello’s system, we know the kind of player she is in the locker room, and we know her will to win.”
It will be hard for Murphy and Brunner to find playing time on the Stars ahead of younger players more likely to be part of the future, but both are useful pieces as the Stars try to break through and capture that elusive first win. Brunner, in particular, adds perimeter shooting (39.3 percent senior year at Arizona State) defensive size and toughness.