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Report: Odyssey Sims, Mercury agree to max offer sheet

By Ben Dull

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 5: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury and Odyssey Sims #1 of the Los Angeles Sparks talk before the game between the two teams on August 5, 2018 at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 5: Brittney Griner #42 of the Phoenix Mercury and Odyssey Sims #1 of the Los Angeles Sparks talk before the game between the two teams on August 5, 2018 at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Restricted free agent Odyssey Sims has signed a three-year maximum offer sheet with the Phoenix Mercury, per a report by Rachel Galligan.

Sims spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, starting all eight playoff games in 2017 during the team’s WNBA Finals run.

Upon receiving notice of the signed offer sheet, the Sparks will have four days to decide whether or not they will exercise their right to match the offer as inked with the Mercury.

Per the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), Sims’ max salary for the 2019 season will be $115,000. Her max 2020 and 2021 salary would be $117,000 and $119,000, respectively.

Sims started 24 games with the Sparks in the 2018 regular season and logged 29 minutes in the club’s two playoff contests. She re-upped with the Sparks last offseason on a one-year, $65,158 deal as a restricted free agent.

The Mercury announced Friday morning that the club has re-signed veteran guard Briann January to a multi-year deal. Sims could slot into lineups with January and Diana Taurasi. If Stephanie Talbot continues to start on the wing alongside DeWanna Bonner, Sims would be a key bench piece.

Bonner led the league in total regular season minutes played. Taurasi, in her age 36 season, finished 14th.

The Mercury have backup point guard Leilani Mitchell under contract through 2020. She signed an extension with the club last May. Additionally, Phoenix has the inside track to retain reserved player Yvonne Turner at a team-friendly number.

Turner was a key contributor in the 2018 playoffs, tallying 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in 38 minutes in the team’s Game 3 semifinal victory over the Seattle Storm. She followed it up in Game 5 with 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting, filling in for Talbot who was out due to a concussion.

Each of the Sparks top five guards/wings are free agents this offseason. All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray is also a restricted free agent. Alana Beard, Essence Carson and Riquna Williams are unrestricted free agents.

Also per Galligan’s reporting, the Sparks and Las Vegas Aces are the two teams that have been engaged in trade talks to acquire Dallas Wings All-WNBA center Liz Cambage.

Matching the offer sheet for Sims would instantly add more money to their books, which could complicate trade talks as they operate under the WNBA’s hard cap.

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