Kelsey Plum’s time in Los Angeles was both short and disappointing. The Sparks gave up draft picks and young players to build a “contender” around Plum only to continue losing and give up on the experiment after one-and-a-half seasons once Annie Costabile reported that Plum wasn’t expected to re-sign with the Sparks in free agency after this season.
Plum is now headed to Phoenix for the final stretch of the season in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick.
The deal is a massive gamble on the Mercury’s part. They strung together three wins before a two-point loss to the Liberty but still have an 11-19 record that has them sitting in twelfth place in the standings—six games behind the eighth-placed Liberty and seventh-placed Mystics. Either they are really certain that Plum will re-sign with them after the season and that they can build a new big three around her, Alyssa Thomas, and Kahleah Copper, or they are hoping that Plum can at least help them make a late playoff push. Or both, in an ideal world.
As great as Plum is, hoping for a playoff appearance seems very ambitious at this point, and that 2027 first-round pick could quickly come back to haunt the Mercury.
The Mercury could still finish the season outside of the playoff picture
Plum would add much-needed firepower to the Mercury’s offense, which is twelfth in the W. She averaged 23.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in the twelve games before her injury—just the kind of high-level scoring and playmaking Phoenix has been missing all season long.
However, the team has an uphill climb ahead of it considering how far behind the final playoff spots it has already fallen, and time isn’t on the Mercury’s side. Plum will have to build chemistry with her new teammates, which could take a handful of games at least, and she will likely start her Mercury stint on a minutes restriction after just returning from injury. Phoenix has only 14 games left to catch up with the teams in the final playoff spots and has inspired little confidence that it can do that, even with another star on the team.
Even if Plum re-signs in the offseason, losing a high 2027 first-round pick would hurt immensely. JuJu Watkins could enter next year’s draft and Madison Booker, Hannah Hidalgo, Mikaylah Williams, and many other very talented players will definitely be available. The Mercury’s lottery odds may not be as great as other teams’ due to their fourth-place finish last year, but 2027 should be a stacked draft class. As great as Plum is, the decision to give up on that pick could age badly—and very quickly if Plum ends up walking away in free agency.
Copper and Thomas are 31 and 34, respectively. DeWanna Bonner, meanwhile, is 38 and could retire soon. The same goes for Sami Whitcomb. Akoa Makani was the most promising young player on the roster. The Mercury could have used a good 2027 draft pick to prepare for a future without their veteran stars.
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