Rumors began flying this week that the Los Angeles Sparks might trade Kelsey Plum before or on the trade deadline, which happens to be Sunday, August 2nd. The Sparks also play their next game on the 2nd, and a trade decision is due around 30 minutes before Los Angeles plays the Portland Fire.
To her credit, Plum has seemed to take news of the potential trade in stride. She told reporters that being traded isn't personal, and she's committed to playing for the Sparks as long as she's on the team's roster. A lot of players might not take that attitude to the idea they could be traded from a team that seemed to fight so hard to get them, especially when they've been injured as much as Plum has this season, but her comments indicate Plum is well aware of the fact that the WNBA is a business.
But if anyone is looking a little poorly right now, it's the Sparks organization. If the team isn't exploring trade options, it seems like it would be helpful for them to say so. If the team is exploring trade options, there's plenty of reason to hope that Plum will not find out thirty minutes before she's scheduled to play on Sunday. Despite her injuries, Plum has put in a powerhouse season for the Sparks this year, and plenty of analysts and reporters openly speculated she could take the team all the way to the playoffs.
This is Plum's second season with the Sparks. The team brought her to Los Angeles from the Las Vegas Aces, where she won championships and appeared to thrive. The trade that brought Plum to the Sparks also sent Jewell Loyd to her former team, and Dominique Malonga to the Seattle Storm.
Plum has plenty of options in the WNBA, and there's no shortage of teams who would be lucky to have her—just a shortage of teams who can bring her on at this point in the season. The Washington Mystics have been mentioned as one possibility for Plum, but there's another team that would immediately benefit, and that could be a more attractive opportunity to the Poway, California, native: the Golden State Valkyries.
There have been Kelsey Plum-Golden State Valkyries rumors before—some hoped she might become the team's marquee player during their first season. But adding Plum now would almost guarantee a successful playoff run for the Valkyries, and even a potential championship win.
Add us as a preferred source on Google