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Kelsey Plum trade grades: Mercury make a head-scratching move; Sparks embrace the rebuild
CBS Sports • • general
Key Points:
- The Los Angeles Sparks traded five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani and future draft picks, marking only the fourth midseason All-Star trade in league history.
- Plum, who has battled injuries this season but was averaging a career-high 23.9 points before being sidelined, is expected to debut soon for the Mercury, who are struggling at 11-19 and face long odds to make the playoffs.
- The Mercury gave up a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick for Plum, a move criticized as risky given her impending free agency and the team's poor standing, potentially sacrificing future assets for a short-term boost.
- The Sparks, currently rebuilding and sitting 10-17, benefited by acquiring a promising young guard in Akoa Makani and valuable draft picks, positioning themselves better for a long-term rebuild despite missing the playoffs again.
- This trade signals a clear shift for both teams: Phoenix is gambling on a late-season surge with Plum, while Los Angeles is embracing a rebuild after years of underperformance and roster challenges.
