The Los Angeles Sparks could be the most interesting team in the league ahead of this year’s trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.
After parting ways with former general manager Raegan Pebley, the Sparks could go in several different directions. They could add in hopes of making the playoffs for the first time since 2020, or they could opt for a rebuild.
If Los Angeles chooses the rebuild route, Kelsey Plum would be an attractive target for contending teams. She’s been out with an injury since late June, but a healthy Plum is one of the more dynamic offensive guards in the league.
Kelsey Plum Next Team Odds & Favorites
The BetMGM online sportsbook won’t offer a market for Plum’s next team, but I consider these squads as the top fits for her:
- Golden State Valkyries
- Dallas Wings
- Washington Mystics
Plum will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, so any team trading for her would have to be confident in their ability to sign her to an extension.
Kelsey Plum Next Team Prediction
The Valkyries and Wings stand out as the top landing spots for Plum.
The Valkyries are actually my favorite team for Plum. Golden State has overachieved since joining the league last year, but it’s still in the market for a franchise player. Plum would provide some much-needed star power, and the Valkyries would have the defensive personnel to protect her.
However, Golden State doesn’t have an easy path to trade for Plum, who makes $999,999 this year. The Valkyries’ lone player making that much is Gabby Williams, who they signed last offseason for a three-year, $3,748,500 contract.
The Wings, on the other hand, have a much simpler way to acquire Plum. They could trade guard Arike Ogunbowale straight up for Plum to upgrade their starting guard next to Paige Bueckers. This would give Dallas a lot more firepower in the backcourt and take some pressure off Bueckers.
Ogunbowale’s salary of $1,190,000 works in a potential trade with the Sparks, who might prefer the idea of having 1.5 years of team control. Dallas can also throw in some draft capital to get the deal done.
If Plum leaves Los Angeles this summer, the Wings make the most sense on paper.
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