r/PHXMercury • u/DesertDog2K Phoenix Mercury • Aug 02 '26
WNBA Discussion KELSEY PLUM
It’s probably too late to make the playoffs this season but Plum/Copper/Thomas/Bonner/Mack could be formidable in the future.
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u/PhoenixPhoenixM Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
This is a terrible trade for us. Who's guaranteeing she stays beyond this season? Countless of things could happen between now and the end of the season, and if she wants to leave, any "handshake agreement" we might have, won't mean sh*t.
We're giving up 2 draft picks and a pretty consistent performer, Akoa-Makani, who played a pretty big part in our run to the final last season. Terrible value for us.
If she's so interested in joining us, we could have signed her when she becomes free agent. This season is dead for both teams.
Terrible, terrible trade. Unfortunately not surprising.
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u/jacanba Phoenix Mercury Aug 03 '26
The only way the trade will be worth it is if she signs with us long term. Giving up Mo for anything other than that is a terrible move so I guess we shall see.
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u/PhoenixPhoenixM Phoenix Mercury Aug 03 '26
That would improve the trade infinitely, but still, we could have just got her in free agency once the season is over. Giving up anything was pretty pointless for us. That would make the trade okay, but still not great. If she leaves once the season is over, it's one of the worst trades of all time.
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u/This-Button5389 Aug 02 '26
lets be real, you phx mercury needs to move on from the aging players like bonner , AT, Whitcomb etc who are 35+ years and are near end of their careers and build around two vets copper, plum who are 31 mack and other younger squad. plum and copper are 31 years and are at their peak and has easily 4 to 5 years left in them.
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u/Dense_Government9500 Aug 02 '26
That's probably what they told Plum. Stay here and we'll build around you and Copper.
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u/PhoenixPhoenixM Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
Bonner shouldn't be a starter next season. She's had skme good games this year, but she's very inconsistent and she was consistently poor at the beginning of the season. I'm okay with her staying and being a rotational piece, but she really shouldn't be a starter next season.
AT is still producing at the high level, and I hope she stays though.
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u/mackNwheeze Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
Bonner probably won’t be back next season, it sounds like she’s retiring once the season is over.
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u/PhoenixPhoenixM Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
If that's the case, I'll miss seeing her on the court, but she'll always be a legend in my book. Maybe it's even for the best. It's sometimes good to retire while you're still performing at a relatively high level than to tarnish her legacy by playing after your levels drop.
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u/aDisgruntledPenguin Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
If they gave up the first round pick in 2027 for less than a half season with Plum I’m going to be sick. I absolutely love Plum but next year’s draft could have given the Mercury young talent.
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u/Electronic-Effect-63 Aug 02 '26
Very risky move. Gave too much for a rental, still not making the playoffs.
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u/This-Button5389 Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
I think plum will stay beyond this year but she could request a super max contract or long term max contract though..at the same mercury didn't lose much while apart from 1st rd in 2027 while retaining their 2028 1st rd pick.
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u/NoKaleidoscope5818 Aug 02 '26
No way they give up the draft capital in this deal without an indication KP will sign beyond this season. We’re not making the playoff this season anyways (unless we go on an absolute tear)
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u/PersonnelFowl Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
She’s a rental. Just get her in the offseason as a free agent without giving up anything for her.
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u/DesertDog2K Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
Usually a rental implies a player stays for a short time then leaves. I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to keep her longer than 14 games.
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u/PersonnelFowl Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
Yes, there’s no guarantee she’ll sign long term. It’s a terrible move to give up assets this season
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Aug 02 '26
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u/aDisgruntledPenguin Phoenix Mercury Aug 02 '26
I’m still looking back at what they gave up for KD and although he’s one of the best to ever step on the court, the promise never materialized.
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u/strangelystrangled mightless mercury Aug 02 '26
I think we can sell her on a long term deal with the remaining 14 or so games. She's gonna have a lot of fun playing with AT and fits our vibe soooooo well. I'm excited about the potential. Get some defense in free agency, fire Nate/hire Kristi and we're contenders next year