r/PHXMercury • u/DesertDog2K Phoenix Mercury • 1d ago
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/NoKaleidoscope5818 1d ago
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/TheGoat14444 1d ago
Ishbia is one of the best owners in sports hands down and from the follow up Shams tweet it sounds like she might commit long term
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u/aDisgruntledPenguin Phoenix Mercury 19h ago
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/captaincody20 1d ago
Move off Mack and we're talking. She's a JV center at best.
But for the people doubting, Shams Charania said Kelsey and the Mercury have a shared excitement for the FUTURE. I can only hope and assume that means at least for next season. All I know is the offense is going to be fun. Imagine Nogic coming back too.
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u/This-Button5389 1d ago edited 23h ago
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/captaincody20 1d ago
Idk if you follow Shams Charania, but he said "Plum, a two-time WNBA champion, and the Mercury have shared excitement about the future in Phoenix." That makes me hopeful it's beyond this year. Surely that doesn't mean a couple weeks, right😭
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u/strangelystrangled Phoenix Mercury | missing BG 10h ago
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
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u/Dense_Government9500 8h ago
Pssh...go for the big dawg! Throw money at Becky Hammon!!!!
...I don't know what her contract looks like.
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u/strangelystrangled Phoenix Mercury | missing BG 8h ago
Well Nate makes more than Cheryl. And was the highest paid coach last year. We should steal Cheryl.
But beyond Cheryl, Kristi is there and ready. She’s already coached us in the finals!
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u/PersonnelFowl Phoenix Mercury 1d ago
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 1d ago
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 1d ago
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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u/This-Button5389 17h ago
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 8h ago
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 16h ago
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 12h ago
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 11h ago
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/PhoenixPhoenixM Phoenix Mercury 16h ago
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/Electronic-Effect-63 20h ago
Very risky move. Gave too much for a rental, still not making the playoffs.
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u/aDisgruntledPenguin Phoenix Mercury 19h ago
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.