Sparks guard Kelsey Plum says she won't take trade rumors personally
Five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum said she is focused on playing for the Los Angeles Sparks despite speculation that she could be traded before the deadline.
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum told reporters Thursday that she is not taking recent trade speculation personally and will focus on playing for the team. "The thing about professional sports is it's business," Plum said, adding that she respects decisions made by clubs and will stay "where my feet are."
Plum, who has missed action since a lower-leg injury on June 21, said she expects to suit up for the Sparks' upcoming road game against the Portland Fire, which is scheduled shortly after the trade deadline. "I play for the Sparks, so on Sunday, I'm going to suit up and I'm going to give them whatever minute restriction, fill-the-blank-in minutes of hell, coming off the bench," she said, expressing excitement about returning to the court.
The Sparks, currently 10-17 and on a six-game losing streak, have gone 2-9 without Plum, who is averaging a career-high 23.9 points and 6.4 assists in 12 games this season. While league sources say the team has received inquiries about moving Plum, the asking price has reportedly been too high, and potential suitors such as the Golden State Valkyries are hesitant to part with multiple key players.
Sources also note that Plum could remain with the Sparks through the deadline and the rest of the season, though she is set to become a free agent next winter. Plum declined to discuss her long-term future, stating, "There's a lot of things that are in the unknown, and those are things outside of my control. For me, my control is to be here, to play the highest level of basketball I could possibly play, and help my team win games."
The Sparks have recently undergone front-office changes, with general manager Raegan Pebley departing and assistants Zack Knowlton and Nate Nielsen assuming interim roles. Owner Mark Walter's advisor Farhan Zaidi told the Los Angeles Times that the franchise may need to reassess its strategy after a disappointing season. "We pushed in a lot of chips this year, and we had good reason to do that, but the reality is it hasn't gone as we'd hoped or expected," Zaidi said. "Now we have to be open for anything. Everything has to be on the table for us. We have to take a long-term perspective rather than focusing on the rest of the season."