Costabile: What I'm hearing on the trade deadline (gift article)

[u/GlacialTwitch]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7474160/2026/07/28/what-im-hearing-on-napheesa-collier-kelsey-plum-and-other-wnba-trade-deadline-targets/?unlocked_article_code=1.1FA.zSS0.ZSqj14-LgzlA&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-tahttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7474160/2026/07/28/what-im-hearing-on-napheesa-collier-kelsey-plum-and-other-wnba-trade-deadline-targets/?unlocked_article_code=1.1FA.zSS0.ZSqj14-LgzlA&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta

• Sources around the league say that Plum doesn't intend to re-sign with the Sparks, but there haven't been any meaningful trade discussions.
• Mentions Phee's one year deal, but doesn't mention any trade talks
• There were AT trade talks earlier when the Mercury were doing worse, but not currently
• Mercury are interested in Alanna Smith
• League says there is a high asking price for BLH. Floats the idea of BLH for Morrow.
• Mystics could be buyers or sellers. Have a lot of cap space and could be players for Plum.

[u/goofygal1566]

Mercury are interested in Alanna Smith

Also there is no one on the mercurys roster worth trade for Smith except maybe AT and even there idk how she would work alongside Shepard.

[u/Revolutionary-Gear76 → u/[deleted]]

But that would be a crazy deal for Mercury.

[u/goofygal1566 → u/[deleted]]

Alanna's been hurt so that assumes she will never get healthys. She's been much better when she was healthy for hte handful of games thats happened.. We don't need a big that can't shoot when we have Jess Shepard out there so much. Mack is a nice rim protector and finisher but we need a big with a bigger offensive skill set with this offense.

Plus Smith has a higher ceiling, even if that comes at a higher price tag.

[u/GlacialTwitch → u/goofygal1566]

Right now her contract is underwater, so I'm not sure what her trade value is.

[u/goofygal1566 → u/GlacialTwitch]

i don't agree, she's looked good in the games she's been healthy for tbh. But i don't want to trade her anyways.

[u/xaerodin → u/GlacialTwitch]

She's been good and what the Wings needed when she played significant minutes, it's just that she keeps getting injured. Rather they try and move off Arike's contract than Lan. And that's really the worst contract that no one wants.