The Las Vegas Aces roster may be set for a massive shakeup.
On Saturday, the Aces placed a core designation on All-Star shooting guard and two-time champion Kelsey Plum. The designation means the Aces will offer her a one-year supermax contract worth $249,244, as well as ensure exclusive negotiation rights between player and team.
However, just because this designation has been placed does not necessarily mean Plum will be an Ace this upcoming season. In fact, according to broadcaster Robin Lundberg, the decision has placed her directly onto the rumor mill.
Kelsey Plum being on the move seems very possible via speculation from many reputable reporters.
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) January 10, 2025
While the Aces have extended many of their key players, the fact they did not do the same with Plum is telling. While the door is certainly open for a return, there is a chance the team chooses to shake up their roster.
Several options are on the table if the Aces do ultimately choose to trade Plum, most notably a one-for-one deal with the Seattle Storm that would bring Jewell Loyd to Las Vegas.
Loyd, a teammate of Plum’s on Team USA, has requested a trade out of Seattle, and the 31-year-old would provide a reliable scoring option in the backcourt. This season for the Storm, Loyd averaged 16.9 points per game, as well as 3.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Of course, if Plum hits the trade market, other teams will be vying for her services. She and Caitlin Clark could team up with the Indiana Fever if the team does not re-sign Kelsey Mitchell, and she has a connection with the expansion Golden State Valkyries with former Aces assistant and head coach Natalie Nakase.
However, the proverbial ball is in the Aces’ court, and they will be the ones to choose whether the best option is to bring back Plum and run it back with the current core or see what the prolific scorer is worth on the open market.
