Braxton for Spencer

[bballer]

NEW YORK, NY – August 4, 2011 – The New York Liberty have acquired All-Star forward/center Kara Braxton from the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for forward Sidney Spencer, it was announced today by head coach and general manager John Whisenant.

While you might question the extent of the All-Star status of Kara Braxton, her value as a post player can not be denied. Why would you trade her for a player at the end of the bench, Spencer?

If nothing else, I think a move like this substantiates my opinion that Phoenix has never been able to compensate for the loss of Cappie Pondexter in their run and shoot style. Yes, they have always been weak in the middle. But they have never been able to integrate bigs like Braxton and Dupree well into their style of play. Dupree would be more effective on a different team. She has never reached the numbers on Phoenix that she did in Chicago.

[lovemydream]

A win for NY. Not exactly what we needed.

[randacf]

This is a terrible trade. This is Braxton's second trade in two years - makes me think coaches don't like her attitude or something. (Of course, Nolan Richardson was the first guy to trade her, so maybe that doesn't count.) Aside from that, I can't think of any reason for a deal like this. Below there is some explanation - she was recently suspended for a game for bad behavior.

Bad news for the Dream for sure - NY's weakness was in the middle, it seems to me.

From the Mercury Web page:

" The Phoenix Mercury has acquired guard/forward Sidney Spencer from the New York Liberty in exchange for forward/center Kara Braxton, the team announced today.

“This was not an easy decision,” president and general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale said. “However, we feel this is the right move in continuing our efforts to build a successful team within a first-class organization.”

Braxton served a one-game suspension August 2 for conduct detrimental to the team.

"“Sidney is a player we have had our eyes on in the past,” said head coach Corey Gaines. “She comes from a championship collegiate program in the University of Tennessee and her ability to shoot the ball will be a valuable asset in our system.”

The 6-3 guard was selected 25th overall by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2007 WNBA Draft after leading the Volunteers to an NCAA national championship in 2007. Spencer was an immediate impact player in the WNBA leading the Sparks with 327 points in her rookie season. She finished the year ranked third in the WNBA in 3-point percentage (.439) and 10th in 3-point field goals made (54)."

www.wnba.com/mercury/news/spencer_release_110804.html

I guess the message is - if you act up, you may have to pack up and move.....