WNBA trade news: Insider reveals Sparks' big uncertainty leading up to Kelsey Plum trade and parting ways with lottery pick

The LA Sparks made a huge splash on the trade market ahead of the start of free agency by acquiring Kelsey Plum. A WNBA insider reported why the Sparks decided to part ways with their coveted No. 2 pick in this year's draft for former Las Vegas Aces guard.

According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Plum signed off on the trade to Los Angeles, which was expected, as she was cored by the Aces. She was looking for a fresh start and won't be a one-year rental for the Sparks.

Philippou added that the Sparks front office was having second thoughts on who to draft with the second pick, so Plum's availability and willingness to stay beyond 2025 made the decision easier.

Kelsey Plum was supposed to become an unrestricted free agent before the Las Vegas Aces decided to give her the core designation. There were also rumors of a potential trade, which actually happened. The Aces got Jewell Loyd in return, while the Storm received the LA Sparks' No. 2 pick in this year's draft.

While Paige Bueckers is the consensus No. 1 pick, there's no guarantee on who will be the next pick. Some names being mentioned include USC's Kiki Iriafen, LSU's Aneesah Morrow and Notre Dame's Olivia Miles. Iriafen and Morrow have no extra year of eligibility, while Miles could extend her college career for one more season.

The Sparks are coming off a disappointing season, finishing 8-32, which was the worst record in the WNBA. However, the lottery didn't favor them with the No. 1 pick landing in Dallas.

Nevertheless, the Sparks have a new coach in Lynne Roberts, who will have a good core of Kelsey Plum, Cameron Brink, Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson next season.

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Kelsey Plum gets her fresh start, back home in California

After a down campaign for the Las Vegas Aces, based on her standards, Kelsey Plum gets a fresh start with the LA Sparks. Plum went through a divorce last year, which was one of the reasons why she wanted to focus on herself this offseason.

The former No. 1 pick was supposed to take part in Unrivaled but decided to pull away to spend some personal time during the break. One of the reasons why the Sparks is a perfect destination for Plum is that they aren't far from her hometown of Poway, California.

Plum was born and raised in Poway, playing high school basketball in La Jolla in San Diego. She then played for the Washington Huskies from 2013 to 2017, breaking record after record. The Huskies honored her on Jan. 18 by retiring her No. 10 jersey on the rafters of Alaska Airlines Arena.