Earlier this month, the Las Vegas Aces put the ‘core’ tag on Kelsey Plum. This means the franchise will provide her with a fully guaranteed, one-year supermax contract worth $249,244 in exchange for her ability to sign with another team directly. Does that mean she is stuck with the team? Well, not really. If the team chooses to, they can trade her. But here’s the thing:

The star guard averaged 17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season, which is a slight dip from the previous season. While her performances might have slipped a little last season, there’s no denying that Plum is still one of the best players in the league. And in the latest episode of ‘The Ringer WNBA Show’, host Seerat Sohi dived into the hot topic of Plum’s future with special guest Tyler DeLuca.

Speaking in the podcast, Sohi talked about the ambition of the Valkyries and connected it to Plum. She stated: “Overall, it feels like this team wants to compete right away, you saw the players that they drafted and I think you’re probably gonna see in their free agency strategy as well… And honestly, I do think that they are in an interesting spot when it comes to just taking one all in year and seeing what they are capable of. Because of the new CBA kicking in, nobody’s going to sign more that a one-year deal. They can basically just say, Hey, if I was them, and I wanted to go down this free agency path, my strategy is, let me just target Kelsey Plum first. Make sure that she is interested.

“Kelsey Plum, by the way, cored by the Aces, seems like she’s probably going to be on the move. She has a relationship with Natalie Nakase (head coach of the Golden State Valkyries) who is also a assistant coach on Vegas, those two, they’re both just dawgs.” 

Tyler DeLuca agreed with Seerat Sohi and believes Plum at Golden State would make a lot of sense. He stated: “It’s a new place with familiar faces, it’s kind of a good mix, like if Kelsey Plum is going to the franchise cornerstone for at least beginning couple of years, there’s worse places for Kelsey to take that next step. Obviously when you have A’ja Wilson on your team, no matter how good Kelsey Plum is, it’s A’ja Wilson’s team.”

He continued: “If Kelsey Plum is on the move, Golden State makes a lot of sense for several different reasons.” 

This makes so much sense. The player was born and raised in California. She was also coached by Natalie Nakase when she was an assistant at the Las Vegas Aces. Additionally, Kelsey Plum has two WNBA titles and doesn’t have much to prove on a team level. However, on an individual level, she might want the opportunity to show how she is capable of carrying a team as the primary scoring option.

As analysts and reporters increasingly speculate that Kelsey Plum might leave the Las Vegas Aces to join the Golden State Valkyries, the big question emerges. What will the Golden State Warriors need to offer the Las Vegas Aces to make this deal happen?

What can the Golden State offer to make the Kelsey Plum trade happen?

With the Aces holding Plum’s negotiation rights this season, they’re in a power position when it comes to any potential deal. So what might they get in return for the player?

ESPN’s WNBA reporter Kevin Pelton believes the Golden State Valkyries could be gearing up to make an offer so irresistible, it would be nearly impossible for the Aces to turn down. With the Valkyries looking to make an immediate splash in their inaugural season, their potential package for Plum could be the game-changer that shifts the entire landscape of the league.

He was also of the opinion that if Plum left the Aces, Jewell Loyd would be the most sensible replacement in a role comparable to the one she had when Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart were teammates in Seattle.

The negotiations for the WNBA contracts are set to begin on January 21. However, players can’t sign new deals until February 1. That gives both sides a window of time to fine-tune their offers and finalize a deal.

While the focus is on Kelsey Plum’s potential move, Wilson remains the heart and soul of the Las Vegas Aces. If Plum does leave, Wilson will continue to be the cornerstone of the franchise. Any trade involving Plum will undoubtedly affect the team’s dynamic, but Wilson’s ability to carry the franchise forward ensures that the Aces will remain a force to be reckoned with. What do you think?