New WNBA Trade Rumors Update Kelsey Plum Interest, Sparks 'Asking for the World' in Deal for Star

The Los Angeles Sparks are "asking for the world" for five-time All-Star guard and (impending free agent) Kelsey Plum, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, who provided an update on NBA Today in advance of the WNBA trade deadline, which is Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (4:09 mark).

"The Sparks have been getting calls on Kelsey Plum for weeks, but it's really just been this week that they've been engaging in those calls, and I think something has been shifted, they've been losing. Obviously, they're not really going anywhere this season, and Plum is a player that everybody wants, and the question is, who is going to trade for her without a commitment for her beyond this season?

"If the Sparks were willing to move her, right now, what I'm hearing is they're asking for the world. It doesn't look like she'll move unless anybody's willing to meet that price. But interesting teams...Dallas, you just talked about them. How do you think she would fit there? New York, kind of underachieving this year, would she fit there? Everyone's been calling on her. I don't know that anyone who is willing to meet the Sparks' asking price."

Plum has averaged 23.9 points on 52.7 percent shooting (38.3 percent from three) and 6.4 assists in an injury-shortened season. Plum has been out since June 21 with a lower left leg injury.

However, Plum is targeting a return for Sunday's game against the Portland Fire (on a minutes restriction), per comments to reporters (h/t Edwin Garcia of Silver Screen and Roll and Swish Appeal).

Sunday, of course, is trade deadline day. Therein lies the possibility she doesn't suit up for the Sparks. For now, though, she remains in Los Angeles, but the question is for how long.

Plum spoke more on the possibility of being traded and whether she would want to be back in L.A.

It's clear why other WNBA teams want Plum on the Sparks' roster, just like it's clear why the Sparks want a lot in return for one of the league's best guards.

What's unclear is where Plum will be calling home in a few days, but for now, we know she's a Spark as 10-17 Los Angeles, which sits tied for 11th in the WNBA standings, hopes to make a late-season run toward the playoffs.