The Sparks and its new management started rebuilding the roster by buying veteran guards jasmine thomas in a multi-player commerce with the Connecticut Solar on Monday.
Thomas, a 12-year veteran who performed seven seasons with the Suns below new Sparks coach Kurt Miller, was acquired with the tenth general choice within the 2023 WNBA Draft. The Sparks despatched reserve rights to middle Olivia Nelson-Ododa, ahead Jasmine Walker and Kianna Smith to guard the Suns.
Sparks normal supervisor and chief administrative officer Karen Bryant stated, “The commerce with Connecticut places us in an important place going into free company as a result of we had been capable of safe a veteran level guard and add a first-round choose.” The staff launched an announcement “We’re grateful for the time we spent with Olivia, Jasmine and Kianna and thank them for his or her contributions to Sparks. We want all of them the perfect as they proceed to develop on this league.”
Thomas’ profession averages are 9.6 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals. The previous Duke star was chosen twelfth general within the 2011 draft by the Seattle Storm earlier than being traded to the Washington Mystics. After enjoying two seasons with the Mystics and two extra with the Atlanta Dream, Thomas was traded to Connecticut in 2015.
In his eight seasons with the Suns, seven of them below Miller, Thomas averaged 11.2 factors, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals, setting a franchise document for profession assists with 994. Thomas, who was an All-Star in 2017, earned the All-Defensive First Group from 2017-19 and the Second Group in 2016 and 2021.
“I’ve had the pleasure of teaching Jasmine all through my skilled head teaching profession and I do know she will probably be an unimaginable addition to this staff and the tradition we’re creating in L.A.,” Miller stated in a staff information launch. Huh.” “His information of the sport and his means to steer a staff on each the offensive and defensive ends of the ground is one thing that will probably be invaluable to us.”
Sparks now owns the tenth, 14th and twenty sixth general picks within the 2023 draft.
Smith and Nelson-Ododa had been picked sixteenth and nineteenth general by the Sparks within the 2022 draft, whereas Walker was the seventh general choose within the 2021 draft.
