PHOENIX -- The Mercury will talk to other teams about
trading Jennifer Gillom, Phoenix's leading scorer in four of the
WNBA's five seasons.
"I wouldn't say it's likely, but it's possible," general
manager Seth Sulka said Saturday about prospects for a trade.
"We'll talk to people for the next couple of days, and if
somebody comes up with the right package we'd take a look."
Gillom, a 37-year-old power forward, calmly handled questions
about a possible departure from her only WNBA team.
"Until it's official, I can't let it affect me," Gillom said.
"I'm here in Phoenix right now, and it's where I'm playing and
that's all I can think of."
Sulka responded to reports that Houston coach Van Chancellor
would like to acquire Gillom. The Comets, without suspended Tina
Thompson, scored only 17 points in the first half of a 64-50 loss
to Miami on Friday night.
Gillom, averaging a team-high 13.3 points, has averaged double
figures every year in the WNBA. She averaged 20.8 points and 7.3
rebounds in 1998 while leading the Mercury to their only WNBA
Finals appearance, where they lost to the Comets.
Last year she was the Mercury's second-highest scorer behind
Brandy Reed, who was suspended for the current season for conduct
detrimental to the team.
In contrast to Reed, Gillom is one of the Phoenix's most popular
players.
She scored 18 points in a 59-50 victory over the Utah Starzz on
Saturday while fans brandished signs saying "Trade Our Jen? Have
You Lost Your Mind?"
"We definitely want to keep Jennifer Gillom; she's definitely
wanted," coach Cynthia Cooper said.
Sulka said he would consider trading Gillom to Houston to allow
her to have another title shot.
But the price would be steep, probably rookie forward Amanda
Lassiter and a first-round draft pick. Chancellor told the Houston
Chronicle he would be reluctant to give up that much off a team
going for its fifth consecutive championship.
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