Mystics Trade Milton-Jones to L.A.

Forward Swapped For Veteran Player, 2009 Draft Pick

The Washington Mystics yesterday ended months of speculation about DeLisha Milton-Jones's future with the organization by trading the veteran forward to the Los Angeles Sparks for forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin and a first-round draft pick in 2009.

Milton-Jones remained unsigned after completing her contract at the end of last season and had asked to be traded. Because the Mystics had labeled her a core player, they controlled her rights. Washington could either wait to reach an agreement with Milton-Jones, which looked increasingly unlikely, or try to trade the nine-year WNBA veteran.

"It really is a big relief to have it done. It's been a cloud hanging over my head for several months now," said Mystics General Manager Linda Hargrove, who added that she had been looking at potential trades for Milton-Jones since October.

Several teams were interested in the two-time all-star, Hargrove said, but the organizations often differed on what was an equal trade. "We were holding pretty hard on her value because she was such an integral part of our team," Hargrove said. "We weren't just going to let her go, not until we felt we had a deal near what we valued her."

Milton-Jones, 33, averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in her three years with Washington, and served as one of the team's leaders on the court and in the locker room.

Hargrove said the deal with Los Angeles originated in mid-March, and became serious last week. Hargrove accepted this deal because it offered a player who could help shore up the Mystics' front court immediately and some insurance or a possible bargaining chip for the future with the first-round pick.

"Taj was involved in the deal several weeks ago but we wanted to make sure that she was healthy," Hargrove said.

McWilliams-Franklin, 37, who has averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds over her nine-year career, had arthroscopic knee surgery last season. But her play as part of the U.S. national team at the Good Luck Beijing Invitational in China this week removed any skepticism from Hargrove's mind that she is ready to contribute.

"The way she was moving around the court when I watched games [online] from Beijing made the decision easier," Hargrove said. "We had two big question marks at the post with the uncertainty of DeLisha and Bernice Mosby recovering from [knee] surgery. She's definitely someone who can step right in to one of those [starting] roles."

Los Angeles General Manager Penny Toler described McWilliams-Franklin as a smart player who handles pressure well late in games and a leader who tries to help her younger teammates. The six-time all-star already has a good relationship with the Mystics' first overall pick, Crystal Langhorne, whom she is playing with in Beijing.

"There's no doubt in my mind she'll be able to help Washington with the young team that they have," Toler said in a phone interview. "She's a definite presence as a leader in a locker room."

McWilliams-Franklin has one year remaining on her contract, after which the Mystics could re-sign her or possibly label her a core player. Both McWilliams-Franklin and Milton-Jones, who signed a two-year agreement with Los Angeles, are paid near the WNBA maximum of $95,000. Neither team nor Mike Cound, who represents both players, would discuss exact figures.

The trade is a homecoming of sorts for Milton-Jones, who was drafted by the Sparks and spent her first six seasons in Los Angeles before seeking the trade that brought her to Washington.

And while Cound said "personal issues" played a role in Milton-Jones's decision to ask for a trade this time, he emphasized that they weren't the overwhelming factor.

"It really was just time for a change from her perspective," Cound said over the phone. "She had the role she wanted, all the minutes she wanted, but at the end of the day she and her husband wanted to go somewhere they felt they fit more."