After getting suspended for a game by the Phoenix Mercury for "mouthing off", center Kara Braxton has been traded to the New York Liberty in exchange for Sidney Spencer.
As Seth Pollack described at SBN Arizona, this move might be considered "addition by subtraction" for them. But for the Liberty, trading a limited contributor for Braxton is a low-risk, high reward proposition.
"Kara is a All-Star player with championship experience that has been successful in the league for a number of years and will make an immediate impact on the court," said Liberty coach John Whisenant in a release. "We feel this move increases our depth in the post and sets us up for further success as we look to build a championship caliber team."
This clearly helps the Liberty by adding another rebounder, particularly defensively - New York is fourth in the Eastern Conference in second chance points allowed and adding another defensive rebounder will help limit opponents' offensive rebounding opportunities that lead to those second chance points. With both Quanitra Hollingsworth and Kia Vaughn making huge strides this season in addition to Plenette Pierson having a strong year, Braxton will add another post option in the rotation that can score efficiently.
But perhaps more importantly to making a playoff run in the East, Braxton adds another big body to help defend the likes of centers Tina Charles and Sylvia Fowles.
Whatever attitude problems Braxton has had, the Liberty have to be pretty excited about this acquisition.