Sky acquire All-Star center Jantel Lavender from Sparks

The Sky acquired veteran center Jantel Lavender from the Sparks for a 2020 second-round draft pick on Monday.

Lavender is a versatile player who adds depth at the power forward and center positions. Last season, she averaged 5.2 points on 42.8% shooting with the Sparks. She also recorded 3.7 rebounds per game.

But the Sky were attracted to Lavender for more than just her skillset.

Lavender, who was picked fifth overall in the 2011 draft, brings veteran leadership and championship experience to the Sky. Over the last eight seasons, Lavender helped the Sparks to two WNBA Finals berths, including a title in 2016.

“We thought it was important to add another veteran to our core, especially a player that has championship experience like Jantel does,” Wade said.

The Sky have eight players with one year or less experience on their current training camp roster.

“That’s a lot of development,” Wade said of his young roster. “We want to get to a point where we have some veterans that can help them and guide them, and help them out.”

Throughout training camp, Wade repeatedly said the Sky were banking on center Stefanie Dolson to have a bounce-back season after she declined in 2018.

“We need her,” Wade previously told the Sun-Times. “She has to be a good player for us, she has to be better for us to be a successful team.”

Lavender could start at center in place of Dolson, though Wade was hesitant to jump to conclusions about his starting five.

“Stefanie still has the same importance on our team,” he said. “I don’t put a lot of value in the starters and bench players. I put a lot of value in the team ... We’re just trying to build winning. Starters and non-starters, we have 200 minutes and they’re all going to contribute to it.”

The Sky’s training camp roster stands at 16 players. Wade has until Thursday to trim it to 12.

The Sky open their season Saturday in Minneapolis against the Lynx.

“Our team is getting there,” Wade said. “We’re almost there. I expect by our first game everybody is here, comfortable and we’re ready to go.”

This and that

• Guard Diamond DeShields, who missed the Sky’s two preseason games against the Fever due to a hamstring injury, is back to full strength. DeShields seemed faster and more aggressive while driving to the basket in the Sky’s scrimmage against China on Monday compared to 2018.
• Guard Kahleah Copper, who suffered a minor hand injury while playing overseas this winter, has been participating in practices. James Wade said the Sky is hoping to receive some good news on her in the next day or two so she can return to full basketball activities. Wade said it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that she could be cleared to play in time for the Sky’s season opener.
• Point guard Jamierra Faulkner is still recovering from a knee injury that sidelined her for the second half of last season. It’s likely that the Sky will put Faulkner on injury waivers to start the season. The move would allow Wade to keep an extra player while Faulkner finishes rehab.