Jantel Lavender looking forward to clean slate with Sky

Power forward and center Jantel Lavender played the last eight seasons with the Sparks.

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After spending the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, center Jantel Lavender is looking forward to a clean slate this season with the Sky. 

The Sparks traded Lavender to the Sky on Monday for a 2020 second-round pick. The move released some much-needed cap space for the Sparks, while the Sky added a key player who could have an immediate impact on their frontcourt.

Lavender understands trades are part of the business.

“I’m just excited to get to work,” Lavender said Tuesday at Sky media day. “It’s a new opportunity, kind of like a clean slate for me to just start and be who I am.”

Lavender was also looking forward to reuniting with guards Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley.

Lavender, who shared a hotel room with Vandersloot during the 2011 WNBA Draft, played with the Sky point guard for two seasons in Europe. Lavender also has played several seasons with Quigley overseas.  

The three have become so close that Lavender attended Quigley and Vandersloot’s wedding in December. 

Since she has already built an on-court rapport with Vandersloot and Quigley, Lavender feels like she’s in a good position to have immediate success with the Sky. 

“About 50 percent of basketball is having chemistry on the court,” Lavender said. “And I think when you have that, it’s just steps you take after.

“Having played with Courtney and knowing how she plays as a point guard and also playing with Allie for so long, I feel like I know their places on the floor. I know how to maneuver around them.”

Her familiarity at point guard and also her versatility to play power forward and center is part of the reason general manager and coach James Wade pursued Lavender. 

“We needed more depth at the four, five spots,” Wade said. “And I think we needed players who are probably farther along [in their development] like veterans.”

Lavender understands the state of the Sky. From an outside perspective, she saw young and athletic players whose lack of experience led to its demise in 2018. 

But as a grizzled veteran with a WNBA title on her resumé, Lavender believes she can be a mentor for the younger players. 

“This team has such great potential to win a championship,” Lavender said. “And I think that maybe some leadership could help, or maybe somebody who has that experience could help.”

Less than 24 hours after the Sky acquired Lavender, Wade traded center

Alaina Coates to the Minnesota Lynx for a 2020 third-round draft pick. 

Coates, a former second overall pick who served as a backup center to Stefanie Dolson, averaged 3.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 32 games last season. 

With the move, the Sky’s training-camp roster stands at 15 players. Wade still needs to finalize his 12-player roster by Thursday.

“It’s coming together,” Wade said of his team. “We’re closer to finding our identity.” 

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