Mercury trade for All-Star Danielle Robinson

The Phoenix Mercury added to its roster on Tuesday by trading for three-time All-Star point guard Danielle Robinson.

The five-year pro was acquired from the San Antonio Stars in exchange for reserve center Isabelle Harrison and the Mercury’s fifth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft. Harrison averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game for the Mercury in 2016.

Robinson was sidelined in 2016 due to an injury, but is currently playing for Mersin in Turkey. Through four games, Robinson has averaged 11.8 points, 5.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.

“There are not a lot of players who immediately improve your team offensively and defensively, but Danielle Robinson is one of those players,” said Mercury GM Jim Pitman in a press release. “She is an elite point guard and legitimate All-Star in this league who can create for herself and others, and whose game really compliments Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner. This is an acquisition that absolutely helps with our goal to win a championship in 2017.”

Robinson joined the WNBA in 2011 after getting picked No. 6 overall out of Oklahoma. Before her injury, she was known for her speed and her ability to distribute the ball, as she averaged a league-leading 6.7 assists per game in 2013.

The 5-foot-9, 125-pound Robinson kept up her good play in 2014, when she improved her scoring by averaging a career-high 12.9 points per game and was named to the the All-WNBA Second Team.

Robinson joins a talented roster that includes former WNBA MVP Taurasi and three-time WNBA All-Star Griner, yet, despite its talent, the Mercury had a disappointing season in 2016. Phoenix finished 16-18 but still managed to make the WNBA Playoffs, and ended the season by getting swept by the Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.