2017 WNBA Draft (April 13) Preview

[lethalweapon3]

Say, does somebody feel a Draft? The WNBA Draft is right around the corner (April 13 at 7:00 PM Eastern, first-round on ESPN2, latter rounds on ESPN U).

With a few early-entry candidates exploring the lay of the land and electing to stick around for their senior seasons, 2017 is not going to be a terribly deep draft, talent-wise (set your calendar, though, because 2018 will be bonkers). But there are plenty of players that can contribute off the bench in the near-term, and the Atlanta Dream have an opportunity to strategically improve their depth in at least one position on the floor, if not more.

Waiting in the Angel Wings? – As we know, there will likely be no Angel McCoughtry suiting up in the baby-blue-and-red this season. Following in the footsteps of standout players like Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker, the WNBA superstar plans to take off a full year, getting some well-deserved rest and recuperating from the wear-and-tear of year-round high-level hoops (she’s finishing up her play in Russia this month).

Bria Holmes, who emerged late last season as a reliable rookie during Atlanta’s playoff run, is most likely to get the lion’s share of Angel’s minutes. Additionally, Damiris Dantas should be primed to make major contributions, after being suspended for all of 2016 so she could play exclusively in Brazil. If veteran Matee Ajavon makes the opening-day roster, the small forward spot is fairly set. If not, then a second- or third-round selection might be able to fill out the final spot, at least on a short-term basis.

Late-round forward options where Atlanta picks (19^th overall in the second round, 31^st in the third round) include Norcross’ Shayla Cooper (Ohio State), along with Drake power forward Lizzy Wendell and Jessica Jackson of Arkansas. Each can stretch the floor with midrange shots, although Shayla’s emotional flameouts when times get tough could remind many fans of McCoughtry and Tiffany Hayes at their worst. If the Dream goes this route, this should be a selection that helps fill scoring and rebounding gaps this year, and gets developed to become a key sixth-woman for 2018, when McCoughtry returns.

A Lyttle heir apparent? – As far as we can tell, Sancho Lyttle will return from Europe and serve as a defensive anchor for a Dream team that sorely needs to create stops inside, especially without all-world defender Angel in the picture. However, Lyttle is in her 30s and hasn’t played a full WNBA season, due to injuries and/or international commitments, in some time. Unsatisfied with Reshanda Gray at power forward, the Dream parted ways in the offseason and brought back Aneika Morello (née Henry). But the latter struggled mightily last season with the Connecticut Sun. Dantas can play the stretch-four role, but another backup at either the 3- or 4-spot would be helpful.

To acquire a future star that waits in the wings until Lyttle is either traded or her contract runs out, means using the first-round pick (7^th) on a blue-chip prospect. Northwestern’s Nia Coffey is probably the top player for the 4-spot coming into the draft. Super-sized pick-and-popper Chantel Osahor, also by far the NCAA’s leading rebounder, helped all-time NCAA scorer Kelsey Plum (probable #1 overall pick, by San Antonio) carry Washington deep into the past two NCAA tourneys, and is rising up draft boards. But neither would likely be the “best player available” where the Dream sit, so a trade-down deal may be possible to acquire their services.

Shoot… we need Shooters! – You’ve tired of the Dream being among the league’s worst perimeter-shooting teams, pretty much since their inception. Hayes brings a lot of fire to the floor, but not much firepower for a 2-guard along the three-point arc. The sometimes-hot, often-cold Meighan Simmons was brought back in free agency, but there remains a sense that the solution to Atlanta’s longstanding woes will have to come from, um, outside.

Maryland’s Shatori Walker-Kimbrough has the range to boost Atlanta’s jumpshot game, and the build to avoid being a defensive liability on the floor, unlike many hot-shooting collegiate wings. Oregon State’s Sydney Wiese might be a reach as a middle-first-rounder, but is unlikely to fall to Atlanta at #19. If the Dream have any interest in SWK or Wiese, they’ll want to swing a trade-up deal to get them.

Gawd save Queen Elizabeth! – Reigning Most Improved Player awardee Elizabeth Williams won’t be a repeat winner, not unless coach Michael Cooper can figure out a way to double her already league-high floortime. Re-signed on a training camp contract, Markeisha Gatling served well as a stopgap in the back half of last season, but her size can make it tough on Atlanta to live up to their “Run With The Dream” motto.

Gatling will compete for a spot on the 12-woman roster with Morello and second-year pivot Rachel Hollivay. But if Atlanta can have a top-notch young center fall to them at #7, they may leap at the chance to upgrade behind Williams, or even supplant her over time as the team’s steady starter at the 5-spot. The qualifiers for such an upgrade would include Maryland’s Brionna Jones and South Carolina’s Alaina Coates, the latter missing the Gamecocks’ NCAA championship run due to an ankle injury sustained during the SEC tourney.

What’s the Point? – There are only 12 starting point guard spots, and of those, Layshia Clarendon has the least-flashy resume among the group. Still, she established herself well enough to earn the starting nod at least for this upcoming season. But what about beyond 2017? The sole external free agent brought in with a guaranteed deal was Brianna Kiesel. But the third-year guard couldn’t stand out in Tulsa/Dallas, and was waived in mid-season last year.

Any opportunities to use a late-round flier on a guard that could compete with Kiesel for the backup position would be helpful. Notre Dame’s Lindsay Allen lugged the Irish into the Elite Eight and should be available where the Dream pick in the second round. Allen finished second in the NCAA with a sterling 3.57 assist/turnover ratio.

If they wish to use a first-round pick on a short-term apprentice, either of Alexis Jones (Baylor) or Alexis Peterson (Syracuse) is likely to fall to them. Despite being a bit diminutive at 5-foot-7, Peterson finished top-12 in Division I for both scoring and assists.

WNBA First Round Draft Order (as of 4/4/2017, subject to change):

1. San Antonio Stars

2. Chicago Sky (from Washington)

3. Dallas Wings

4. Dallas (from Los Angeles, via Connecticut)

5. San Antonio (from Phoenix)

6. Washington Mystics (from Seattle)

7. ATLANTA DREAM

8. Connecticut Sun (from Indiana)

9. Chicago Sky

10. Dallas (from New York)

11. Los Angeles Sparks (returned back from Dallas)

12. Minnesota Lynx

 

Top Players Available:

(** edited to include Early-Entry Players)

PG: Kelsey Plum (5'8", Washington), Alexis Jones (5'9", Baylor), Alexis Peterson (5'7", Syracuse), Lindsay Allen (5'8", Notre Dame), Leticia Romero (5'8", Florida State)

SG: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (5'11", Maryland), **Allisha Gray (6'0", South Carolina, Washington County GA HS), ** Kaela Davis (6'2", South Carolina, Georgia Tech transfer, Buford HS, Antonio's daughter), Sydney Wiese (6'1", Oregon State), Alexis Prince (6'2", Baylor), Makayla Epps (5'10", Kentucky), Tori Jankoska (5'8", Michigan State), Adrienne Motley (5'9", Miami), Brittney Sykes (5'9", Syracuse), Saniya Chong (5'8", Connecticut)

SF: Nina Davis (5'11", Baylor), Ronni Williams (6'0", Florida), Lizzy Wendell (6'0", Drake), Jennie Simms (6'0", Old Dominion)

PF: Nia Coffey (6'1", Northwestern), Chantel Osahor (6'2", Washington), Jessica Jackson (6'3", Arkansas), Shayla Cooper (6'2", Ohio State, Norcross HS), Hannah Little (6'1", Oakland)

C: Alaina Coates (6'4", South Carolina), Brionna Jones (6'3", Maryland), Erica McCall (6'3", Stanford), Evelyn Akhator (6'3", Kentucky), Breanna Lewis (6'5", Kansas State), Tearra Banks (6'2", Austin Peay)

 

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Hunches for the Dream’s War Room strategies and decisions, ahead of tonight’s WNBA Draft (First Rounds at 7 PM Eastern, ESPN2, later Rounds on ESPNU):

First-Round Pick (#7) – A well-sought big guard not named Allisha Gray is likely to fall to Atlanta at #7. So take whichever one that is: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough or Kaela Davis. SWK is the better shooter and defender, while Davis has superior versatility with her ability to defend small forwards.

Kaela is awfully familiar with the sight lines at McCamish Pavilion, the Dream’s momentary home. Before transferring to SC as a junior, Davis became the fastest Lady Jacket to reach 1,000 career points, and was All-ACC First Team and Georgia College Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. Her transfer decision may rub a handful of Tech fans the wrong way, but they'd get over it quickly if she becomes a star on the WNBA stage.

If neither is available, it’s because one of the top three point guards in the draft became available, and her first name is probably Alexis. Alexis Jones has superior size and shooting chops, while Alexis Peterson fits the traditional ballhandler and distributor role about as well as anyone in the draft.

Although this is perceived to be a mediocre draft talent-wise (very few surefire first-year starters in the bunch), conference foes like Indiana and Connecticut may try to package picks and players to leapfrog Atlanta at #7. Dallas’ #4 pick and San Antonio’s #5 pick may be up for grabs. You never know what Trader Bill Laimbeer is going to do for New York (no first-rounders at the moment), but you can always count on him pulling something.

 

Second-Round Pick (#19) – Never mind the surname; Shayla Cooper seems to fit the outspoken, assertive style of player that Michael Cooper often seeks. Other decent-sized players that could fill the bill at the 4-spot behind Sancho Lyttle with this pick include Jessica Jackson and Chattanooga’s Jasmine Joyner.

If Atlanta defers going the point guard route for this round, the internationally-experienced Leticia Romero, or the never-turnover-prone Lindsay Allen, could be available by the time #19 rolls around.

 

Third-Round Pick (#31) – There’s rarely room-at-the-inn for third-rounders on WNBA rosters, unless a pick can knock people’s socks off during training camp. Centers that could challenge for a backup spot include Lanay Montgomery, Breanna Lewis, Syracuse’s Briana Day (who has a fellow 6-foot-4 twin teammate, Bria), and Tearra Banks.

If they go point guard instead here, maybe go local and choose Miah Spencer, out of N.C. State and DeKalb’s Columbia High. Her Twitter tag name is “ilovelebron_23”, but we won’t hold that against her! :-)

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

I propose my Aunt Petunia's cellar for next year's draft site, in case the WNBA needs to get any cheaper.

Anyhow... welcome the new Dreamgirls!

7th is the highest pick for a Lady Orange player ever. I'd have rather had Peterson, but oh well!

Diamond DeShield's point guard... is this a setup for next season's draft? I'm reaching here, but so, it seems, are they.

Liz Williams' former backup! Will she become her new one, too? #WatchThemWork

~lw3

[Guest]

1 hour ago, lethalweapon3 said:

7th is the highest pick for a Lady Orange player ever. I'd have rather had Peterson, but oh well!

 

I didn't know you were this WNBA hardcore. Nice!