My final 2004 WNBA mock draft
Sunday 18 April 2004
My mock drafts tend to be very wrong but oh well *shrugs*
#1 Phoenix Mercury - Diana Taurasi
Duh
#2 Washington Mystics - Alana Beard
Some of the platypuses think Nicole Powell may turn out to be the best pro out of this class but the Mystics will play it safe.
Other possibilities: Nicole Powell
#3 Charlotte Sting - Nicole Powell
Trudy likes Big V but she's injured. She also likes Whalen but would you pick Whalen over Nicole Powell? Nahhh...
Still the possibility has been brought up about a draft and trade so Charlotte could draft Whalen. However I don't think they'd draft her with the intent to keep her.
Other possibilities: Vanessa Hayden, Alana Beard (if she falls)
#4 Connecticut Sun - Lindsay Whalen
The Sun have sent out different signals over this pick - probably to see what other teams will offer them in a trade. They have several needs to fill - a point guard and someone big in the middle. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sun went for a post but the Whalen hype has been high after the Golden Gophers' dash for glory in the Big Dance. Whalen at the point is a dubious proposition but we'll leave that for another column.
Other possibilities: Nicole Ohlde, Vanessa Hayden
#5 New York Liberty - Vanessa Hayden
A lot of GMs like Hayden and she'd probably be gone by now if not for her injury. She is a big gamble (pun possibly intended) but definitely has the potential to be the post the Libs need. Some might say she's a project but most rookie posts in the WNBA are projects to a certain degree.
Other possibilities: Blaze also reportedly likes Shameka Christon and Nicole Ohlde
#6 Minnesota Lynx - Shameka Christon
Sleeper pick no more - GMs took notice of Christon at pre-draft camp. Svetlana Abrosimova has only shown inconsistency and injuries in the WNBA and Christon could be very nice "insurance" indeed.
#7 Minnesota Lynx - Nicole Ohlde
A young Lauren Jackson she's not but she still has a lot of talent. However it may take a while for it to blossom - Ohlde will have to get stronger and get used to the banging. She'll also have to develop a better jumpshot so that she won't always have to bang bodies to earn points.
Other possibilities: Minnesota may choose to go with two posts for vital post depth - Rebekkah Brunson, Christi Thomas Vanessa Hayden (if she drops). Chandi
#8 Phoenix Mercury - Chandi Jones
Jones' stock plummeted after a very poor pre-draft camp. Not that it should matter too much - WNBA GMs place way too much stock in the pre-draft camp for their own good (Tausha Mills anyone?) but hey, I'm not complaining in this case. DT and Jones would bring showtime to Phoenix. Of course Phoenix need a post badly but this will be a case of talent over need.
Other possibilties: Rebekkah Brunson, Christi Thomas, Vanessa Hayden (if she falls), Nicole Ohlde (if she falls)
#9 Indiana Fever - Christi Thomas
Indiana wants to go big and they'll get a decent one here. Thomas is unlikely to ever be a star but she has solid post fundamentals all round - has some nice post moves, will rebound, block some shots. I'm sure Nat Williams will be able to teach her a thing or two.
Other possibilities: Rebekkah Brunson
#10 Sacramento Monarchs - Kelly Mazzante
The Mazz is probably the most vilified out of all the first rounders. Yes, all she can do is shoot - which is what Sacramento really needs. With more open looks, her percentages may go up and defenders will find it hard to stop that quick release of hers.
Other possibilities: Shameka Christon (if she drops), Chandi Jones (if she drops), Shereka Wright
#11 Detroit Shock - Rebekkah Brunson
Some people might view this as too low and maybe it is but Brunson isn't viewed as highly by GMs compared to fans' POV. She's viewed as being a tad too small to play full time in the block but she also lacks versatility on the perimeter like other 4s of her size (e.g Tina Thompson). Detroit would be a good situation for her to be in - not much pressure, a lot of good talent and coaching around her.
Other possibilities: Kaayla Chones, Stacy Stephens, Iciss Tillis (the ultimate project), Shereka Wright (and anyone else who drops, that should go without saying)
#12 Los Angeles Sparks - Ebony Hoffman
Hoffman was a top 10 talent coming out of high school but has stagnated at USC for the past 4 years - coaching, attitude, whatever. Hoffman has a big body but also has perimeter skills and I think MCoop likes that in a post. She's also from the local area.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Tillis picked here either but Hoffman has shown more desire than her to play on the inside and has a bigger body.
Other possibilities: Kaayla Chones, Stacy Stephens, Iciss Tillis, Shereka Wright (and anyone else who drops, that should go without saying)
#13 Detroit Shock - Shereka Wright
Yeah Bill said she might end up in the second round but as if he'd pass on her. Wright may not have a position yet in the W but she has skills and knows how to win. I'm sure they'll find room for her somewhere.
Other possibilities: See L.A Sparks entry above
And the rest...
#14 Phoenix - Kaayla Chones
#15 Washington - Lindsay Taylor
#16 Connecticut - Stacy Stephens
#17 New York - Iciss Tillis
#18 Charlotte - Toccara Williams
#19 Seattle - Giuliana Mendiola
#20 Minnesota - Tera Bjorklund
#21 San Antonio - Erika Valek
#22 Charlotte - Trina Frierson
#23 Detroit - Jenni Benningfield
#24 Connecticut - Ugo Oha
#25 Los Angeles - Ashley Robinson
#26 Houston - Amisha Carter
#27 Phoenix - Tasha Butts
#28 Washington - Amie Williams
#29 Connecticut - Sara Nord
#30 New York - Latoya Turner
#31 Indiana - Jia Perkins
#32 Detroit - Maria Villaroel
#33 Minnesota - Evan Unrau
#34 San Antonio - Doneeka Hodges
#35 Charlotte - Valerie King
#36 Sacramento - Monique Coker
#37 Houston - Cristina Ciocan
#38 Minnesota - SeSe Helm