My latest (final?) 2006 WNBA mock draft
Monday 03 April 2006
This mock draft aims to predict where players will go, as opposed to where they should go. Most of this is based on pissing in the wind (aka guesswork) but also on tidbits of insider knowledge that has trickled down to me.
I may do one more mock draft, if I have the time and new info comes to light. I really can’t be bothered doing all of the three rounds as it’s heavily based on combine performance and the like and that info won’t be available till very close to before the draft and I’ll be busy around that time.
#1 Minnesota - Seimone Augustus, LSU, wing
Seimone or Cappie? I’m guessing the Lynx hitch their ride of the Seimone hype machine. Not that the hype is necessarily unwarranted and I think the Lynx think they can get a decent PG later in the first round.
#2 Phoenix - Cappie Pondexter, Rutgers, guard
Rumours have been swirling about whether this pick will be traded or not. Nothing concrete has come out it though and I think Phoenix will still have this pick on draft day. Phoenix gets the athletic combo guard they need.
#3 Charlotte - Sophia Young, Baylor, forward
Charlotte needs guards but I think they’ll view Young’s talent as too good to pass over.
#4 San Antonio - Monique Currie, Duke, wing
Ferdinand is out for the year and Wecker is no guarantee. It’s quite possible that Currie could end up better than both of them.
#5 Los Angeles - Candice Dupree, Temple, post
Yes, this one isn’t particularly logical but certain teams seem to be quite enamoured of Dupree and have told her so. There is a reason why she’s not turning up to draft camp…
#6 Chicago - Tamara James, Miami, wing
Can James make the transition from the 4 to the wing? She’s better equipped than many others and she’s one of the few in this draft with the ability to generate their own offence consistently.
#7 Minnesota - Erin Grant, Texas Tech, point guard
Minnesota gets the PG they need here.
#8 Washington - Latangela Atkinson, North Carolina, forward
With UNC’s performance this year, Atkinson’s stock has skyrocketed. She’s a great athlete, defender and has a good floor game. She does need to develop consistent shooting range if she wants to elevate her game to the next level.
#9 Indiana - Ty’esha Fluker, Tennessee, post
Indiana does need a big player and in a draft bereft of many, Fluker may get the call-up this early.
#10 Charlotte - Nikki Blue, UCLA, guard
Blue has the skills but her decision making is suspect. If she can improve her decision making, she may be a steal down here.
#11 Seattle - Lisa Willis, UCLA, guard
Willis has what Seattle needs - size, defence and shooting. Whether she’ll put in 100% every time is another story but you can’t afford to coast in the WNBA.
#12 New York - Barbara Turner, Connecticut, forward
Turner has raised her stock by good numbers in the NCAA tournament. We all know Blaze likes picking ‘obscure’ players from ‘small’ schools in big conferences.
#13 Sacramento - Sherill Baker, Georgia, guard
Baker will be a decent replacement for Newton and will complement Lawson nicely at the 2 guard spot.
#14 Sacramento - Liz Shimek, Michigan State, forward
Maybe undersized at the 4 for the WNBA but Shimek is the cliched hardworking forward and Whiz likes that sort of thing.
Comments
there is a trade being discussed sending becky hammon to phoenix for #2.
Posted by: Anonymous | Wednesday 05 April 2006