3 Mock Drafts "Side by Each"

[bballnut90]

And here's a current one, courtesy of "Land of 10," whose main focus apparently is on The G1G.
Link to whole story: 2018 WNBA Mock Draft: First-round projections, top players, order (April 10, 2018)

First-Round Projections:

1. Las Vegas Aces: A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina: Wilson led South Carolina to a national championship in 2017 and this year was National Player of the Year. As a senior, Wilson averaged 22.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
2. Indiana Fever: Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State: Mitchell finished her career with 3,402 points, the second-most all-time in NCAA Division I history.
3. Chicago Sky: Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee/Turkey: DeShields played two seasons at Tennessee before playing with the Turkish professional team Cukurova.
4. Chicago Sky: Azura Stevens, C, UConn: Stevens declared for the draft, skipping what would have been her senior season. She averaged 14.7 points per game.
5. Seattle Storm: Jordin Canada, G, UCLA: The UCLA star led her team with 17 points per game while also totaling 248 assists.
6. Dallas Wings: Gabby Williams, F, UConn
7. Washington Mystics: Kia Nurse, G, UConn
8. Indiana Fever: Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi State
9. Connecticut Sun: Lexie Brown, G, Duke
10. New York Liberty: Maria Vadeeva, C, Russia
11. Los Angeles Sparks: Marie Gulich, C, Oregon State
12. Phoenix Mercury: Monique Billings, F, UCLA

- Could Azura be joining Ms.Dolson in Chicago?
- Looks like he has Garry and Kia going back-to-back.

The Liberty, under Bill Laimbeer, have a number of post players, as well as a number of guards (Seemingly playing a 2-post, three guard set). Maybe go after a forward like Monique Billings instead?

Stay tuned.

I don't see why Chicago would take Stevens at 4 over Williams or Vivians unless they project Azura to be a PF in the league. Chicago needs help on the wing, they are fine at center with Dolson and Coates. Adding in Stevens creates somewhat of a logjam there. Vivians would fit in well as a great shooter, and Williams would help out big time with defense.


I do think Stevens should go #2 over Kelsey Mitchell. The Fever already have a slew of capable scoring guards (Mitchell, Wheeler, Johnson) but they need help inside. Stevens gives them a strong post player with inside out ability who they can build the front court around. Vivians would be a great pick if she's available at 8. I think she could end up being one of the best pros from this draft.

I also think Gulich or Vadeeva would be a huge steal at 11 for the Sparks if they are on the table. Gulich very good defensively and could help big time defending Fowles inside (an area LA really struggled with in the finals). Vadeeva is known to be a physical post, who would also help out in this area.

Not necessarily the most top heavy, but definitely the deepest draft class we've had in years, possibly since 2001. I wouldn't be surprised if 15-20 players have strong careers in the W.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

WNBA mock draft: Projecting all three rounds

ESPN with a full three round mock draft. Lots of talent this season. Some very good second round players will not make rosters this season, Two teams are going to get steals with Gulich and Vadeeva.

 

[psconn]

WNBA mock draft: Projecting all three rounds

ESPN with a full three round mock draft. Lots of talent this season. Some very good second round players will not make rosters this season, Two teams are going to get steals with Gulich and Vadeeva.

Eli says the Sun have a "...fascinating frontcourt log jam." And he remarks about how much improved Atlanta will be. As I said above...

That's the $64,000 question this year. I suspect she may come off the bench initially.

The starters down the stretch were Jaz, AT, JJ, Courtney and Strick. Tuck was the top scorer early in the season but suffered an injury and was off her game when she eventually returned. If Tuck has a great camp, she might start in place of Strick.

The challenge will be maintaining floor balance and spacing without forcing JJ to the perimeter to much on offense, I think. With Chiney and AT in the game at the same time that is more difficult.

Overall, the Sun team should be capable of running with any team in the league and should continue their high pace style. I'm hoping the quality 3 point threat will be there again. I would also expect them to be really good off the boards. JJ, Chiney, AT and Court are all terrific rebounders.

Barring injuries, the Sun should be a better team this year. The problem is other teams, particularly Atlanta, will be much better. There are no easy games in the W, and no one will be looking past the Sun this summer.

 

[psconn]

I don't think I've seen a single mock draft that doesn't have the Sun getting Kia or Lexie. I can be OK with either. If it's Lexie she will have an awesome mentor in fellow Dukie Jaz Thomas.

 

[Geew1992]

That's the $64,000 question this year. I suspect she may come off the bench initially.

The starters down the stretch were Jaz, AT, JJ, Courtney and Strick. Tuck was the top scorer early in the season but suffered an injury and was off her game when she eventually returned. If Tuck has a great camp, she might start in place of Strick.

The challenge will be maintaining floor balance and spacing without forcing JJ to the perimeter to much on offense, I think. With Chiney and AT in the game at the same time that is more difficult.

Overall, the Sun team should be capable of running with any team in the league and should continue their high pace style. I'm hoping the quality 3 point threat will be there again. I would also expect them to be really good off the boards. JJ, Chiney, AT and Court are all terrific rebounders.

Barring injuries, the Sun should be a better team this year. The problem is other teams, particularly Atlanta, will be much better. There are no easy games in the W, and no one will be looking past the Sun this summer.

Don’t know if this has been said, but Bria Holmes won’t be playing this year. She is pregnant.

 

[psconn]

Don’t know if this has been said, but Bria Holmes won’t be playing this year. She is pregnant.

True, but with Angel back and Renee in the mix it won't matter much to the overall improvement.

 

[triaddukefan]

I don't think I've seen a single mock draft that doesn't have the Sun getting Kia or Lexie. I can be OK with either. If it's Lexie she will have an awesome mentor in fellow Dukie Jaz Thomas.

Not sure how I feel about the prospects of Brown in Eastern Connecticut

For some reason or another...... my favorite Duke players end up there ... Thomas, Williams, Gray, Black .... perhaps Brown

 

[psconn]

Not sure how I feel about the prospects of Brown in Eastern Connecticut

For some reason or another. my favorite Duke players end up there ... Thomas, Williams, Gray, Black .... perhaps Brown

Colorful statement. I'm no Duke fan but I was very sad to see Williams and Gray go away. I don't think it was necessary in either case.

 

[Shades]

Not sure how I feel about the prospects of Brown in Eastern Connecticut

For some reason or another. my favorite Duke players end up there ... Thomas, Williams, Gray, Black .... perhaps Brown

Maybe that’s a factor that should be considered in the mock drafts. The current coach and GM didn’t draft either EWill or Chelsea Gray. They were both drafted by Anne Donovan. Could be a coincidence, but EWill and Gray are really good players. Maybe Miller doesn’t like Duke players.

 

[triaddukefan]

Colorful statement. I'm no Duke fan but I was very sad to see Williams and Gray go away. I don't think it was necessary in either case.

Well the 1st round pick they acquired for Williams ended up being Rachel Banham

That Gray trade helped both teams...... but in retrospect they could have kept her and drafted Jones with the #3 or #4 pick. Oh well

 

[psconn]

Maybe that’s a factor that should be considered in the mock drafts. The current coach and GM didn’t draft either EWill or Chelsea Gray. They were both drafted by Anne Donovan. Could be a coincidence, but EWill and Gray are really good players. Maybe Miller doesn’t like Duke players.

Unlikely...

 

[psconn]

Well the 1st round pick they acquired for Williams ended up being Rachel Banham

That Gray trade helped both teams. but in retrospect they could have kept her and drafted Jones with the #3 or #4 pick. Oh well

Don't remind me.

 

[Shades]

Unlikely...

Oh yeah, I forgot about her. She was another Donovan acquisition.

 

[Orangutan]

I don't see why Chicago would take Stevens at 4 over Williams or Vivians unless they project Azura to be a PF in the league. Chicago needs help on the wing, they are fine at center with Dolson and Coates. Adding in Stevens creates somewhat of a logjam there. Vivians would fit in well as a great shooter, and Williams would help out big time with defense.

I think Stevens is a 4 and Chicago has an opening there after Jessica Breland left in free agency. Really, Chicago needs help at 2, 3, and 4. Only at 1 (Sloot) and 5 (Dolson) are they set. Quigley is a solid 2 but she'll be 32 this summer and doesn't have much athleticism to spare if she starts to lose a step.

 

[Shades]

I think Stevens is a 4 and Chicago has an opening there after Jessica Breland left in free agency. Really, Chicago needs help at 2, 3, and 4. Only at 1 (Sloot) and 5 (Dolson) are they set. Quigley is a solid 2 but she'll be 32 this summer and doesn't have much athleticism to spare if she starts to lose a step.

Coates has looked decent overseas, so if she’s good enough to start at center, they could consider using Dolson at the PF. That’d be an awfully beefy and maybe a little too slow of a front line.

 

[JavaMan]

Kia is more valuable than 8/9... way more!

 

[Shades]

Kia is more valuable than 8/9... way more!

The # isn’t that important. What’s important is going to a club that’s a good fit for you so you stand half a chance of surviving. Look at Chong. In the third round, she went to one place where she fit in nicely and survived a season. She could be gone this year though.

 

[psconn]

Maybe that’s a factor that should be considered in the mock drafts. The current coach and GM didn’t draft either EWill or Chelsea Gray. They were both drafted by Anne Donovan. Could be a coincidence, but EWill and Gray are really good players. Maybe Miller doesn’t like Duke players.

I don't buy into the "Coach X doesn't like players from school Y" statements. Coaches don't like losing. They will go after the players they believe will most benefit the team. Their jobs ultimately depend on it.

 

[Shades]

I don't buy into the "Coach X doesn't like players from school Y" statements. Coaches don't like losing. They will go after the players they believe will most benefit the team. Their jobs ultimately depend on it.

Well he kinda muffed by not keeping all the Duke players

 

[Shades]

Vadeeva thinks she’s going 7th or 8th. I wonder if her agent told her that or she’s going by mock draft? I don’t think I’ve noticed a mock draft that had her at 7.

 

[JavaMan]

The # isn’t that important. What’s important is going to a club that’s a good fit for you so you stand half a chance of surviving. Look at Chong. In the third round, she went to one place where she fit in nicely and survived a season. She could be gone this year though.

Agreed. However, the players don't get to pick tonight, the GMs do. I'm not saying that she should go before a team's "perfect fit" player. If I was a GM, I would place A LOT of value on Kia Nurse as a WNBA asset, either with my team or another team. She is going to be a force in the W for many years.

 

[Shades]

The Sun trade their 2018 #15 pick + their 2019 second round pick for Bria Holmes

Sun Acquire Bria Holmes - Connecticut Sun

 

[hoopsdiva]

The Sun trade their 2018 #15 pick + their 2019 second round pick for Bria Holmes

Sun Acquire Bria Holmes - Connecticut Sun

With Bria Holmes out for the season (pregnancy, and congrats to her ), I don't see the point of this trade . Someone please explain to me.

 

[psconn]

With Bria Holmes out for the season (pregnancy, and congrats to her ), I don't see the point of this trade . Someone please explain to me.

Miller obviously feels he is getting a discount by accepting the fact that she will not be playing this season. He also has a lot to choose from at guard this training camp and may feel little pressure to improve that position.

 

[ScarlettB]

I was hoping Brown would end up in LA..... would have loved to see a Gray-Brown-Beard lineup.... but since they signed that guard from Rutgers..... cant see them using a pick on another guard.

"That guard from Rutgers" - I assume you mean Cappie Pondexter who historically has been one of the best players in the WNBA? I know she is coming into the twilight of her career, but she is a known quantity in the league and a great acquisition for LA.

As for the draft, while I know she is not projected to go in the first round, I believe the team that selects Tyler Scaife will be getting a really terrific guard in the same mold as Cappie.