bballnut90
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Looking at each of the lotto teams:
1. New York-they need a lot of help. They went 2-20 which is the worst record of all time in WNBA history. The only likely reliable piece they have is Ionescu, everyone else has been very inconsistent. The rest of their guard core is solid but not stellar with Clarendon/Durr/Nurse/Jones. They should take the best player in the draft, which likely looks like it'll be Charli Collier if she comes out. Collier at 6-5 has great inside out skills and could be a great fit alongside Ionescu, especially in the pick and roll. Collier is one of the weaker #1 draft picks though IMO...she likely will need a year or two to get up to speed IMO. If Collier isn't picked #1, I think the next best prospect is Rennia Davis. Davis would likely compete with Walker/Willoughby for playing time and I'm not sure she's better than either. Could always roll the dice with Kuier who I haven't seen but is consistently ranked high.
2. Dallas-they have a ton of talent and could be a powerhouse in a couple of years. Collier would be an absolutely perfect fit here if she declares and somehow falls to #2. IMO they need a big. Alarie didn't play very well as a rookie and Ndour was maybe the most overpriced signing last off season. I haven't seen a ton of her, but I think Natasha Mack would be a good fit here. She's 6-4, athletic and has great length. Kuier could work, too. I'm not as high on Rennia Davis here since Dallas is loaded with wings. A couple of mocks have McDonald at #2, but I think the last thing Dallas needs is a shoot first PG who isn't a great facilitator. They also have Ty Harris who I think may improve significantly by next season. Jefferson has been very injury prone but is stellar when healthy too. This draft really is bad if it feels like pulling teeth for a suitable #2 pick.
3. Atlanta-I think they have a very solid looking roster with Brown/Williams/Carter/Laney/Williams as a potential starting 5, plus Johnson/Stricklen/Billings. I'd probably go with Aari McDonald here who could be an explosive guard off the bench. She'd be a great backup for Williams/Carter. Guirantes would be a solid option here too. Davis fills a similar niche to Stricklen so I don't think she gets picked at 3. Other mocks think height is more of a priority for Atlanta, so either of Kuier or Mack could be chosen.
4. Indiana-I think Rennia Davis is a great fit here. Indiana could use more height on the wing and I think her style of play will pair well backing up Victoria Vivians or Kelsey Mitchell. Indiana has a talented roster if everyone is back and heathy. Depth chart may be:
PG-Wheeler/Allemund
SG-Mitchell/Mitchell
SF-Vivians/Davis
PF-Dupree/Cox
C-McCowan/Achonwa
5. Dallas-if the Wings don't take Mack/Kuier at 2, they'll likely take one of them here. Since I have them taking Mack already, I'd probably go with Arella Guirantes here. Explosive guard from Rutgers usually pan out quite well in the pros, and Guirantes could be one of the better players from this class.
6. Phoenix-DT is likely retiring in the next couple years, Griner doesn't seem fully invested in playing, Diggins just turned 30 and Hartley is coming off an ACL. At 6, I think Phoenix should take Guirantes is if available, but if not my next choice would be Didi Richards of Baylor. Richards isn't a big scorer but she is an outstanding facilitator and defender. I think she'd be an excellent sub off the bench for the Mercury and would help the Big 3 get their shots.
7. Dallas-Awful draft to have 3 picks in the top 7....might be high for her, but I'd pick N'dea Jones here. Strong physical forward who is a terrific rebounder and could provide good minutes off the bench.
8. Chicago-they are loaded on the wing and have a number of solid posts. I'd go with Dana Evans here. Suitable backup for Vandersloot and provides an offensive punch. A little undersized, but we saw how that worked out for Dangerfield last year. Westbrook is also an option, but she feels like much more of an unknown right now.
9. Minnesota-I'm not sure she'll fall this low, but Michaela Onyenwere would be a great fit here as a 3.
10. LA-I'm guessing Evina Westbrook wont drop this far, but if she declares and does, she'd be a good pickup at 10. If she falls this far she likely needs some refinement to her game, but she has the tools to get there as a big 5-11 guard who can create for herself and others. LA also doesn't need production from her in her first year or two.
11. Seattle-the two mocks I've seen have Tiana Mangakahia here, so I'll stick with that trend and pick her.
12. Vegas-I don't see anyone at 12 making an impact on Vegas, but I'll throw out Dijonai Carrington here since she's a big guard who can score and rebound. I think people are underestimating her and she has the tools to be a first rounder.
1. New York-they need a lot of help. They went 2-20 which is the worst record of all time in WNBA history. The only likely reliable piece they have is Ionescu, everyone else has been very inconsistent. The rest of their guard core is solid but not stellar with Clarendon/Durr/Nurse/Jones. They should take the best player in the draft, which likely looks like it'll be Charli Collier if she comes out. Collier at 6-5 has great inside out skills and could be a great fit alongside Ionescu, especially in the pick and roll. Collier is one of the weaker #1 draft picks though IMO...she likely will need a year or two to get up to speed IMO. If Collier isn't picked #1, I think the next best prospect is Rennia Davis. Davis would likely compete with Walker/Willoughby for playing time and I'm not sure she's better than either. Could always roll the dice with Kuier who I haven't seen but is consistently ranked high.
2. Dallas-they have a ton of talent and could be a powerhouse in a couple of years. Collier would be an absolutely perfect fit here if she declares and somehow falls to #2. IMO they need a big. Alarie didn't play very well as a rookie and Ndour was maybe the most overpriced signing last off season. I haven't seen a ton of her, but I think Natasha Mack would be a good fit here. She's 6-4, athletic and has great length. Kuier could work, too. I'm not as high on Rennia Davis here since Dallas is loaded with wings. A couple of mocks have McDonald at #2, but I think the last thing Dallas needs is a shoot first PG who isn't a great facilitator. They also have Ty Harris who I think may improve significantly by next season. Jefferson has been very injury prone but is stellar when healthy too. This draft really is bad if it feels like pulling teeth for a suitable #2 pick.
3. Atlanta-I think they have a very solid looking roster with Brown/Williams/Carter/Laney/Williams as a potential starting 5, plus Johnson/Stricklen/Billings. I'd probably go with Aari McDonald here who could be an explosive guard off the bench. She'd be a great backup for Williams/Carter. Guirantes would be a solid option here too. Davis fills a similar niche to Stricklen so I don't think she gets picked at 3. Other mocks think height is more of a priority for Atlanta, so either of Kuier or Mack could be chosen.
4. Indiana-I think Rennia Davis is a great fit here. Indiana could use more height on the wing and I think her style of play will pair well backing up Victoria Vivians or Kelsey Mitchell. Indiana has a talented roster if everyone is back and heathy. Depth chart may be:
PG-Wheeler/Allemund
SG-Mitchell/Mitchell
SF-Vivians/Davis
PF-Dupree/Cox
C-McCowan/Achonwa
5. Dallas-if the Wings don't take Mack/Kuier at 2, they'll likely take one of them here. Since I have them taking Mack already, I'd probably go with Arella Guirantes here. Explosive guard from Rutgers usually pan out quite well in the pros, and Guirantes could be one of the better players from this class.
6. Phoenix-DT is likely retiring in the next couple years, Griner doesn't seem fully invested in playing, Diggins just turned 30 and Hartley is coming off an ACL. At 6, I think Phoenix should take Guirantes is if available, but if not my next choice would be Didi Richards of Baylor. Richards isn't a big scorer but she is an outstanding facilitator and defender. I think she'd be an excellent sub off the bench for the Mercury and would help the Big 3 get their shots.
7. Dallas-Awful draft to have 3 picks in the top 7....might be high for her, but I'd pick N'dea Jones here. Strong physical forward who is a terrific rebounder and could provide good minutes off the bench.
8. Chicago-they are loaded on the wing and have a number of solid posts. I'd go with Dana Evans here. Suitable backup for Vandersloot and provides an offensive punch. A little undersized, but we saw how that worked out for Dangerfield last year. Westbrook is also an option, but she feels like much more of an unknown right now.
9. Minnesota-I'm not sure she'll fall this low, but Michaela Onyenwere would be a great fit here as a 3.
10. LA-I'm guessing Evina Westbrook wont drop this far, but if she declares and does, she'd be a good pickup at 10. If she falls this far she likely needs some refinement to her game, but she has the tools to get there as a big 5-11 guard who can create for herself and others. LA also doesn't need production from her in her first year or two.
11. Seattle-the two mocks I've seen have Tiana Mangakahia here, so I'll stick with that trend and pick her.
12. Vegas-I don't see anyone at 12 making an impact on Vegas, but I'll throw out Dijonai Carrington here since she's a big guard who can score and rebound. I think people are underestimating her and she has the tools to be a first rounder.
