The 2021 WNBA Draft was filled with surprises!
For some Western Convention groups, such surprises proved advantageous. Different groups selected to not reap the benefits of different organizations’ shocking selections.
So, which Western Convention squads earned an A for his or her draft evening efforts?
Dallas Wings
First spherical: Charli Collier (No. 1), Awak Kuier (No. 2), Chelsea Dungee (No. 5)
Second spherical: Dana Evans (No. 13)
Grade: A-plus
The Dallas Wings and their followers needs to be hovering! With the primary two picks within the 2021 draft, the Wings chosen two potentially-generational bigs in Charli Collier and Awak Kuier.
In comparison with the final huge who went No. 1 within the draft — A’ja Wilson (2018) — Collier just isn’t a surefire celebrity. She notably struggled towards higher-level competitors in faculty. But, the potential is actually there. Such potential is perhaps there much more for Kuier, a 19-year-old who performs with enviable fluidity and poise. Sacrificing Katie Lou Samuelson so as to have the ability to purchase each Collier and Kueir, somewhat than having to accept one of many two, was an absolute win.
And Dallas added two extra attractive abilities! Chelsea Dungee is a cutthroat scorer who can elevate the offensive potential of Dallas’ second unit by replicating a lot of what Arike Ogunbowale does with the starters. Getting Dana Evans at No. 13, when she was projected as top-10 expertise, was a present. Like Dungee, Evans will inject the Wings offense with additional pleasure and aptitude.
Along with including 4 professional-caliber gamers, Dallas flipped the No. 7 decide to the Los Angeles Sparks for LA’s 2022 first spherical decide. The Wings did effectively to maximise the worth of this asset. Not solely would drafting a fifth participant have induced an undesirable roster crunch, however the Sparks’ 2022 first rounder additionally may very well be the next choice, and perhaps even a lottery decide. (Extra on that in LA’s part beneath.)
Las Vegas Aces
First spherical: Iliana Rupert (No. 12)
Second spherical: Future Slocum (No. 14)
Third spherical: Kionna Jeter (No. 36)
Grade: B
The Las Vegas Aces had a really stable draft. However might it have been excellent?
Because the Aces have already got finest huge rotation within the league — with A’ja Wilson, Liz Cambage and Dearica Hamby — it might appear a bit curious that they chose one other huge with their first-round choice. Nevertheless, as Swish Appeal’s Eric Nemchock discussed in his mock draft, Rupert is wise future-focused addition for the Aces.
Moreover, the 2020 WNBA Finals confirmed that Vegas might use a dependable fourth huge. With Cambage absent and Hamby injured, the Aces struggled to outlive within the uncommon minutes that Wilson rested. If she comes over to the WNBA this season, Rupert gives high-quality frontcourt insurance coverage.
Within the second spherical, Las Vegas opted for a Kayla McBride alternative. Future Slocum can function a McBride-lite together with her Three-point capturing and self-creation skills. But, by favoring his bully-ball system over a space-and-pace fashion, head coach Invoice Laimbeer by no means maximized McBride. Will Slocum be equally underutilized, particularly since Vegas already added extra shooters by way of free company with the signings of Chelsea Grey and Riquna Williams?
Figuring out Laimbeer’s fealty to his philosophy, ought to the Aces have as an alternative doubled down on their strengths by drafting a participant who exudes that bodily, grinding ethos? Nemchock’s suggestion of DiJonai Carrington would appear to have been an ideal match. Whereas her protection is already pro-ready, the prospect of Carrington refining her offensive sport below the tutelage of Angel McCoughtry would have been tremendous intriguing.
With the ultimate decide within the draft, the Aces took a flyer on Kionna Jeter. The primary Towson Tiger to be drafted, the high-scoring Jeter ought to present beneficial guard play for the Aces throughout coaching camp.
Los Angeles Sparks
First spherical: Jasmine Walker (No. 7), Stephanie Watts (No. 10)
Second spherical: Arella Guirantes (No. 22)
Third spherical: Ivana Raca (No. 28), Aina Ayuso (No. 34)
Grade: B-minus
In his first draft as normal supervisor, Derek Fisher has undertaken an underrated gamble.
Based on his post-draft comments, Fisher clearly recognized Jasmine Walker as his must-have participant. To make sure Walker would put on purple and gold, Fisher swung a take care of the Dallas Wings, receiving the No. 7 decide on this 12 months’s draft in alternate for the Sparks’ 2022 first spherical decide. The Sparks and Wings additionally swapped 2022 second-round choices.
Whereas Fisher obtained Walker, will the Sparks be sending a lottery decide to Wings in 2022? At first, this proposition appears absurd. After all the Sparks will make the playoffs! Nevertheless, a fast perusal of the reshuffled rosters reminds considered one of what number of stacked groups might be competing for the eight playoff spots. LA seems poised to battle for one of many decrease 4 playoff seeds. With a key damage or two, their playoff hopes may very well be in jeopardy, and, in flip, Dallas might need a lottery ball within the Rhyne Howard sweepstakes.
“Early on, we recognized Jasmine Walker as a seamless match for our roster, each as a participant and an individual … She’s additionally probably the greatest defensive gamers and rebounders on this draft class. We’re ecstatic so as to add Jasmine Walker to the Sparks.” @derekfisher @LASparks #WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/9FimIsgiE8
— Alabama Girls’s Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) April 16, 2021
A contemporary four with a Three-point stroke, Walker ought to match with Fisher’s “roster that emphasizes versatility, athleticism, and players who can make plays for others and defend multiple positions.”
Nevertheless, the Sparks had the chance to pick out a participant with the next upside, because the likes of Rennia Davis, Dana Evans and Natasha Mack, all of whom Eric Nemchock rated higher than Walker, considerably surprisingly slid. Regardless of Fisher’s infatuation with Walker, would he have been higher off calling an audible and deciding on the dynamic Davis at No. 7? The Sparks once more handed on Evans and Mack at No. 10, after they chosen Stephanie Watts, who Nemchock had identified as a late second rounder.
After these questionable first spherical strikes, the Sparks skilled some important fortune with their first second-round choice as Arella Guirantes, a widely-considered top-five expertise, remained accessible at No. 22. It nonetheless is curious that the Sparks didn’t prioritize Guirantes with considered one of their first spherical picks, as she appears to fill a transparent want for LA. She ought to be capable of slot in as a dynamic scoring guard behind Kristi Toliver and Erica Wheeler.
The Sparks’ draft would have made much more sense if they’d chosen Guirantes at No. 7, Walker at No. 10 and Watts at No. 22. Whereas the method was puzzling, and dangerous on account of dropping their 2022 first spherical decide, the Sparks did exit the second spherical with three gamers who can contribute to their 2021 crew.
As a result of the Sparks had 14 gamers on their coaching camp roster earlier than the draft, it’s unlikely that their two third rounders will make the ultimate roster. Nonetheless, Ivana Raca, together with her capability to play within the put up and on the perimeter, is an attention-grabbing roll of the cube, regardless of her slender stature.
Minnesota Lynx
First spherical: Rennia Davis (No. 9)
Grade: A
Did Cheryl Reeve do it once more? Or, perhaps extra precisely, did the basketball gods once more bless Reeve and the Minnesota Lynx?
For the third-straight draft, the Lynx appears to have snagged an absolute steal! It will have been attention-grabbing to see Reeve and firm’s response when Rennia Davis, a consensus top-five expertise, remained on the board at No. 9. Had been they much more hyped than Davis and her household?
If different organizations are pissed off with the seamless evolution of the Lynx dynasty, they will solely blame themselves for passing on Naphessa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield and, now, Davis.
Davis profiles as a contemporary WNBA celebrity — a protracted, athletic wing who can rating from everywhere in the flooring and disrupt issues on the defensive finish. After all, it’s removed from assured that she’s going to attain her final upside. However to get a participant at No. 9 with that form of potential is great worth! Moreover, the Lynx don’t want Davis to be an instantaneous celebrity. As an alternative, her versatility ought to permit her to contribute to the 2021 Lynx in a number of lineup constructions.
Phoenix Mercury
Third spherical: Ciera Johnson (No. 32)
Grade: C
A grade of C just isn’t meant as a demerit for the Phoenix Mercury or Ciera Johnson. But, with solely a single third-round choice, it’s arduous to award the Mercury a extra beneficiant grade. It’s additionally reflective of the cruel, unlucky actuality of at the moment’s WNBA.
As Charlotte Carroll decided in her draft pick value assessment for The Athletic, no No. 32 choice has carved out a gradual profession within the WNBA. Roster dimension and wage cap constraints, greater than an absence of expertise, will make it troublesome for Johnson to defy that pattern. Nonetheless, the Mercury did want one other huge to spherical out their coaching camp roster. The skilled, mature Johnson ought to completely fill this function.
Phoenix additionally did effectively to signal the undrafted Tiana Mangakahia. That head coach Sandy Brondello is also the top coach of the Australian Opals possible helped the Mercury shortly ink Mangakahia, an Australian nationwide, to a coaching camp contract. Though unlikely to make this 12 months’s crew, she might discover herself on a future Mercury crew, particularly after some further seasoning with the Opals and, in all probability, within the NBL.
Seattle Storm
First spherical: Aaliyah Wilson (No. 11; traded to Indiana Fever for Kennedy Burke)
Second spherical: Kiana Williams (No. 18), N’dea Jones (No. 23)
Third spherical: Natalie Kucowski (No. 35)
Grade: B-plus
At first look, it looks as if the Seattle Storm actually don’t worth draft picks.
In the course of the free company interval, they despatched the No. 1 decide, which they acquired by buying and selling Natasha Howard to the New York Liberty, to the Dallas Wings for Katie Lou Samuelson. Contemplating Samuelson has struggled to be a constant contributor in two WNBA seasons, that alternate appeared wildly out of steadiness.
On draft evening, they considerably puzzlingly chosen Aaliyah Wilson, who was graded as a third-round talent by our Eric Nemchock, with the No. 11 choice earlier than sending her to the Indiana Fever for the rights to Kennedy Burke. Whereas Burke is extra prone to contribute to a Storm crew chasing one other championship than Wilson, swapping a primary spherical decide for Burke, the No. 22 decide within the 2019 WNBA Draft, appeared a bit wealthy.
Contemplating the Fever already had 14 gamers on their coaching camp roster earlier than making six choices on draft evening, there additionally was a not insignificant probability that the Fever would half methods with Burke earlier than the beginning of the common season, doubtlessly permitting the Storm to learn from a launched former Fever participant because the Atlanta Dream did with Betnijah Laney final season. Even when Burke didn’t shake unfastened from Indy, the competitors for roster spots throughout the league suggests one other participant of comparable high quality would turn into accessible. In brief, did Seattle must sacrifice a first-round draft decide to amass a participant like Burke?
Nevertheless, the commerce for Burke did carry some sneaky worth for the Storm. According to Her Hoops Stats, a 2021 late first spherical draft decide will make $64,375. Burke’s 2021 contract is for $58,710.
Moreover, whereas it’s extremely unlikely that Seattle knew Kiana Williams would nonetheless be on the board at No. 18, drafting Williams with the No. 18 decide, as an alternative of choosing her with the No. 11 decide, as many would have predicted pre-draft, additionally advantages the Storm financially. As a second spherical decide, Williams will make $61,543, somewhat than $64,375, if she makes the crew.
As Williams meets Seattle’s present and future wants, she ought to make the squad, and thus be thought of fairly the steal on the No. 18 decide. Evaluated as a first-round talent by Nemchock, Williams offers the Storm an alternate reserve level guard possibility. With Sue Chook prone to miss video games on account of load administration and Jordin Canada hampered by her smaller dimension and lack of capturing in sure matchups, Williams can function larger, surer-shooting backup for Chook, and even play alongside Canada in some conditions.
That the Storm parlayed a primary and second spherical decide right into a confirmed WNBA rotation participant and a nationwide championship-winning prospect, all whereas saving $eight,487, is a few fairly spectacular machinations by newly-elevated general manager Talisa Rhea.
With the No. 23 decide, Seattle snagged N’dea Jones, who might re-inject the Storm with a few of the defensive punch they misplaced with the offseason departures of Natasha Howard and Alysha Clark. Her size, athleticism and rebounding prowess counsel she will be able to contribute on the WNBA degree, though will probably be troublesome for her to sneak onto a Storm roster that included 13 gamers earlier than draft evening. Due to these circumstances, Natalie Kucowski’s keep in Seattle is unlikely to final past coaching camp.