Lynx score in lottery -- at Lib's expense
Draft lottery ends up a good day for Lynx, more frustration for Liberty fans
You look at the results of Thursday's WNBA draft lottery and are hit by two thoughts immediately. One: Surely the Minnesota Lynx finally will have enough good players to actually make it to the postseason again. Two: What will be the most hilarious rant from a New York Liberty fan?
I've not been above mining gold from disgruntled (and extremely funny) Liberty fans several times in the past, but in his case I'm just aghast along with them.
In May, New York traded its 2010 first-round pick to Minnesota in a three-way deal that sent the Lynx's Noelle Quinn to Los Angeles and brought Los Angeles' Sidney Spencer to New York. It's hard to figure out why Liberty GM Carol Blazejowski even considered this, let alone reached the point of actually doing it.
So, on Thursday, the Lynx won the lottery -- with the pick they got from New York -- and, in the spring, will have their second overall No. 1 selection in five years. They chose LSU's Seimone Augustus at No. 1 in 2006, hit a somewhat unexpected jackpot with all three players taken in 2008 -- Stanford's Candice Wiggins, Tennessee's Nicky Anosike and UConn's Charde Houston -- then added UConn point guard Renee Montgomery, VCU center Quanitra Hollingsworth and North Carolina guard Rashanda McCants this past April.
As long as the top college seniors this season stay healthy, it seems as if UConn center Tina Charles will be the most coveted pick in 2010. I mean, do we somehow need more evidence that UConn players excel in the pros? I don't think so. I'd pick her in less than half a heartbeat.
Stanford's Jayne Appel is potentially next, going to Sacramento, which Thursday matched its highest pick at No. 2. The Monarchs have picked that high four times, which worked out extremely well in 1998 (Ticha Penicheiro) and 1999 (Yolanda Griffith in the ABL-influx year). There were two drafts before the inaugural 1997 season, regular and "elite," and in the former the Monarchs took Pam McGee second. The No. 2 pick (Chantelle Anderson) in 2003 came in what has likely been the least-talented draft class.
The 2010 draft also is not expected to be a strong one, not even when you add in Epiphanny Prince, who tossed away her final season at Rutgers to chase overseas dollars (dollars that might not even materialize as she hoped).
The Lynx hope there will be enough good players to give them at least a decent option with their other first-round pick, at No. 4.
Now, there's no nice way of saying this: In the history of the WNBA, no two franchises have done more inexplicably self-destructive things in player personnel moves than the Liberty and the Lynx.
Now, there's no nice way of saying this: In the history of the WNBA, no two franchises have done more inexplicably self-destructive things in player personnel moves than the Liberty and the Lynx.
The worst WNBA trade of all time is the Lynx's boneheaded gift wrapping of surefire Hall of Famer Katie Smith to grinning Bill Laimbeer and the (former) Detroit Shock. The second-worst WNBA trade was the Liberty's essentially giving away Becky Hammon to San Antonio.
Already contending for the No. 3 slot in "worst trades" is the deal that appears to have cost the Liberty a native New Yorker who projects to be a terrific pro player: Charles.
Sure, it was known that the 2010 draft wouldn't be deep. But … with the potential of players such as Charles, Appel and Prince available if New York had a rough 2009 season (which it did, finishing last in the East) versus what Spencer brought to the team (3.0 ppg in 10.3 minutes per game), this deal didn't make any sense.
New York will have no first-round pick in April. And unless there's some kind of explosion of heretofore underestimated senior talent this winter/spring, it seems unlikely any real difference-makers are going to be available even late in the first round, let alone after that.
It's hard to tell what the Liberty's plan is, long term or short term. You might say New York could consider making a deal … except that phrase, understandably, is blood-curdlingly terrifying to the Liberty faithful because of the aforementioned examples.
I have written this before and truly believe it: It is better for the WNBA to have New York as a strong team with at least one big star. Look, it's New York City, for crying out loud. It would help the league, period. (Can you say "Maya Moore in 2011"?)
But … back to the Lynx. OK, I'm totally serious about this: If I were in the Lynx front office, I would go ask Laimbeer's views on the draft and other personnel moves. Yes, he's quite busy with his job as a Timberwolves assistant, but I'd sure as heck at least try to tap that resource now that he's in Minnesota and still not far removed from the WNBA.
Here's why: The Lynx have good options, but the franchise's moves in the past suggest Minnesota might stumble even with a potential winning hand. Kind of like those "Wheel of Fortune" contestants who land on $5,000, look at a puzzle that clearly has four "m's" and one "r" … yet still pick the "r." Then think, "Oh, yay, I got $5,000!" instead of realizing $20,000 was right in front of them, too.
Maybe I'm being too harsh? Nope. Sure, credit should go to the Lynx for the 2008 draft. But, again, this is the franchise that gave away Katie Smith. There is no statute of limitations on how bad that was. Why not get advice from the very guy who fleeced the Lynx on that deal and now could be in position to help them?
There is a lot of young, valuable talent in Minnesota. Augustus missed this past season with an ACL injury, but she's very much in her athletic prime. Houston seems to be, as a pro, the player UConn coach Geno Auriemma always wanted her to be as a collegian.
Anosike is one of the top defensive players in the league and was Minnesota's leading scorer (by a smidge over Houston) this season with Augustus out. Wiggins is a gem on court and one of those truly great athletes to have interacting with the community. Montgomery is the same and a dependable winner at point guard.
The Lynx can add Charles to the mix and also potentially look at trade options that would give them more veteran leadership. Part of this is understanding how to blend not just talent but also personalities. It might even call for a slightly daring but ultimately beneficial move.
Laimbeer won three WNBA titles and proved to be a genius at personnel decisions -- and not because he had any history in women's basketball. He didn't. But he's a good judge of talent who understands how to win.
So if I were in the Lynx front office, I'd put any egos aside and attempt to pick Laimbeer's brain. And if I were in the Liberty front office … oh, there's a joke there. But as I said, I can't bring myself to laugh at New York fans' expense. They've had enough misery.
Mechelle Voepel, a regular contributor to ESPN.com, can be reached at mvoepel123@yahoo.com. Read her blog at http://voepel.wordpress.com.
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