Shock assistant and director of player personnel Cheryl Reeve shares a laugh with Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer. Allen Einstein/NBAE/Getty Images

The two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Shock have made a surprising amount of noise this offseason. Whether it's a reaction to losing to the Mercury in last year's WNBA Finals or simply trying to make an experienced team a bit younger, Shock coach and general manager Bill Laimbeer has parted with veteran Swin Cash and promising young guard Ivory Latta and lost center Katie Feenstra to Atlanta in the expansion draft.

But fear not, Shock fans. The three-headed All-Star monster of Deanna Nolan, Katie Smith and Cheryl Ford re-signed with the team on March 10. Reigning Sixth Woman of the Year Plenette Pierson will be back as well. And with two first-round picks -- including No. 4 overall -- in the April 9 WNBA Draft, the Shock should be in solid position to match or exceed the success of the past few seasons.

WNBA.com spoke recently with Shock assistant coach Cheryl Reeve to get a sense of Detroit's draft plans. And while the newly promoted director of player personnel couldn't disclose all of her team's secrets, she was very forthcoming with both information, candid analysis and insight.

Q. Through the trade of Swin Cash and some other deals, the Shock have been able to stockpile some early picks in the draft: Nos. 4, 11, 18, 28 and 42 overall. But last year, Bill was trying desperately to trade the team's first-round pick because he didn't think anyone would make the team. What about this year's draft class makes your approach so different from last year?

A. "This draft class has plenty of desirable players for all of the teams in this league. And sure, acquiring these draft picks -- or what we consider them to be at this point: assets… whether we make the pick or trade it for something else of value -- was part of the plan. We had to give up assets to get these assets, and we felt like this made the most sense.

"And this is widely thought to be a deeper draft than last year. The idea that anybody taken in the first round is going to be a contributor for their team is something you probably couldn't have said in the last couple of years. They haven't been a given to even make a roster in previous seasons. With (Candace) Parker and (Sylvia) Fowles, you have two legit franchise players. Beyond that, I don't know if you have franchise players, but there are a lot of nice pieces. And when those nice pieces come in the form of rookie contracts, they'll fill out your roster pretty nicely.

"It's not typically in Bill's character to desire these draftees, but this class could change that a bit. We have a core group of players on our roster, but we know we need to have some young talent to keep this thing going. We definitely have holes to fill, so that's our mindset.

"And it's not necessarily looking solely to this year for what these picks are going to be able to do. We're expecting whoever we take to develop into a really strong player over the next couple of years."

Q. You mentioned Parker and Fowles, who many presume will go 1 and 2. But there is a lot of speculation about picks 3 and 4. You stand fourth. Who are you taking? Do you know yet unequivocally? Can you give your loyal fans a hint as to who you're looking at?

A. "(Laughs) We expect to get a very good player. And we know there will be either a nice perimeter player or a nice post available for us at No. 4. We'll have our pick and it will depend on how transactions play out between now and then. Our fans can rest assured that it's going to be a solid player who will be a part of the future for the Shock."

Q. Could "Trader Bill" rear his head again? In other words, is there any chance of another trade at the No. 4 spot? Have teams approached you with offers?

A. "Like I said, we see this pick as an asset. If this asset leads to a different asset that we think can bring us a championship this season, we'll certainly look at that. I don't think Bill is ever married to his draft picks, especially if trading those picks can lead to something better. But just to be clear, we really do value that No. 4 pick and we'll be very happy to select someone at that spot who we think will make a difference for us. So it would have to be a pretty nice scenario for us to move it."

Q. What about in terms of position? Is there a spot or skill you're really looking to improve upon with your early picks? Do you feel a need to make up for loss of Swin Cash, Katie Feenstra or Ivory Latta, for example?

A. "With the fourth pick… well, it depends on what happens at No. 3, of course… that's really the first pick in the draft, to be honest (laughs). We really don't know, but it's no stretch to say that there will be a really good post player available, whether it's (Georgia's Tasha) Humphrey, (North Carolina's Erlana) Larkins, (Maryland's Laura) Harper or (Maryland teammate Crystal) Langhorne. It's widely thought that they're all going to go high.

"And like I said, there may be a transaction or two before the draft that affects the direction we go in the draft, so you never know. Things can change at the drop of a hat."

Q. Given that you've lost three significant pieces from last year's Eastern championship squad, what's the mindset heading into the draft. Are you rebuilding or reloading?

A. "Oh, we're definitely just reloading. We feel very confident with the recent recommitments from Katie Smith, Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford and now we're just tasked with adding the appropriate pieces around them. That's the name of the game. Those extra parts have changed in each of the last couple of seasons with the Shock, so it's much more of a reloading process. There's no need to rebuild as long as Katie, Tweety and Cheryl are around (laughs)."

Q. How important is it to pick a player who will fit in nicely with the group you already have? Or do you simply focus on picking the best player available?

A. "Well, in any draft pick, you hope you get both of those. Hopefully the best player available is the one who's going to complement your core group. And we're definitely hoping that that is the scenario: getting a complementary piece that can come in and contribute right away. But we're not expecting that player to come in and replace the scoring of Nolan or Ford or Smith. That's not a fair expectation. She's going to have to be a complementary piece who will probably come off the bench."

Q. Is there still scouting to do at this point? How closely are you watching the NCAA Tournament?

A. "We've seen most of what we need to see, I think. But the NCAA Tournament is an interesting time. We say it really doesn't matter, but we've definitely seen the stock of certain players go up or down based on their tournament performances. We watch the tournament, but probably more to get a sense of the other players out there and where they might go in the draft. That way, we get a complete feel for the draft, instead of just honing in on the players we know we're targeting.

"And the pre-draft camp will be a good place for both, as well: gauging who we might want to take and getting a look at the other talent out there."

Q. Are there players who you think could play their way up into the top or middle of the first round with big tourney performances?

A. "The one player who seems to be a question mark is Tasha Humphrey. I certainly think she's very talented. But I also think the NCAA Tournament will be a chance for her to show that she's worthy of the No. 3 or No. 4 pick, for example. Larkins has played her way into consideration for one of those top picks. Harper and Langhorne, too. For any of those players, the tournament could be an exclamation point at the end of a great career that solidifies their spot near the top of the first round.

"As far as other players moving up, I think the top eight or so is pretty solid. Once you get below that, it becomes a bit more need-based. So I think it's possible that someone could play her way from the second round into the bottom of the first based on what they do in the NCAA Tournament."

Q. How does the player selection process play out between you, Bill, (assistant coach) Rick (Mahorn) and everyone else in the Shock front office?

A. "Well, at the end of last season, we started mapping out what we had coming back and what we wanted to focus on as far as bringing free agents in. Then, we took a look at the picks that we had and which players we might be looking at in those spots… the best players likely to be available.

"Then, as director of player personnel, I present the players that I think will be there to Bill and the rest of the crew in an early mock draft. We rank out the best players at each position. Bill gets a solid familiarity at that point. And then, we try to see and evaluate the players in person later in the season. Bill likes to know the entire situation: like if we're considering trading the pick, he wants to know the prospect we might be passing up."

Q. Is he listening to you more now that you have your new job title?

A. "(Laughs) I tell you, it's been great! Somebody just asked me, 'Is it just a new title? Or does he really ask you for your input?' No, he really asks me! It's been terrific."

Q. Is it right to put the Shock back up among the East's elite heading into the season?

A. "I don't know how you couldn't. I don't think anybody would leave us off that list. We may not be picked as the favorite in the Eastern Conference, which is OK. We're used to that.

"I've always thought that's interesting: We're never picked to win the East, but we win it and Bill still isn't the Coach of the Year. He's never said that. But that's my argument. I don't get that. It's the 'Bill bias.'

"But as far as the East goes, everyone likes the moves that Indiana has made. I think it's an interesting time in Connecticut as well with all of the new blood they'll have. New York and Chicago will be better and right in the mix as well. Atlanta might have a slightly tougher time, but in general, I think it's going to look a lot like last year. There might be some faces in different places, but I don't see things changing all that much."

Q. If you could sum up the Shock's hopes for 2008 in one word, what would it be?

A. "Championship."