Phoenix Mercury Draft Preview

Anthony Oliva, WNBA.com

With a healthy Griner and new point guard Erin Philips, what will Phoenix do with their pick?
Christian Petersen/NBAE/Getty Images


First 3 Selections in 2014
  • No. 17 overall
  • No. 21 overall
  • No. 33 overall
    • �
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    Last 3 First Round Picks (Pick, Year)
  • Brittney Griner (1, 2013)
  • Samantha Prahalis (6, 2012)
  • Jasmine Thomas (12, 2011)
    		•

    Strengths
  • Scoring
  • Depth
  • Experience


    • Areas of Improvement
  • Consistency
  • Toughness
  • Rebounding


    • Overview
    Phoenix does not have a first round draft pick this year (they traded it to Indiana for Australian point guard Erin Phillips), but rest assured head coach Sandy Brondello still has a plan for the draft.

    �Trading for Erin Phillips was great for us as we needed to add a quality point guard to the team and thus giving away our first round pick made sense,� Coach Brondello said. �We have two second round picks where they should be good players available for us to take. Who we pick will depend on how we complete our team in lead -up to the draft this next week but I would like for us to have another back-up guard or another athletic wing player to compete for a spot in training camp.�

    Which makes sense because Phoenix spent their 2013 draft first pick building up their frontcourt with Brittney Griner.

    But let�s not forget (and who would?), Phoenix has savy, dynamic veteran Diana Taurasi who has led the franchise to 2 WNBA titles in the past 7 years. The last of which was in 2009.

    Since then, the Mercury have made it to and lost in the conference finals 3 times (and once did not qualify for the playoffs). But what does the team need to get over that hump?

    �Toughness, defense, depth and staying healthy,� Coach Brondello emphasized.

    And what to do with their first pick (No. 17 overall)?

    �We would like to add a player that is different from what we have,� Borndello said. �Ideally, one with athleticism, creativity and who plays hard.�

    Knowing the Phoenix Mercury, they will do just that.

    DRAFT HISTORY
    2013
    1. Brittney Griner
    26. Nikki Green

    2012 (top 3 picks)
    6. Samantha Prahalis
    24. C'eira Ricketts
    30. Christine Flores ��

    2011
    12. Jasmine Thomas
    19. Brittany Spears
    31. Tahnee Robinson

    2010
    24. Tyra Grant
    36. Nyeshia Stevenson
    34. Jessica Adair
    2013 LEADERS
    Scoring
    1. Diana Taurasi (20.3)
    2. Candice Dupree (15.2)
    3. DeWanna Bonner (14.5)

    Rebounding
    1. Candice Dupree (6.4)
    2. Brittney Griner (6.3)
    3. DeWanna Bonner (5.8)

    Assists
    1. Diana Taurasi (5.8)
    2. DeWanna Bonner (2.4)
    3. Candice Dupree (1.9)