Phoenix Mercury Draft Preview

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First 3 Selections in 2014
� Last 3 First Round Picks (Pick, Year) |
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Strengths Areas of Improvement |
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) |
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