2008 Houston Comets Dispersal Draft Analysis
With a good mix of young and more experienced players, teams had to weigh not only the future, but also the present as coaches and GMs around the league were forced to take salary cap issues into consideration. Trades of picks or players also had their say on the draft order.
Also of note, Houston's unrestricted free agents -- including Tina Thompson, Michelle Snow, Hamchetou Maiga-Ba, Mwadi Mabika and Latasha Byears -- were not eligible to be picked. Those players not selected will become free agents on Jan. 5, 2009.
 |
1. Atlanta Dream (4-30, 7th, Eastern Conference) |  |
| Sancho Lyttle, Forward, 6'4", Age 25 |
| Stats |
G
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3p%
|
FT%
|
OFF
|
DEF
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| 2008 |
27
|
9
|
18.1
|
0.582
|
0.000
|
0.745
|
1.8
|
4.4
|
6.2
|
0.9
|
1.5
|
1.0
|
1.1
|
2.4
|
8.2
|
| Career |
120
|
36
|
15.3
|
0.534
|
0.000
|
0.625
|
1.6
|
3.2
|
4.8
|
0.7
|
1.0
|
0.4
|
0.9
|
1.9
|
5.4
|
The Comets first-round draft pick in 2005, the monstrously athletic Lyttle
came into her own in 2008, averaging career highs in scoring, rebounding, free
throw shooting, steals and blocks. She'll immediately be a go-to player and
will add strength and size to Atlanta's front line... if she stays put in Atlanta.
 |
2. Washington Mystics (10-24, 6th, Eastern Conference) |  |
| Matee Ajavon, Guard, 5'8", Age 22 |
| Stats |
G
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3p%
|
FT%
|
OFF
|
DEF
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| 2008 |
34
|
2
|
17.8
|
0.331
|
0.191
|
0.791
|
1.0
|
0.8
|
1.8
|
1.7
|
0.9
|
0.2
|
1.6
|
2.5
|
8.0
|
| Career |
34
|
2
|
17.8
|
0.331
|
0.191
|
0.791
|
1.0
|
0.8
|
1.8
|
1.7
|
0.9
|
0.2
|
1.6
|
2.5
|
8.0
|
A highly touted guard out of Rutgers who played well during her rookie campaign in Houston when she was given playing time. In her up and down season, Ajavon showed the potential to be a dynamic scorer at this level, posting 11 double-digit games. She also played valuable minutes while replacing injured vets Roneeka Hodges and Mwadi Mabika. Paired in the backcourt with Alana Beard, she could thrive on the offensive end.
 |
3. Chicago Sky (12-22, 5th, Eastern Conference) |  |
| Mistie Williams, Forward, 6'3", Age 25 |
| Season |
G
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3p%
|
FT%
|
OFF
|
DEF
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| 2008 |
32
|
0
|
11.4
|
0.505
|
0.000
|
0.549
|
1.1
|
1.3
|
2.4
|
0.6
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.8
|
1.0
|
3.8
|
| Career |
78
|
6
|
9.5
|
0.476
|
0.000
|
0.426
|
1.0
|
1.2
|
2.2
|
0.5
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.6
|
1.0
|
2.9
|
Also highly touted coming out of Duke in 2006, Williams has underachieved a
bit as a pro. Still, her promise toward the end of 2008 along with her size
and agility down low will help the relatively undersized Sky.
 |
4. Minnesota Lynx (16-18, 7th, Western Conference) |  |
| Roneeka Hodges, Guard, 5'11", Age 26 |
| Stats |
G
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3p%
|
FT%
|
OFF
|
DEF
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| 2008 |
15
|
6
|
18.3
|
0.418
|
0.366
|
1.000
|
0.3
|
1.7
|
2.0
|
1.3
|
0.3
|
0.1
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
7.3
|
| Career |
103
|
18
|
14.5
|
0.364
|
0.335
|
0.815
|
0.3
|
1.1
|
1.4
|
0.8
|
0.4
|
0.0
|
0.7
|
0.8
|
4.8
|
A 5'11" shooting guard out of Florida State, Hodges has shown flashes of scoring excellence. And though she missed 19 games last season due to injury, her experience and outside shooting are sure to have her contending for a roster spot in Minnesota this spring.
 |
5. Phoenix Mercury (16-18, 6th, Western Conference) |  |
| Sequoia Holmes, Guard/Forward, 6'1", Age 22 |
| Stats |
G
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3p%
|
FT%
|
OFF
|
DEF
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| 2008 |
17
|
3
|
11.9
|
0.258
|
0.235
|
0.727
|
0.7
|
1.4
|
2.1
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
0.8
|
1.1
|
3.1
|
| Career |
17
|
3
|
11.9
|
0.258
|
0.235
|
0.727
|
0.7
|
1.4
|
2.1
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
0.0
|
0.8
|
1.1
|
3.1
|
Though she went undrafted and signed a training camp deal with the Comets last spring, this versatile former Runnin' Rebel could provide some bounce off the bench for the fast-paced, running-and-gunning Mercury.
 |
6. Indiana Fever (17-17, 4th, Eastern Conference) |  |
| Erica White, Guard, 5'3", Age 22 |
| Stats |
G
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3p%
|
FT%
|
OFF
|
DEF
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| 2008 |
34
|
2
|
12.5
|
0.284
|
0.143
|
0.897
|
0.4
|
1.0
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
0.7
|
0.1
|
1.4
|
1.8
|
3.6
|
| Career |
34
|
2
|
12.5
|
0.284
|
0.143
|
0.897
|
0.4
|
1.0
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
0.7
|
0.0
|
1.4
|
1.8
|
3.6
|
This young point guard out of LSU is capable of becoming a solid contributor in the WNBA. Her numbers from her rookie season don't blow you away, but don't be surprised if she makes the Fever and gets important minutes as a sub.
 |
7. Sacramento Monarchs (18-16, 4th, Western Conference) |  |
| Renae Camino, Guard, 5'9", Age 22 |
Houston made this up-and-coming Aussie a second-round pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, but she never suited up in Comets red. Now 22, Camino is lighting it up this winter for Aix-En-Provence in France and could be a valuable addition to the occasionally offensively anemic Monarchs.
 |
8. New York Liberty (19-15, 3rd, Eastern Conference) |
| Pass |
 |
9. Los Angeles Sparks (20-14, 3rd, Western Conference) |
| Pass |
 |
10. Connecticut Sun (21-13, 2nd, Eastern Conference) |
| Pass |
 |
11. Detroit Shock (22-12, 1st, Eastern Conference) |
| Pass |
 |
12. Seattle Storm (22-12, 2nd, Western Conference) |
| Pass |
 |
13. San Antonio Silver Stars (24-10, 1st, Western Conference) |
| Pass |
Lucienne Berthieu, Tamecka Dixon, Shannon Johnson and Polina Tzekova were not selected. They will become free agents on January 5.