:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46146388/usa-today-8482174.0.jpg)
In no particular order, here are my draft thoughts:
1. It is interesting how various teams loaded up on a certain position as if to say they couldn't decide which they liked so why not take all (Atlanta point guards, Chicago power forwards)
2. Trader Bill, again, found a way to get some first round headlines in Boyd and Stokes. Now the question is, did he get the Liberty some first round help.
3. The second round talent was not that much different from the bottom half of the first round.
4. Seattle took Mosqueda-Lewis saying they saw no post help, have a hot trade to move the UConn product or really believe they can get her open. Not surprising, overall picks one and two.
5. Tulsa should make the playoffs thanks to the addition of Zahui B.
6. Phoenix is already saying it is playing for 2016 by taking injured Isabelle Harrison. The Mercury did take Alex Harden, an athletic wing player I thought could help, in round two.
7. The point guard battle in Atlanta should be really interesting with Hrynko, Logic and Massengale. My guess is two will stick, with Jasmine Thomas being moved to Connecticut.
8. The most unexpected first round pick was Ally Malott at #8 to the Mystics. I have the utmost respect for Coach Mike Thibault, but the Dayton product going this high really surprised me.
9. The way Chicago drafted in gambling on athletic 6-4 Cheyenne Parker, tells me not to count on Sylvia Fowles playing in the Windy City this summer. The ESPN announcers indicated a demand by Sylvia to be traded.
10. Seattle fans should not get too excited about making the playoffs this season, even with Jewell Loyd on board.
11. Los Angeles is banking on Erin Phillips and Kristi Toliver in the back, and that, would make me nervous. The Crystal Bradford pick is a reasonable attempt to inject some more scoring punch into the Sparks perimeter.
12. Anne Donovan definitely appears to be playing to make the playoffs this year. However, when she refers to newly acquired Jasmine Thomas as a "pure point guard", I find myself scratching my head. In Atlanta and in college at Duke, there was an issue regarding her inability to think the point position.
13. San Antonio wanted some more athleticism, and got it, in #6 pick Dearica Hamby and Alex Montgomery via trade.
14. I finally hit on the Minnesota first round in #11 with Kiah Stokes, but they had traded it to New York, so I can't really say I got that one exactly right.
15. In the constant flux regarding this year's races, Minnesota should currently be favored in the West. Without Sylvia, I might lean slightly to Atlanta in the East.
16. While far from exact order, I did hit on 10/12 picks from the first round.
17. In 2014, it was announced that 23 rookies made opening day rosters and seven started at some point during the season. Let's see how 2015 does in comparison.