In the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, Hunter Cruse, Emily Adler and Lincoln Shafer discuss what it would look like if the 2021 WNBA Draft were redone now. That draft, now considered one of the worst in WNBA history, saw the following players taken in the lottery:
- No. 1 overall: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings
- No. 2: Awak Kuier, Dallas Wings
- No. 3: Aari McDonald, Atlanta Dream
- No. 4: Kysre Gondrezick, Indiana Fever
Adler explains how the 2021 draft was regarded at the time:
“It was very clear coming in that you had, I would say, about five players worth really considering and maybe a couple more who it could turn out that they had skills [or] it could turn out that they had developmental or team context that would help them thrive. But it was very clear that this was going to be shallow. And … this was a very contentious class for, ‘Who is No. 1?'”
The No. 1 pick is still up for debate now, but the candidates are different this time around. Cruse, Adler and Shafer debate the merits of Kuier, No. 19 pick DiJonai Carrington, undrafted player Janelle Salaün and undrafted player Monique Akoa Makani.
The 23-year-old Kuier has played three WNBA seasons and has averaged 2.6 points in 11.1 minutes per game. The 27-year-old Carrington is in her fifth season and has averaged 8.6 points in 20.2 minutes per game. Salaün and Akoa Makani are rookies this season with the Golden State Valkyries and Phoenix Mercury, respectively.
Cruse makes the case for Salaün at No. 1 in this redraft:
“I have DiJonai at [No.] 2, but the reason I have Salaün a little bit higher is I’m very concerned about DiJonai’s archetype and how it breaks down deep in the playoffs, and what that means for winning. Because I’m not too high on just the feel, the processing, the passing ability. The finishing’s a huge concern. How does she add value in the halfcourt on offense when the game slows down is my main concern with her game.
“With Janelle Salaün, I think you see a lot of the shot creation, the shot-making from three. There’s obvious worries about the overall shot selection at times. But, I mean, you have the same concerns with DiJonai Carrington, and Salaün’s just bigger. Not as good of a defender, obviously, but I just think that she’s being overtaxed right now.”
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