Sparks have options
Despite having a frontcourt-heavy lineup, Sparks General Manager Penny Toler warned not to assume her team would select a guard as its 13th pick in today’s WNBA draft.
“That’s what everyone thinks,” said Toler, who also has the 22nd pick and the 35th pick in the second and third rounds, respectively. “We are not forced to take a guard. In our situation, we’re taking the best player on the board regardless of their position.”
Center Lisa Leslie and veteran forwards Tina Thompson and DeLisha Milton-Jones headline the 2009 Sparks, while forward Candace Parker will sit out for an undetermined part of the season because she is expecting a child this spring.
Toler didn’t have to worry about contingency plans at last year’s draft.
The Sparks had the No. 1 pick and selected Parker, who led the team in points per game (18.5), assists (3.4) and rebounds (9.5).
Toler said several teams from the East Coast recently contacted the Sparks about possible trades on draft day, confirming her belief that selecting players based more on talent than position needs may come in handy if she receives a suitable offer.
Nonetheless, Toler said if the Sparks held this year’s No. 1 pick instead of the Atlanta Dream, she would select either Connecticut guard Renee Montgomery, Louisville forward Angel McCoughtry or Maryland forward Marissa Coleman -- all backcourt players.
Most mock drafts project Montgomery, McCoughtry and Coleman to be selected early in the first round.
“It can be anybody,” Toler said. “We’ll see what every team will need and we’ll see what players are left.”
The draft will be shown at noon on ESPN2 and at 1 p.m. on ESPNU and NBA TV.
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