A year ago on WNBA draft day, the Lynx made a deadline trade for the No. 1 pick. That's unlikely to happen again today.
There are two elite, franchise-changing players in this year's draft. One is 6-4 forward Candace Parker of Tennessee, the other is 6-6 center Sylvia Fowles of Louisiana State.
The Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky have picks No. 1 and 2, respectively, and are expected to take Parker and Fowles in that order.
The Lynx, who tied the Sparks for the worst record in the league last season at 10-24, had bad luck in the lottery which determined the draft order. Minnesota has the No. 3 pick.
Moving up will be difficult, said Roger Griffith, chief operating officer of the Lynx.
"Last year there was a difference of opinion on who the top pick was," Griffith said. "This year the No. 1 and 2 are pretty unique players. It's much like the year we picked Seimone Augustus. It's a tough nut to crack."
The Lynx took Augustus with the No. 1 pick in 2006, and last year traded for Lindsey Harding, the first pick.
So who will the Lynx take at No. 3? As usual, team officials are mum.
"I wish I could tell you," said Don Zierden, the second-year Lynx coach. "As of [now], we have kept the No. 3 pick, but that does not mean there have not been offers to move it.
"Some people say there are three great players in this draft. I think it's deeper than last year, and we will listen to offers right up until the draft begins."
That would be at noon at Palm Harbor, Fla. ESPN2 will televise the first round.
And who is the third great player? "It depends on who you talk with," Zierden said, "but [Candice] Wiggins has elevated her status the way she has played in the NCAA tournament,."
Wiggins, a 5-11 guard for Stanford, has had two 40-point games in the tournament.
Among other possibilities at No. 3 are two Maryland players, 6-2 Crystal Langhorne and 6-4 Laura Harper, or two North Carolina players, 6-1 Erlana Larkins and 6-3 LaToya Pringle.
The ultimate choice could hinge on whether the Lynx decide to take the best player available or the best fitting their needs. "We were very undermanned last year at the post position," Zierden said.
The Lynx also could take Wiggins and use their second-round pick, No. 16 overall, for a dominating inside presence.
"[This draft] is very deep with post players," Zierden said, "and a good one will still be sitting there when we select at 16."
Or the Lynx could trade whoever their No. 3 pick is, if other teams want her badly. Zierden said such a trade was more likely than any pre-draft move.
Coach Bill Laimbeer, whose Detroit Shock has the No. 4 pick, said he will take a guard, either Wiggins, Alexis Hornbuckle of Tennessee or Matee Ajavon of Rutgers.
"Conventional wisdom says Wiggins will be No. 3," Laimbeer said. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Seems Laimbeer is convinced the Lynx will go big, or maybe that is just wishful thinking.
One Lynx assistant, in Tampa, Fla., for the pre-draft camp with the rest of Lynx contingent, stayed behind to watch Sunday's NCAA women's basketball semifinals and Tuesday's championship game.
Griffith, Zierden and other Lynx officials returned Sunday to prepare for the draft and answer questions.
Will the Lynx have too many good guards, for example, with Wiggins? "You can't have too many good players of anything," Zierden said. "The more talented players you have, it's never a bad thing."
The Lynx, barring trades, could add three of them today with picks Nos. 3, 16 and 30.
