Finally, Minnesota Lynx feeling no desperation entering WNBA draft

Thanks in part to the most productive offseason in franchise history, the Minnesota Lynx enter today’s WNBA draft relatively stress free.

And in another franchise first, the Lynx aren’t dependent on drafting a player who must be an immediate contributor. With the second and third overall picks, the Lynx likely will be adding bench depth for future development when the draft begins at 2 p.m.

“It feels good to be in this position,” Lynx executive vice president Roger Griffith said.

“It should be fun,” rookie coach Cheryl Reeve said.

The Lynx suddenly have a talented roster, with four former WNBA all-stars in the expected starting lineup — small forward Seimone Augustus, point guard Lindsay Whalen, power forward Rebekah Brunson and center Nicky Anosike — along with shooting guard Candice Wiggins, a former WNBA sixth woman of the year. Plus, two key reserves are former WNBA all-stars: forwards Charde Houston and Hamchetu Maiga-Ba.

Minnesota actually won this year’s draft lottery but traded the No. 1 pick and point guard Renee Montgomery, the Lynx’s top pick last year, to Connecticut in January for Whalen, a former University of Minnesota star, and the Sun’s No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

Connecticut has said it will draft UConn center Tina Charles with the top pick.

Mock drafts generally predict the Lynx will select Stanford center Jayne Appel at No. 2. In the beginning of the college season, Charles and Appel were considered sure things as the Nos. 1 and 2 picks, respectively, in the WNBA draft.

But Appel’s draft stock has slipped during her senior year, which was plagued by injuries. She looked downright brutal in going 0 for 12 from the field in Stanford’s 53-47 loss to Connecticut in Tuesday’s NCAA tournament final.

Reeve acknowledges it has been a down season for Appel.

“She could go as high as No. 2 or as low as 5 or 6,” she said. “You can’t just look at her senior season; you have to look at the body of work over her career.”

Post players are often a WNBA draft emphasis, but they aren’t the Lynx’s top priority. The Lynx’s front line is so deep and talented that they are receiving calls about striking a deal with current players and draft picks.

Don’t be surprised if the Lynx draft Virginia guard Monica Wright with that No. 2 pick.

The Lynx don’t have a true backup point guard to play behind Whalen, and Reeve said the team’s primary need is a proven guard and ball handler. Wright isn’t a point guard, but she wouldn’t necessarily be the wrong choice, considering Reeve said Wiggins could double as Whalen’s backup at the point. Wright then could back up Wiggins at shooting guard.

The Lynx could trade the No. 3 pick, hoping for a high pick in next year’s draft. This year’s team appears capable of not only reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2004 but winning a postseason series for the first time in franchise history and making deep run. Making the playoffs would take them out of lottery contention.

Trading the pick could put them in the Maya Moore sweepstakes next year. UConn’s Moore, a junior, was the best player in college basketball this season.

The Lynx could take Appel at No. 3 and hope she develops into a dominant post player. They also could draft her and then trade her for a 2011 pick.

Another strong possibility is Epiphanny Prince, a former Rutgers guard who played overseas this past season.

“The pieces of the puzzle are coming together nicely,” Reeve said. “With the draft here, that means training camp is right around the corner.”