The Indiana Fever will have the number three pick in the draft as they look to take the next step and become a playoff team.
Indiana finished the 2019 season in ninth place with a 13-21 record. Last season the Fever missed the playoffs by three games. The team got off to a solid start but eventually lost steam and missed out on the postseason.
As of now, the franchise has a strong backcourt that features Erica Wheeler and Tiffany Mitchell. In last year’s draft, Indiana selected Teaira McCowan third overall.
Indiana Fever: Temperature Check
Ultimately the 2019 season ended in disappointment for the Fever. However, Wheeler and Mitchell made it clear that the franchise is in good hands for the future.
Indiana holds three picks in this year’s draft (3rd, 14th, 28th) and can improve their roster to be playoff-ready this season.
Indiana Fever: Draft Profile
Here is a preview of the Indiana Fever 2020 draft profile:
Draft Pick Number Three
Team Needs: Scoring-Rebounding Big
Draft Selection: Lauren Cox
First off, the Fever need to add more scoring to their roster overall but especially in the front-court. Although, the team drafted McCowan last year this team needs another scoring big.
McCowan was an excellent pick-up but she is more of a defensive specialist. Granted she does have the ability to score as she averaged 10 points per game last season.
Lauren Cox will provide this team with a post presence and a solid pick-and-roll option. The Baylor product seals off her defenders when posting up which gives her the option to score or dish out to an open player.
In addition to her back to the basket game, she is a solid passer and has the ability to hit the three. As the WNBA continues to move to positionless basketball the addition of Cox will further advance this team. She will allow the Fever to play more small ball.
At the end of the 2019-20 season, Cox averaged 12.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game (returning from injury).
Draft Pick Number 14
Team Needs: 3-and-D Wing
Draft Selection: Shadeen Samuels
With the 14th pick in the draft, Indiana needs to add another scoring wing. Even though the Fever still has Candice Dupree under contract she is entering the latter part of her career.
In the second round, the team should draft Shadeen Samuels out of Seton Hall. Samuels is a solid scorer and can beat you in multiple ways. Not to mention she is a multifaceted player who commits to both sides of the ball.
At the end of her college career, she recorded 148 steals and 67 blocks. Drafting Samuels is a sure thing and she can develop into an efficient scorer for the Fever. She finished the 2019-20 season averaging 14.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Samuels will be a great addition to the core of McCowan, Mitchell, and Wheeler. The Seton Hall product will be able to develop and flourish in Indiana.
Draft Pick Number 28
Team Needs: Shooting
Draft Selection: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
With their last pick at 28th, Indiana needs to acquire some shooting in the draft. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan would be a great pick up for the Fever.
The South Carolina product can flat out shoot it from deep. Her freshman season she shot a low 25 percent from three. Three seasons later she improved her three-point percentage to 43 percent.
Often times last season, Indiana struggled to score from outside when teams would close off the lane. Wheeler and Mitchell have the ability to get to the rim and dish out to open shooters. But the team struggled to space the floor and shot 34.6 percent from the floor.
Obviously 34.6 percent isn’t awful but it’s the time that goes by when the team experiences a scoring drought. Herbert Harrigan will help this team on the boards and with scoring.
At the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, she averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
Expect the Fever to enter Draft Night with intention, aggression, and purpose. This team is looking to jump back into the playoff conversation and they will need this draft to do it.
Tune in to the WNBA Draft Friday, April 17th at 7:00 PM E.T.
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2 Comments
I would love to see Indiana take Ty Harris with the 3rd pick. She is from Indy and is an excellent point guard to back up Wheeler. If the Fever does not take Ty I don’t think they will have a good season again. JMO
Thank you for the comment. I am not aware of Ty Harris but I will make sure to be on the lookout for her.