for the second time in league history, the No. 1 pick has been traded away. Kansas City now owns the coveted top spot, along with the 11th selection overall. Obviously, San Jose manager Frank Yallop and general manager John Doyle weren't convinced that any one player was such a lead-pipe cinch as the top choice that they needed to retain the top spot.
Now, barring further trades, San Jose has gone from being a big player in the draft to a bit player, with just the 15th overall pick with which to work. With a roster to stock, perhaps Yallop et al have something more up their jersey sleeve?
Who else has plenty of chips for wheeling and dealing in this draft? FC Dallas has a trio of choice picks, Nos. 2, 8 and 19. Real Salt Lake picks third, then again at Nos. 14 and 17. Toronto FC is in a decent spot, poised to begin filling a list of needs with the 9th and 10th overall selections.
At the other end, D.C. United doesn't have a pick until well into the second round, No. 24 overall. Red Bulls officials can relax and let their lunch settle, without a pick until No. 16. Not to fret, however, since big value can and has been found around that part of the draft. Mo Johnston and Alexi Lalas were in charge of the New York outfit two years ago when they scored huge at the No. 17 spot, selecting Jozy Altidore. And last year, under a different regime, the Red Bulls didn't pick until No. 19, and officials turned over a dandy talent at that position: Dane Richards, who was a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Houston has just two picks, and neither of them in great spots; the champs own the final selections of the third and fourth rounds. Chivas USA is even more of a draft day bystander, with just one lonely selection, No. 43 overall.
Every other team is somewhere in between, with a little something to work with, but not anything extraordinary.
Now Kansas City and Dallas have the most to say about matters Friday in Maryland, where a nasty winter storm appears to be headed outside. Inside, we'll see what kind of a creative storm managers and GMs might conjure. San Jose has already gotten creative with Tuesday's trade, which brought veteran defender Nick Garcia to the Bay Area. Through last year's expansion draft, and with the acquisitions of Garcia and blue ribbon goalkeeper Joe Cannon, the Earthquakes already have a side that could trouble some teams defensively.
Trading away the top pick has happened just once in 12 previous college drafts, in 2006 when Chivas USA shopped the first selection; the MetroStars got it instead and took Marvell Wynne. Even when expansion teams - as San Jose is -- have owned the initial pick, the newcomers chose to keep it for themselves three of four times previously.
So, assuming Kansas City retains possession of the No. 1 spot, whose name might be called first? Most of the buzz continues to center on Nyarko, a "complete package" type from Virginia Tech. He's one of nine Generation adidas 2008 members, which increases his value due to favorable salary cap implications. His brief presence at the MLS Player Combine in Florida, which just ended, only reinforced the strong opinions. He can pass, shoot and run at defenders. Plus, he's got good size and great pace. So, what's not to like?
Others like attacker Eric Avila, another Generation adidas signee. Either guy makes sense for the Wizards, who seem close to losing Eddie Johnson to England's Fulham. Or, Kansas City could package the No. 1 pick or any of its other five picks. Word is that several teams out there are desperate for more selections, or for higher selections. That makes teams like FC Dallas, with a league-high seven draft choices, logical targets for swap talks. Or, how about Chicago or Los Angeles, with six picks each?
The Galaxy's top need appears to be flank players, especially now that the club's forward situation is more settled following Tuesday's acquisition of Carlos Ruiz. The Galaxy's actions will be viewed with especially keen interest since this is Ruud Gullit's first official go-round on the MLS carousel. Ditto for Denis Hamlett, the long-serving Chicago assistant who finally gets to call the shots on his own.
Other teams? D.C. United and New York probably need to bolster the back. Columbus wants a center back. Chicago would do well grab a forward or two. Chivas USA could look for a goalkeeper to develop. Teams like Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC? Well ... they need help all over the place.
Or RSL could dangle those three relatively early selections, including No. 3 overall, to absorb a name player from some team. Manager Jason Kreis and GM Garth Lagerway have four international spots available and plenty of room under the cap. So, armed with all that, plus the three primo picks, RSL could go in a lot of different directions.
It's unlikely RSL would take a defender with its early picks. Word is that Kreis and Lagerway prefer vets along the back line. Plus, Ian Joy is apparently en route to RSL from Germany's St. Pauli and already penciled in at left back.
And there's always the possibility that late trades will alter a given team's perspective on the draft. Ruiz's move to Los Angeles, for instance, could prod FC Dallas into looking harder at a forward, even if they aren't necessarily looking for the pick to fill Ruiz's boots in the short term.
It'll all play out Friday, as unpredictably as ever.
Steve Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
