New coach Gary Kloppenburg is trying to change the culture. He made offseason moves that he hopes will benefit the team, and he will add some new building blocks Monday when the 2012 WNBA draft is held at ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
Tulsa posted the WNBA's worst record last season, but it did not win the draft lottery and will select fourth. The Shock also owns the 17th, 25th and 29th picks in the 36-player draft.
Kloppenburg and assistant Kathy McConnell-Miller embarked on a coast-to-coast talent search in preparation for the draft, attending conference tournaments and NCAA regionals to evaluate college players.
"We really tried to zoom in on a group of players that we felt like would be picked in that area (where the Shock will be picking) and really concentrated on watching them in person, and then of course we watched them on video and as much as we could on film," Kloppenburg said.
Kloppenburg said it's easier to evaluate prospects in person because you can get a feel for things that video doesn't necessary reveal, like size, demeanor, quickness and athleticism.
Armed with pre-draft intel, the Shock staff compiled a position-by-position list of top prospects and a list of top prospects regardless of position. Kloppenburg also cobbled together his own mock draft in an attempt to figure out the likely destinations for players taken in the first round.
There are two schools of thought in regard to draft philosophy: 1, Take the best player available. 2, Try to fill a specific need.
"This year, for me, it's 'let's try to get best player, because we weren't very good,' " Kloppenburg said, adding that he wants to upgrade the talent level.
"I think, in our position, we are really just looking to try to get the best player for us that would fit in and kind of impact our team as rookies."
Kloppenburg said the Shock may try to fill specific needs with picks later in the draft. He believes the roster already has been improved because of offseason additions.
The point guard position needed to be shored up and, nine days after Kloppenburg was hired, the Shock announced Tameka Johnson had been acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Mercury. Johnson ranked ninth among WNBA players in assists last season and was the league's rookie of the year in 2005.
Johnson, the sixth player taken in the 2005 draft, is one of four former first-round picks acquired by the Shock since January. Also coming aboard were Chanel Mokango (picked ninth in 2010), Jene Morris (picked 11th in 2010) and Scholanda Dorrell (picked 14th in 2006).
Also, Chante Black, a first-round pick of the Connecticut Sun in 2009, will rejoin the Shock after sitting out last season with a back injury.
Kloppenburg was an Indiana assistant coach when the Fever drafted Morris. He said a numbers game prevented the team from keeping her, "but she can definitely play in this league."
Dorrell's name was Scholanda Robinson when she was the Shock's second-leading scorer in 2010. She played for San Antonio last season, but signed a multi-year deal to return to Tulsa.
"So we feel like we got better, and I think the kids we have got coming back from last year's team, they are a good core of front-line players," Kloppenburg said.
"I think we can really improve and just (move forward from the past two seasons). It was difficult for everybody involved. It happens in pro sports. Things just kind of go south, and it's such a short season that you can't recover. I'm really optimistic that we can get going with a good team."
2012 WNBA draft
When: 1 p.m. Monday.Where: ESPN headquarters, Bristol, Conn.
TV: First round, ESPN2-26; second and third rounds, ESPNU-253 and NBATV-256.
Format: Twelve players will be picked in each round (36 total). The Shock owns picks No. 4, 17, 25 and 29.
Tulsa Shock draft party: 1-3:30 p.m. Monday, Charlie Mitchell's Modern Pub, 4848 S. Yale Ave.
Original Print Headline: Shock seeks talent upgrade through draft
Jimmie Tramel 918-581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
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