2020 Mock Draft: Big Board 5.0

Donna Orender WNBA President at the 2007 WNBA Draft (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for Robinson Lerer and Montgomery)
Donna Orender WNBA President at the 2007 WNBA Draft (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for Robinson Lerer and Montgomery)
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 11: Bella Alarie #31 of the Princeton Tigers smiles after a basket drops for the Tigers during the first quarter at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Princeton defeated Penn 63-34. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 11: Bella Alarie #31 of the Princeton Tigers smiles after a basket drops for the Tigers during the first quarter at The Palestra on March 11, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Princeton defeated Penn 63-34. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)

6. Minnesota Lynx select Bella Alarie

This is a pretty solid spot for Cheryl Reeve to occupy. She could use some help at point guard, and there are plenty of options to do so. She could engage Greg Bibb and find a deal that, for instance, trades the sixth pick for seven and nine. But the choice here, in terms of what Minnesota runs and how they best deploy their talent, ought to be Alarie, the player with the highest ceiling remaining. A 6’5 stretch four is not only valuable today, but represents where the game is going. The Lynx can bring her along slowly, using her as a stand-in for Damiras Dantas on second units as she build up strength and collects help side blocks in bushels right away. She can score, she’s got a basketball IQ off the charts, she’s the kind of worker Reeve looks for, she even has NBA bloodlines. Teams that let her slide to six may long regret it.