The Los Angeles Sparks headed into the draft with five draft picks, with two choices in the first round. With the No.7 pick in the draft, the Sparks took Jasmine Walker. The forward will provide the Sparks some outside shooting. With the No. 10 selection, the Sparks took Stephanie Watts. The guard went a little earlier than people expected, but she adds shooting and play-making ability. But it was what the Sparks did in the second round that stands out, drafting Arella Guirantes, who could be the steal of the draft.
Arella Guirantes
Guirantes was mocked to be a top-five pick in most mock drafts, but that was not the case on draft night. For whatever reason, Guirantes was not drafted to the mid-second round. But that is excellent for the Sparks, who will be getting a first-round talent.
Arella Guirantes is a consistent scorer; she averaged 21.3 points per game this year for Rutgers. Guirantes averaged 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. The guard can shoot from outside, shooting 37% from beyond the arc; she can help stretch the floor for the Sparks. The 5.2 assist proves she can create offense for herself and also her teammates. Sparks head coach Derek Fisher spoke about Guirantes being the steal of the draft.
“We felt like at that time for our group, she was by far, the best player on the board, but to have a lottery talent available at 22; an opportunity that we could not pass. And [we’ve] already haven’t gotten the opportunity to start connecting with her a little bit. We’re going to be ecstatic to see how this plays out on the court.”
Guirantes will fit nicely with what Fisher wants to do with the Sparks; he wants to run a more fast-paced system. The former Rutgers star will be influential in a fast-paced system with her skill set and ability to handle the ball. As coach Fisher said, you can not pass up on lottery talent if available in the second round.
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