By Martin Renzhofer

| The Salt Lake Tribune

Garth Lagerwey observes, gauges opinion and uses any tool he can to mine for gems.

That’s what it is like to participate in the MLS SuperDraft, which takes place Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. The Real Salt Lake general manager sifts through the filler to find substance.

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At a glance

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Real Salt Lake draft history

2005

(Round, pick, name, previous team)

1, 1 » Nikolas Besagno, Generation Adidas

2, 13 » Jamie Watson, North Carolina

2, 22 » Jake Nolly, Indiana University

4, 37 » Luke Kreamalmeyer, Bradley University

2006

1, 2 » Mehdi Ballouchy, Santa Clara University

3, 26 » Ryan Johnson, Oregon State University

2007

1, 4 » Chris Seitz, University of Maryland

3, 30 » Steven Curfman, Wake Forest University

2008

1, 3 » Tony Beltran, UCLA

1, 14 » David Horst, Old Dominion University

2, 17 » Alex Nimo, Generation Adidas

3, 37 » Brennan Tennelle, UC Santa Barbara

2009

1, 12 » Jean Alexandre, Lynn University

2010

1, 15 » Collen Warner, Portland

2011

2, 32 » Received rights to midfielder Luis Gil from Kansas

3, 52 » Jared Van Schail, Portland

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MLS SuperDraft

Thursday, 10 a.m.

TV » ESPN2

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ESPN2 will air the SuperDraft at 10 a.m.

Luck is also involved, such as taking Tony Beltran with the third pick of the first round in 2008 or Collen Warner in 2010 with the 15th selection of the first round. This year, RSL has the 17th pick of the first round, as well as the 24th and 36th selections, in round two.

"College kids are not likely to add to our team right away," Lagerwey said via a telephone interview from the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "We need players to add depth."

Fortunately for RSL, which finished with the third-best MLS record in 2011, a talented core of veterans are in place to make another run at the MLS Cup.

The results of the 2012 SuperDraft might not be known for two or three years, when a few of those veterans need replacing.

"We hope someone can contribute, like a Warner, or a Jean Alexandre," Lagerwey said. "Because there are more teams, we’re picking lower than we ever have before. This draft is pretty decent, a little better than what we’ve seen before.

"Any impact players will be gone between the fifth and 10th picks."

A little creativity also helps. In 2011, RSL swapped its 32nd pick for the rights to unknown teenager Luis Gil.

Through its early years, RSL had little production from its draft picks, though it is important to note that the No. 1 pick in 2006, Mehdi Ballouchy, was eventually traded to Colorado for Kyle Beckerman.

The past four years have produced positive results, even though Warner was snapped up in the recent expansion draft. Even Alexandre, who eventually did not work out, contributed.

As for trading picks, that, too, becomes a matter of luck and need, including financially. In the past, RSL has swapped late picks for cash.

"We see what the other teams see," Lagerwey said. "There will be no surprises. But we’ll look at all our options."