This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Craig Waibel and his staff enter Friday's 2017 MLS SuperDraft with a pair of lists in tow. One features what he dubs Real Salt Lake's Top 6, a cluster of players that if available at No. 13 when RSL's on the clock at the Los Angeles Convention Center, there will be zero hesitation to phone in the call and write down the name of the organization's newest player.
"That'll be a slam dunk," said RSL's general manager.
There aren't any guarantees, however, that the six players RSL's zeroed in on will be there midway through the first round of the SuperDraft. And Waibel knows it.
That's where he and the RSL technical staff might have to delve into the other list, the one that features upwards of 15 players that might become picks purely out of positional need — not only for RSL, but the team's USL affiliate, Real Monarchs.
"The way we're analyzing the players nowadays is different," Waibel said of the inclusion of the Monarchs. "We have 25-30 games for this person to play, we have X-amount of games, we think they'll play on the first team X-amount of times. We always on every pick will have an immediate plan as to how much they can accomplish in that first year."
RSL coach Jeff Cassar said the first-round pick — as well as RSL's second-round pick at No. 26 — could be picks made to vie for spots on the first-team depth chart this year or look to get established with the Monarchs for a season or two. That luxury, he added, allows a potential draft pick to develop within the organization.
"It's always difficult for a college player to come in and step in," Cassar said. "Can it happen? Absolutely. We'll see how they do with our team in preseason and how they handle themselves with the grind of being an MLS player, but we also have a very good team, a deep team and we want to have a progression."
Where could RSL be looking to fortify its roster?
Cassar said the MLS SuperDraft has a tradition of producing quality center backs, outside backs and holding midfielders, any of three directions RSL's may conceivably go with either of its first two picks Friday. Various mock drafts have linked RSL with Washington center back Justin Schmidt, whom Waibel coached during his days as an assistant coach at his alma mater. Maryland attacker Zeiko Lewis could be an option, as could Denver outside back Reagan Dunk.
But RSL enters this draft all smiles because it feels its already penned what would've been a high draft pick. The club signed homegrown attacking player Jose Hernandez, who starred at UCLA, having notched 16 goals and 10 assists in his last two years with the Bruins.
"We actually feel like we've had our first-round selection, and this is our second one in the first round because Jose, without a doubt, would've been at the top of a lot of teams' lists here," Cassar said.
Waibel said every MLS staff has spent plenty of time in the hotel lobby digging up information, trying to get a feel of what other teams might end up doing come Friday afternoon. RSL's GM added that if a player they want is within striking distance, the club is always ready to make a move.
"At the end of the day, if there's a player we feel we need to go get and trade an asset to get them, we have no issue doing it," he said.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
2017 MLS SuperDraft
Friday, Jan. 13, Los Angeles Convention Center, 1 p.m.
Rounds 1 and 2 take place Friday, with Rounds 3 and 4 set to take place via conference call on Jan. 17
RSL holds No. 13 and No. 26 overall picks Friday