This will be something new for Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant.
After six consecutive seasons in the playoffs, Sacramento (12-22) finished with the worst record in the WNBA in 2009. The Monarchs have a 42 percent chance of landing the top pick in the 2010 WNBA draft when the lottery is held today in New York.
The order of the first five picks will be determined.
"We haven't been in the lottery, but it's time," Whisenant said. "It's like old age, it happens to you whether you like it or not in a competitive league like we are in."
The Monarchs' biggest need is for a dynamic perimeter player who can create off the dribble and defend. But as of now, the 2010 draft class doesn't appear to have such a player.
Whisenant said most analysts have Connecticut center Tina Charles and Stanford center Jayne Appel rated as the top seniors, the position the Monarchs probably need the least help.
The Monarchs have spent their past two first-round draft picks on post players (Courtney Paris and Laura Harper), and also have Rebekkah Brunson and DeMya Walker.
Charles' athleticism appeals to Whisenant. Appel is coming off arthroscopic surgery in June to repair the meniscus in her left knee.
Whisenant said his plan remains the same. He will draft the best player available, regardless of position.
"If we get too many post players, that's a good problem to have," Whisenant said. "They'll be like assets that we'll have (for trades) to fill in the holes we might have to make us a better team."
Because of a trade with New York in which it obtained the Liberty's top draft pick, Minnesota has a 42.8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. New York (13-21) finished with the second-worst record in the league and Minnesota (14-20) had the third-worst record.
Whisenant will spend the college season scouting players to see if another player emerges who could help the Monarchs next season and beyond.
"We should get a good player," Whisenant said. "We should get a nice player that will help us get back on top."
Connecticut and Chicago, which both finished 16-18, each have a 7.6 percent chance of getting the first pick.
The order of selection in the first round after the first five picks, as well as the second and third round, is determined by inverse order of the teams' respective regular-season records.
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