Ahead of the 2015 SuperDraft, MLSsoccer.com is breaking down each team's needs and potential draft targets. Orlando City have already done a bunch of work building their roster.
We all know OCSC aren't the typical MLS expansion club. They've been the model lower-division franchise of the last four years, winning titles and helping develop none other than Dom Dwyer, last season's runner-up in the Golden Boot race.
They've built a fanbase, built a culture, signed Kaka and brought Brek Shea back home. They know what formation they want to play (it'll be a 4-2-3-1, folks), and they've made a commitment to mining the rest of CONCACAF for young talent – Kevin Molino, Darwin Ceren and and Bryan Rochez are proof of that.
Now they get a chance to bring it all home with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Cyle Larin would check a lot of boxes for them – including forward depth, which is an issue – but I'm not sure he checks the right boxes, which means this pick is up for grabs. There are multiple suitors, with the Montreal Impact said to be particularly interested.
OCSC SuperDraft selections: #1 (1st round), #22 & 25 (2nd round), #43 (3rd round), #63 (4th round)
OCSC Depth Chart: 23 players
Goalkeeper (3): Donovan Ricketts, Josh Ford, Tally Hall
Left Back (1): Luke Boden
Center Back (3): Aurelien Collin, Gustavo, Tommy Redding
Right Back (2): Rafael Ramos, Tyler Turner
Defensive Midfield (2): Darwin Ceren, Estrela
Center Midfield (2): Amobi Okugo, Lewis Neal, Harrison Heath
Left Midfield (2): Brek Shea, Carlos Rivas
Right Midfield (2): Kevin Molino, Tony Cascio
Attacking Midfield (2): Kaka, Cristian Higuita
Forward (3): Bryan Rochez, Pedro Ribeiro, Danny Mwanga
Primary Need: Left back
I'm operating under the assumption that Rivas and Higuita have signed, and have heard that Heath Pearce has not and probably will not. Pearce – a veteran who can play both central defense and left back – would be ideal given the roster make-up of the rest of the team, but hey, sometimes things don't work out.
Given that turn of events, and given that Larin would a) be third on the forward depth chart, and b) cost an international slot, I just can't see them making him the first pick. I'm not saying that OCSC have to trade down, but it would clearly be the smart move in a draft rich in left back talent, but not so rich that there's an obvoius No. 1 pick at that position.
Anywhere from Nos. 3-through-7, though? It's still a reach, but it's a smart reach.
Targets:Otis Earle (UC-Riverside), Andy Thoma (Washington)
Secondary Need: Winger
OCSC's 4-2-3-1 doesn't work unless there are guys on both side busting it up and down the flank. They've got four names on the list right now, but Shea basically hasn't played in two years, Cascio is coming off an ACL tear, and both Molino and Rivas aren't MLS-proven.
They're not going to get an MLS-proven winger here, either, but a guy like Blake Smith has shown well in limited minutes and could be poised for an Ethan Finlay-esque breakout (one of the reasons I think Montreal are the likeliest trade partners). Barring that, OCSC will look for the best talent on the board, and hope someone drops to the early second round.
Targets:Connor Hallisey (California), Miguel Aguilar (San Francisco), Akeil Barrett (Winger)
SUPERDRAFT TEAM PREVIEWS
- Columbus Crew:Step by step, second time around for CCSC
- Colorado Rapids:Can Mile High Club find a contributor late?
- DC United: One more piece for one more step
- Houston Dynamo:One decade later, a new era begins
- LA Galaxy:Recalibrating a championship machine
- Montreal Impact:Building out after a promising stretch run
- New England Revolution:Suddenly great, but plenty of need
- New York City FC:Feeling kind of blue east of the Hudson
- New York Red Bulls:Another new era in Jersey
- Real Salt Lake: Not quite a rebuild in the high desert
- San Jose Earthquakes: Recapturing that Goonie magic
- Toronto FC: Trying to solve the eternal problem in Ontario
- Vancouver Whitecaps:A full roster for Cascadia kings
- New England Revolution:Suddenly great but plenty of need
- Phildelphia Union: Building around the core
- Seattle Sounders:Nothing glaring for Shield, USOC winners
- Sporting KC:Filling it all out after a mini-rebuild
- Chicago Fire:Endless questions in the Windy City
- Portland Timbers:Draft & stash with T2 up and running
- Orlando City:Is there a trade for No. 1 in the works?
