Sun make another trade with Lynx, acquire Griffin

The moves keep coming for the Sun.

Connecticut has traded its first-round pick next season and the 2011 second-round pick it acquired from Tulsa in Wednesday's trade to Minnesota in exchange for Kelsey Griffin, who the Lynx took with the No. 3 pick less than an hour ago.

Griffin, a First Team All-American, joins a frontcourt that includes Tina Charles, Asjha Jones, Sandrine Gruda, DeMya Walker and Tamika Whitmore. The departure of Chante Black to Tulsa (with Amber Holt) in Wednesday's trade appears to have cleared room for Griffin, though she'll have to battle for playing time from the start.

To recap, the Sun now own three of the top seven picks in this year's draft in Charles, Griffin and Danielle McCray, who will likely miss this entire upcoming season with a torn ACL.

Draft update: Spark take Riley at No. 8

OSU's Andrea Riley was the 8th overall pick, per Los Angeles. I'm taking the new few picks off to tend to some reporting, but check back here in the next 30 minutes or so to see who the Sun take at No. 15.

Draft update: Sun make McCray No. 7

The Sun went long-term with this pick. With the No. 7 pick, Connecticut drafted Kansas' Danielle McCray, who will sit out the next season with a torn ACL. The Sun, however, can afford to wait, especially for a player who was the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year.

McCray, a 5-foot-11 guard/forward, told ESPN she probably can begin basketball activities the second week of August. McCray likely would have been a top-five pick if she was healthy.

The Sun have gone this route before, drafting Erin Phillips in 2003 and Sanrine Gruda in 2007, knowing they wouldn't come from at least another season. They also took Alba Torrens in the third round last year; the 20-year-old Spanish guard probably won't come this year either.

Draft update: Mystics select Monroe

Washington took Florida State's Jacinta Monroe at No. 6. Monroe, a 6-foot-5 forward and All-ACC First Team selection, averaged 13 points per game last year. She's long but lean, but may need to prove she can handle the extra physical play in WNBA.

The Sun are on the clock with the No. 7 pick. There are a lot of guards still on the board, including LSU'a Allison Hightower and OSU's Andea Riley. Of course, UConn's Kalana Greene is also available.

Draft update: Appel off the board

San Antonio made Stanford's Jayne Appel the fifth overall pick. Appel, who has played through several injuries this year, gives San Antonio size and a polished post player. Appel is wearing a boot around on her injured ankle at the draft in Secaucus, N.J., and is likely to miss the next few weeks.

Draft update: Sky take Prince at No. 4

After opting to skip her senior year and play overseas, former Rutgers star Epiphanny Prince has been taken fourth overall by the Chicago Sky, who get another ball-handler and a shooter they need. Prince has played for Botas Spor in Turkey this past winter, averaging 19 points per game.

Prince averaged 19.5 points her junior year at Rutgers.

Draft update: Lynx opt for Griffin

The Lynx chose Nebraska's Kelsey Griffin with the No. 3 selection, taking a 6-foot-2 forward who averaged 20.3 points and 10 rebounds per game.

ESPN analysts are questioning if Griffin fits the Lynx's needs. Some wondered if the Lynx would trade this pick even before they made it, but now that they have a player attached, it may be easier to find a team that likes Griffin, if they do choose to go that way.