Today, the Minnesota Swarm announced two trades. Early in the day, they traded two second round picks in the 2013 draft to the Edmonton Rush for forward Shawn Williams. The Swarm then packaged Williams with defenseman Brendan Doran, the #5 overall pick, along with the 14th & 18th picks in this year's draft for the third overall pick from the Buffalo Bandits.
In case that was a bit much to digest, the end result is that the Swarm move up two spots in the first round of this year's draft, giving up two second rounders this year, two second rounders next year, and a player to do so.
Doran was not a major piece of the team, putting up just 3 points, but he is a solid defender. Williams put up 85 points with the Rush (20G, 65A), and would have been a solid addition on his own, but looks to have been part of a bigger puzzle to land the third overall pick.
The Swarm now own the second, third, and fourth picks in the 2012 draft. Swarm owner John Arlotta continues to not be afraid to make moves, and this one is quite a bit to move up two spots, so you have to assume they see someone they want who may have been gone before the fourth pick was made.
Arlotta told Swarm.com:
We obviously gave up a lot, but we had a lot of resources in this year’s draft. We’re very excited to be able to make three straight picks at #2, #3, and #4. It will be a very exciting time for Swarm Lacrosse.
Once again, Arlotta revamped the Swarm roster last year, and enjoyed a massive push in success. That success resulted in a GM of the Year award for last season. Trust the process, Swarm fans.