Welcome Philip Mayaka!

With their only exercised draft pick today the Rapids chose Clemson midfielder Philp Mayaka as the 3rd pick of the draft.  Mayaka was considered by many as the clear number 1 pick in the draft, with some saying he was the most obvious number 1 since Cyle Larin or maybe Steve Zakuani.  I'm not sure why Austin and Cincinnati passed on him, but their loss is our gain.  Clemson's coaches called Mayaka the most MLS ready player they've ever had.

Mayaka played more of an attacking mid for the Tigers two seasons ago and last season shifted into more of a defensive midfielder role.  Colorado projects him as a d-mid in MLS.  He'll give us cover for absences of Acosta and Bassett on national team duty this year, not to mention Price's occasional suspensions.  He also appears to be a natural replacement for Bassett whenever we inevitably sell him to Europe.

As an added bonus Philip Mayaka signed a Generation Adidas contract with the league already.  That means he won't count against the senior roster or salary cap, and he's automatically protected in next year's expansion draft.  Plus we don't have to convince him to sign a contract.  It also means he's a lock to make the team.

In order to land Mayaka the Rapids made a deal just as the draft started.  They traded $200K of GAM, with an additional $50K in incentives, and the #6 pick to Houston for the #3 pick.  They had already traded $125K of GAM to Chicago to get the #6 pick.  Its unclear if the Rapids knew Mayaka was going to fall to 3 or if they had targeted somebody like Bartlow but took Mayaka as the best player in the draft when he fell.  $325K is a lot of allocation money to spend on a draft pick.  However when combined with the other moves made in the last week it looks much better.

Later today we traded the 21st pick for $50K in GAM from Austin.  That 21st pick was gotten in the trade for Barrios where we gave up the 15th pick and an international spot.  If you combine that move with the other moves above:

• Rapids give up the #15 pick, an international slot, and $275K of GAM
• Rapids receive Michael Barrios and Philip Mayaka

That's a pretty solid piece of work by Padraig Smith and the Front Office.  We get a top 3, maybe top 1, draftee and a guy with some of the most dangerous touches in the league last year for our first round pick, an international slot we don't currently need, and less than $300K in GAM.

The Rapids passed with their second and third round picks.  Mayaka will be their only draftee this year.