It’s something more I get to see and do in Baltimore on Thursday!

This won’t happen. Then again, I once mis-hit a golf ball in my backyard while drunkenly practicing chip shots (you do dumb things in college, like hit golf balls towards your own house). The resulting “chip” would have actually made a decent mid-range shot. Somehow, against all odds and in totally unrepeatable fashion, it went through an open window into my roommate’s room, hit an empty spot on the wall, and broke nothing.

In other words, maybe we fall ass-backwards into a dream scenario.

1. I’d take Nagbe. It’s a great situation where our need dovetails with arguably the best talent in the draft. As good as Kitchen is and will become, I don’t see a situation in which he becomes a starter for at least 3 years. Simms is 28, meaning he’s in his prime years as a player. McCarty is just 23; he could be a stalwart in a United shirt for years to come. Kitchen is a destroyer, which means that if McCarty were unavailable, our best option to maintain the closest replica of the best DCU 11 would be to insert King instead. Kitchen is probably right there with Salgado in terms of ceiling as a player, but how do you reach that ceiling if you’re sitting the bench for the first 2-3 years of your career?

Now, if that Simms trade rumor is legit, then obviously Kitchen becomes both a “want” and a “need.” Until then, though, I say we take Nagbe and plan on him having a Mwanga-esque 2011.

2. Portland would take Kitchen at #2. Looking at their squad, both Nagbe and Kitchen would be immediate starters for them. The central midfield for the Timbers includes a couple of two-way guys (Lowry and Moffat) and one pure destroyer (Marcelin, who simply isn’t good enough with the ball to be relied upon as a starter). Spencer would probably prefer to have an attacking midfielder or forward of Kitchen’s potential and current ability out there, but that player doesn’t exist.

3. This is the toughest one. With Nagbe in place as a probable starter, I think we’d be foolish not to consider thinking long-term with a riskier pick like Salgado or Plata. On the other hand, with the Cristman trade we don’t have much in the way of aerial strength. Pontius has real hops, and Ngwenya is no slouch, but neither is going to outmuscle your bigger center backs for crosses (assuming that we will somehow be able to cross the ball next season, even though I declared to a friend that DCU in 2010 was “the worst crossing team I’ve ever seen”). If you want the next Braun or Ching, Will Bruin is the pick.

However, since I still have doubts about our ability to cross with regular success, I think our best chances will be generated on the ground. As such, and with Nagbe in place, I’d take Salgado at #3. I’d then immediately ask Josh Wolff to show Salgado how to become a good pro. Salgado would be a fixture on the reserve team, and would get minutes in the Open Cup and friendlies (and that’s a conservative estimate). By 2013, provided he avoids major injury and gets the proper guidance, we’re looking at a potential star.