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Ben Olsen speaks at the Super Draft

Shortly after completing a trade with the Philadelphia Union and drafting Cal defender Steve Birnbaum, D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen spoke to the media.

Paul Frederiksen-USA TODAY Sport

Ben Olsen entered draft day with the number one pick in hand, but after fielding offers from Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Dallas, Olsen and the DCU brass opted to trade the first overall pick to the Philadelphia Union for their second overall pick and allocation money.

With the second pick, D.C. United selected Cal defender Steve Birnbaum. After the selection, Olsen spoke highly of Birnbaum saying, "I'm very excited. He's got the intangibles and he has the mental qualities to be a starter in this league. From a starting point, I've seen very few kids with the mentality and mental traits that he possesses."

With the number one pick that the Union acquired from D.C. United, they selected goal keeper Andre Blake. Olsen spoke highly of Blake as well, but stated in so many words that DCU wasn't in need of a keeper with Bill Hamid on the roster.

"He's a special goal keeper and I think he's the real thing," said Olsen. "But we don't need one (a GK) right now."

Olsen and DCU opted to trade down, acquire allocation money and go with Birnbaum instead. However, Olsen said that Birnbaum's teammate at Cal, Christian Dean, was on his radar as well. Dean would be drafted just after Birnbaum with the third overall pick by the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The trade down wasn't always certain though and Olsen wasn't sure it would go through until the last minute, saying afterwards, "There are always a lot of talks, but nothing really goes down until closer to the deadline. That's when things start to get real."

"I think the deal is a win-win for both D.C. United and Philly," said Olsen.

What else did D.C. United acquire in the trade with the Union?

"Dinner on (John) Hackworth," Olsen joked. "At one of Stephen Starr's restaurants in Philly."

First Round

Team Pick Blog
1. Philadelphia Union Andre Blake, GK Brotherly Game
2. D.C. United Steve Birnbaum, D Black and Red United
3. Vancouver Whitecaps Christian Dean, D 86 Forever
4. New England Revolution Steve Neumann, M/F The Bent Musket
5. Montreal Impact Eric Miller, D Mount Royal Soccer
6. FC Dallas Tesho Akindele, M/F Big D Soccer
7. Whitecaps Andre Lewis, M 86 Forever
8. Seattle Sounders Damion Lowe, D Sounder at Heart
9. San Jose Earthquakes J.J. Koval, M Quake, Rattle and Goal
10. Toronto FC Nick Hagglund, D Waking the Red
11. New England Revolution Patrick Mullins, M/F The Bent MusketBurgundy Wave
12. Colorado Rapids Marlon Hairston, M Burgundy Wave
13. Chicago Fire Marco Franco, D Hot Time In Old Town
14. Crew Ben Sweat, D Massive Report
15. Union Pedro Ribeiro, M Brotherly Game
16. Houston Dynamo A.J. Cochran, D Dynamo Theory
17. Portland Timbers Schillo Tshuma, M/F Stumptown Footy
18. Real Salt Lake Ryan Neil, D RSL Soapbox
19. Rapids Grant Van de Casteele, D Burgundy Wave

Second Round

Team Blog
20. Chivas USA Thomas McNamara, M The Goat Parade
21. Seattle Sounders Jimmy Ockford, D Sounder at Heart
22. New York Red Bulls Chris Duvall, D Once a Metro
23. LA Galaxy Kyle Venter, D LAG Confidential
24. Toronto FC Daniel Lovitz, M Waking the Red
25. Union Kevin Cope, D Brotherly Game
26. Timbers Taylor Peay, D Stumptown Footy
27. Union Robbie Derschang, D Brotherly Game
28. Earthquakes Joe Sofia, D Quake, Rattle and Goal
29. United Victor Munoz, M Black and Red United
30. Whitecaps Mamadou Diouf, F 86 Forever
31. Revolution Alec Sundly, M The Bent Musket
32. Dynamo Mark Sherrod, F Dynamo Theory
33. Rapids Jared Watts, M Burgundy Wave
34. Red Bulls Eric Stevenson, M Once a Metro
35. Rapids John Berner, GK Burgundy Wave
36. Timbers Aaron Long, M Stumptown Footy
37. Impact George Malki, M Mount Royal Soccer
38. Sporting Kansas City Adnan Gabeljic, F The Daily Wiz