/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26954457/20131004_jla_ae4_330.0.jpg)
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 |