2023 MLP Atlanta: Owner and GM of Orlando Squeeze on Their Draft Picks

Orlando Squeeze Owner Ryan DeVos on Draft Strategy, Roster Decisions and Building a Winner

Ryan DeVos became the owner and general manager of Major League Pickleball's Orlando Squeeze expansion franchise just 10 days before the 2023 draft in July. Despite the tight timeline, DeVos executed an unconventional draft strategy that shook up the league and built buzz around his new club.

In a revealing August interview on the “Inside MLP” podcast, DeVos pulled back the curtain on his bold roster construction and vision for championship contention. His calculated risks and keen ability to identify undervalued talent have set the stage for a potential Cinderella debut season in Orlando.

Drafting Anna Bright to Be Face of Franchise

1. Why did you make Anna Bright your first round pick and build your team around her? (5:30)

We considered and spoke with practically everyone drafted in the top eight. The beauty of MLP is there's a lot of top talent. We decided going female first was important because of the drop-off after the top few women compared to the narrower gap among the top men. Securing a top female in Bright made sense since women play half the matches and are integral. Beyond skills, I wanted someone who could lead on the court and bench, keep teammates engaged and bring chemistry. Anna stood out there. (Orlando's Draft Breakdown and Analysis)

2. You traded down from the third pick to select Bright fifth overall. Were you certain she'd still be there at five? (11:21)

Absolutely, there was no doubt. I was prepared to take her at three. Conversations with the teams picking fourth, fifth and sixth assured me she'd be available at five. It allowed us to pick up extra value by moving up in the second round.

3. Did you get any criticism for passing on Riley Newman with the third pick? (9:38)

Maybe more backlash had we stayed put and actually passed on Riley. But the value of trading down made it worthwhile. Watching matches, I felt strongly that having a top female leader would be important.

Playing the Long Game in Rounds 2-4

4. How did you approach the second round selection of Andrei Daescu? (13:35)

We tiered all players based on statistics, results, styles and discussions. After taking Anna, we got her input on pairings. She gave two names for our second pick, including Daescu. His Florida location helps for training too. Between the two names she mentioned, Andrei made the most sense strategically.

5. Did Anna Bright have influence over all your draft decisions? (16:54)

Absolutely, her opinions carried a ton of weight since she knows these players way better than I do. My job is assembling the best team, and a lot of that is chemistry. Anna essentially made the Daescu pick with my full support.

6. Zane Navratil seemed like a steal in the third round. How was he still available there? (26:32)

A bit of good draft karma I guess! His skills are still elite, but his previous team struggled despite that talent. Anna and Andrei strongly endorsed trading back in round three, and we lucked into Zane being there despite landing further back than we hoped.

7. Why did you take the lesser known Rachel Rohrbacher in the fourth round? (18:31)

We needed a fourth player with upside to swing for the fences instead of a safe, middling pick. Rachel has phenomenal tennis background and SEC success. Conversations assured me she has a chip on her shoulder to prove doubters wrong. Anna and Andrei's willingness to mentor her factored in too.

8. Did getting Navratil in round three influence the Rohrbacher pick? (27:05)

Somewhat. Our later third rounder meant moving up in round four for a female was important. The men we'd get in round three were all solid, so gambing on Rachel's upside made sense. With Anna's ability to cover court, we just needed someone who could mesh with her.

Orlando's Path to Premier League in 2024

9. What's your approach to conversations about needing Premier League promotion next year? (29:00)

The players understand our situation. We must consistently make it out of groups, but ultimately need to start advancing farther. The funkiness of major roster turnover and no real loyalty or identity in year one means it may take time to build relationships. But hopefully we'll perform and find upside that treats players right so they want to stay.

10. By my math, you likely need around 40-45 points to make the top 12 next year. Does that sound right? (30:47)

Mid-40s sounds right. We clearly need to start winning events.

Building Team Chemistry and Identity

11. What types of questions did you ask potential picks during your interview process? (31:40)

Our questions were straightforward and focused on who they are off court – leadership abilities, team attributes, how they see themselves. I wanted to learn about them as people first. Also asked their thoughts on factors behind successful teams so far. Learned who they'd want to play with to gauge later round interests.

12. Do you think other teams had extensive conversations with all draft options like you did? (33:39)

I'd be very surprised if anyone spoke to all players. That gets really complicated. I relied more on Anna's player insights. As resources grow, I expect more scouting and investigation of lesser known talents who could change team dynamics. But we're not fully there yet.

Orlando Squeeze Branding and Connecting with Fans

13. Your logo and branding have been huge hits - what's the backstory there? (38:39)

We established a brand fast despite picking up the team 10 days before the first event. Our mascot actually originated from an Orlando Magic 407 Day promotion with no purpose beyond me liking the character. When MLP came up, it became a perfect centerpiece for our pickleball brand. The artist tweaked it to be more pickleball specific. We call him Little Squeezy.

14. Where can people buy Little Squeezy and Orlando Squeeze merchandise? (40:42)

OrlandoSqueeze.com – all our merch is on there! Little Squeezy will also be wandering around at our next event in Atlanta. It's been fun building this brand in such a short timeframe.

Final Thoughts on Year One Expectations

15. Any final predictions on how the Squeeze will finish this inaugural season? (41:19)

I have some good feelings, and hopefully we can meet expectations. I'm ready to even jump in a Little Squeezy mascot costume if needed! But in all seriousness, I believe we have the right chemistry and leadership to start building something special on and off the court. It will be a great journey.