Wizards Nab Top Pick Through Trade

The Kansas City Wizards have made a big move ahead of Friday's MLS SuperDraft, trading away veteran defender Nick Garcia to the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for the top pick in the draft.
Garcia, 28, has played 247 games (all starts) for the Wizards since joining the league in 2000 - the year Kansas City won MLS Cup. He was a solid anchor for the KC defense that made it to the Western Conference Finals last season, playing 2,420 minutes during the regular season and all 270 minutes in the postseason.

"I am very excited to play in San Jose and I am grateful for the opportunity that (head coach) Frank Yallop and (General Manager) John Doyle are giving me," Garcia said. "I will work very hard to make the Earthquakes a great franchise and win many more championships."

San Jose will use his presence to fill the hole left by the departure of Clarence Goodson, who opted to sign with Norwegian team IK Start after being selected by the Earthquakes in last fall's expansion draft.

"Nick will be the centerpiece of our defense for a long time," Doyle said. "Nick is not only a great soccer player but will be a leader in our young franchise."