Toronto FC bench boss Greg Vanney didn’t play the $1.5 billion Powerball on Wednesday night.

Instead, the second-year coach was preparing to gamble on a player at Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore.

“Somebody here said, ‘It’s not necessarily about identifying talent, it’s about reading the future, being a fortune teller,” Vanney told the Toronto Sun. “You identify guys and know they’re talented and see what their mentality is like.

“In the end, there’s an acclimation process and it doesn’t always translate.”

It rarely translates, actually. When compared to North America’s other major leagues, MLS draft picks only occasionally pan out.

For instance, of the 26 players currently on TFC’s first-team roster, four were drafted by the Reds. Of those four, defender Nick Hagglund led the way with eight starts through 34 matches in 2015.

“I think there are more than a handful of guys (in this year’s draft) — nine to 10, maybe 12 — who could have good careers in the league,” Vanney said. “Whether they have an impact right away is tough to say.”

The only affirmation is that there are no certainties.

There’s almost never a LeBron James or a Cam Newton. Only projects.

“It was an interesting week,” Vanney said of the MLS Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where draft-eligible players competed in front of MLS front offices. “I thought the Combine was OK. The games were better than the games last year. They were more organized tactically.”

While few decisions are based solely on the Combine — collegiate players are tracked and scouted through the NCAA season — the event does give MLS managers a chance to sit across from prospective draft picks to speak in an intimate setting.

The Reds met with Georgetown defender Keegan Rosenberry for around 40 minutes this week and also sat down with Akron midfielder Richie Laryea, who grew up playing soccer in the Greater Toronto Area. They also have interest in Wake Forest midfielder Jack Harrison, though none of the aforementioned trio are expected to be available when the Reds pick ninth overall.

“We’re approaching things differently this year,” Vanney added.

With the club’s depth chart nearly maxed out, the Reds will draft the best available player Thursday afternoon.

They have a list of guys numbered one through 10.

“We’re No. 9,” Vanney explained. “As they get picked, we check them off.”

That’s the luxury TFC has following an off-season that has included three major acquisitions.

The Reds acquired a pair of veteran defenders in Drew Moor and Steven Beitashour in mid-December prior to orchestrating a shock move for hard-as-nails midfielder Will Johnson. With more than 600 MLS appearances between them, all three are expected to make an immediate impact.

“I’m ecstatic about our offseason,” Vanney told the Sun. “We picked three targets in the league. Those were the guys. I’ve known Drew since 2005. He played next to me in Dallas. He’s first class in terms of person, the guy he will be in the locker room and he’s an excellent player.

“Steven is a fighter. He’s going to get up and down the line and create.

“Everyone knows Will and what he’s capable of doing.”

The goalkeeper position remains somewhat of a mystery. After off-loading Joe Bendik and Chris Konopka this winter, the Reds are left with a pair of goalkeepers who haven’t played a single MLS minute.

“We have people we’re talking to relative to the position,” Vanney said. “We will see how quickly something comes about.

“Part of it is that we wanted to open the path for Quillan Roberts and Alex Bono to get up to the first team level.

“We do think they’ve reached the level where they should be, at minimum, fighting for the second spot.”

Whoever the Reds grab Thursday will likely be doing the same.

REDS BUY OUT LACKLUSTRE KANTARI

Toronto FC announced Wednesday it has waived centre-back Ahmed Kantari, bringing an end to the Moroccan’s six-month stay.

No doubt the 30-year-old’s lacklustre form contributed to his short tenure.

Kantari, who the Reds signed to a multi-year deal in July, appeared in just 12 regular-season games.

He’ll be remembered for conceding a bad penalty, striking opponents and failing to live up to the resume he accumulated in France.

The gaffe-prone Kantari also started in what was a calamitous 3-0 playoff loss in Montreal late last year, an outing that sealed his fate.

When the Reds acquired free-agent central defender Drew Moor this offseason, it signaled the end for Kantari.

As a result, Toronto FC received cap relief after using its one-time buyout to remove a player from its roster.

MLS SUPERDRAFT — FIRST ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Draft projections compiled by media members at TopDrawerSoccer.com and contributed to by the Sun’s Kurtis Larson.