Manny Lagos has attended Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft and player combine before.

But as the newly appointed sporting director of Minnesota United FC, with aims of entering MLS in 2017, this year’s attendance has come with a higher level of involvement and focus.

“Ultimately, it really is absorbing,” Lagos said. “How does it relate to your market and to your team and what you are going to need?”

Lagos and manager Carl Craig attended the player combine in Lauderhill, Fla., this week and traveled to Thursday’s draft in Baltimore.

“It’s the little nuances to observe teams to see how they’re acting and interacting for the last two weeks,” Lagos said.

Lagos wasn’t sharing his notes but said it was instructive to partake in the sporting director meetings and to watch the draft unfold. Wake Forest midfielder Jack Harrison was taken with the first overall pick and was swiftly traded from Chicago to New York City FC.

“It’s a key moment for transactions (with) the proximity of all the teams,” Lagos said. “It certainly reminds us that there are a lot of different ways that we can be creative in terms of building the team.”

Some soccer pundits have questioned the need for a draft with about half of the players picked making rosters the next season. MLS Commissioner Don Garber said there remains a need for a draft, and Lagos agreed.

“I’m a big fan of using all the avenues possible to build your roster because today they might be a small piece to your roster,” Lagos said, “but in a couple years those small pieces are the most important pieces for you to be a successful team.”

MLS has also been criticized for its convoluted rules. “We still need to have rules,” Garber said, looking at the addition of Targeted Allocation Money as a positive to help building the middle of teams’ starting lineups.

“The rules have evolved because the league is growing and getting better and they have to find new and creative ways to try to build the league up and get players into the league,” said Lagos, who played for five MLS teams before retiring in 2005. “We just have to do within these new structures and new rules, but ultimately I know we will be successful because our club does a nice job of attacking certain types of difficult problems.”

SCHEDULE

Minnesota United will start what could be its final season in the North American Soccer League on April 2 against the Carolina RailHawks in Cary, N.C.

The Loons will play 32 matches, including 16 at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The home opener is April 16 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

United is awaiting a decision from Major League Soccer on their start date in the top domestic league, which could be 2017 or 2018.

United will open preseason play Feb. 1 and will play three matches against MLS sides at the Simple Invitational in Portland, Ore. The Loons play MLS champion Portland on Feb. 21, the Chicago Fire on Feb. 24 and the Vancouver Whitecaps on Feb. 27.

They are working on setting up a March trip to Europe. United made offseason trips to England in 2014 and Brazil in 2015.

In 2015, United finished third in the NASL with 53 points but lost 2-1 to the Ottawa Fury in extra time in the playoff semifinals in November.

This season, United plays Ottawa on the road May 7 and Sept. 24 and at home on Sept. 17. The Loons will play the defending NASL champion New York Cosmos on the road Sept. 10, at home on April 23 and in the regular-season finale Oct. 29 in Blaine.

MINNESOTA UNITED SCHEDULE

SPRING — April 2, at Carolina RailHawks; April 9, at FC Edmonton; April 16, vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers; April 23, vs. New York Cosmos; May 7, at Ottawa Fury FC; May 14, vs. Jacksonville Armada FC; May 21, at Indy Eleven; May 28, vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies; June 4, at Rayo Oklahoma; June 11, vs. Miami FC.

FALL — July 2, vs. Carolina RailHawks; July 9, at Indy Eleven; July 16, vs. Indy Eleven; July 23, vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers; July 30, at Rayo Oklahoma; Aug. 3, vs. Puerto Rico FC; Aug. 6, vs. Miami FC; Aug., at FC Edmonton; Aug. 13, vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies; Aug. 20, at Jacksonville Armada FC; Aug. 27, at Miami FC; Aug. 31, at Fort Lauderdale Strikers; Sept. 3, vs. Rayo Oklahoma; Sept. 10, at New York Cosmos; Sept. 17, vs. Ottawa Fury FC; Sept. 24, at Ottawa Fury FC; Oct. 1, vs. Jacksonville Armada FC; Oct. 5, at Tampa Bay Rowdies; Oct. 8, at Puerto Rico FC; Oct. 15, vs. FC Edmonton; Oct. 22, at Carolina RailHawks; Oct. 29, vs. New York Cosmos.

WATSON BACK

United and midfielder Jamie Watson agreed to a contract extension.

“Jamie has integrated into our club culture and our community and has done great job of both,” Lagos said. “We are excited that he is committed to coming back. He had some great moments on the field with us.”

Watson joined the Loons in 2014. He played in four games and scored one goal in the 2015 spring season before tearing a knee ligament. He has been rehabbing for eight months and is expected to be ready for the 2016 season.

“I’m so happy to rejoin the fantastic group of players we have here and look forward to playing in front of the crazy, boisterous Dark Clouds (supporters group) again this season at NSC,” Watson posted in a message on Twitter. “Time to get to work to win some trophies for the club!”

DAVID WAITS

Former Lakeville North player Tyler David was not selected in the opening two rounds of the MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.

David, who played in college at Saint Louis University, could be selected during the third or fourth round on Tuesday.

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/andygreder.