RealGM

This is pretty simple, and hopefully it will be a fun discussion during the lockout. If there were to be an expansion draft, what 8 players from your roster would you protect?

The rules:
1. Unrestricted free agents are not available to an expansion team to draft.
2. Unsigned draft picks are not available for the expansion team to draft.
3. Restricted free agents are available.
4. Each team must have at least one player unprotected, so if team x had 8 players under contract and 4 that were UFAs, it could only protect 7 players.
5. The expansion team can only draft one player from each roster and must have at least 14 players.

I'll give it a go. Although assuming Irving or Thompson wouldnt have to be protected Im not sure I have 8 that I would feel I HAD to protect.

1. Varejao
2. Eyenga
3. Casspi
4. Erden
5. Jamison (expiring contract)
6. Gee
7. Sessions
8. Gibson


Unprotected's
Davis - I dont think an expansion team would have any interest in an older player with such a large contract, and if they do they can gladly have him.
Hollins - He's yours.
Samuels - I struggled a bit with Sessions and Gibson over 'Mardo. I think a case can be made to protect him over either one. I just thought that Boobie and Ramon might have more trade value.
Harris - I was pretty high on Manny at the beginning of the year but he regressed as the season went on. I could see an expansion team stealing him and giving him a shot. I would be happy about it, but he wouldnt be an irreplaceable player.
Harangody - I just cant see an expansion team going for a 3/4 tweener like Luke.
Graham - Hoopshype has his salary on the books for next year, but I could have sworn he only got a 1 year deal.

I assume that we don't actually have to protect the rookies since they are not signed to begin with

In the NBA's case we need to be talking contraction draft, lol.

I don't think there are 8 guys on the Cavaliers that I'd feel the need to protect.
I like B-Mac's list...
1. Varejao
2. Eyenga
3. Casspi
4. Erden
5. Jamison (expiring contract)
6. Gee
7. Sessions
8. Gibson
....although I'd expose Jamison. I don't think we're going to use his expiring and if someone else wanted to pay him this season I'd let him them. I think he's exactly not what an expansion team is looking for though.

Davis, I like having around, but like Jamison, if someone else wants to pay them I think you have to let them.

The rest of the guys - Hollins, Harris, Harangody, Samuals, Graham - don't matter.

If rookies needed to be protected, one spot would come from Jamison and then I'd expose Gee for the other. I think he's far less likely to be grabbed than a specialist like Gibson.

I would protect Samuels over Gee.