RealGM

Trades and Transactions board is going to be doing an expansion draft project where we imagine we are running a new expansion team starting play in 2015/16 and having to create our initial roster pulled from current NBA teams.

So in advance of that I'm trying to get the best possible idea of what 8 players each franchise would most likely choose to protect. And while last year we depended on our Trade board posters to provide us that list, this year we thought it would be more accurate if we consulted with the team boards.

So I would love to get your opinions itt on which 8 players you think the Heat would protect in an expansion draft. I am attaching a link to last year's project so you can see some of the criteria we used when assembling the expansion team. Other than the cap figures the rules would be roughly the same this year.

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1348605

We'd also love to have any and all of you come participate in this project.

Protected: Wade, Bosh, Goran, Deng, Whiteside, Winslow, McBob, Haslem.

Wade, Bosh, G. Dragic, Whiteside, Winslow, Richardson, McBob, Deng

Wade Bosh, Winslow, Whiteside, Green, Dragic, Richardson, McBob

Deng is on one year option...teams wouldn't take him because he will bolt after the season
Ill keep Green because of his potential and cheap salary

Wade,Bosh,Dragic,Whiteside,Winslow,McRoberts,Deng,Napier

TMIMITW wrote:Wade Bosh, Winslow, Whiteside, Green, Dragic, Richardson, McBob

Deng is on one year option...teams wouldn't take him because he will bolt after the season
Ill keep Green because of his potential and cheap salary

You do know that Green is on a 1 yr deal as well therefore throwing your whole Deng argument away.
You protect your best talent and higher assets. Deng has the most value. I do agree with the rest of your protected players. Richardson might be a tossup for me. I think TODAY, Napier holds better value.

Eight players only? Okay, this is interesting.

PG: Goran Dragic
SG: Dwyane Wade - Justise Winslow
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Chris Bosh - Josh McRoberts - Udonis Haslem
C: Hassan Whiteside

Starting Five: That's obvious; you have to build your team's foundation and I'm happy with what we have to work with next season.

McRoberts: He's the Lamar Odom sixth-man on this team. He's very important and players like him don't grow on trees.

Winslow: He's the future for this team. For a while, Miami didn't have someone young to look to as a player of the future. He's that guy. He can't be unprotected in any expansion draft.

Haslem: He's the heart and soul of this team. Birdman is a cult hero, but Haslem is Mr. 305 for life. He's safe. Some players are worth more off the court than they are on it. He's one of those glue guys.

Honestly, as much as I like the potential depth of Miami's roster next season, everyone beyond these eight are expendable.

heat4life wrote:

TMIMITW wrote:Wade Bosh, Winslow, Whiteside, Green, Dragic, Richardson, McBob

Deng is on one year option...teams wouldn't take him because he will bolt after the season
Ill keep Green because of his potential and cheap salary

You do know that Green is on a 1 yr deal as well therefore throwing your whole Deng argument away.
You protect your best talent and higher assets. Deng has the most value. I do agree with the rest of your protected players. Richardson might be a tossup for me. I think TODAY, Napier holds better value.

But look at our cap situation, I am sure an expansion team will look to build for years to come.... I want Deng, I am just gambling that the team wouldn't take him... Napier and chalmers are more interesting so I would dangle them out there.

My logic is based on what we need to get rid of and who we need to still compete for a championship for years to come. Now if you want to keep Deng then McBob/Green is next to go

Goran, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside, and McRoberts are all protected as they're the best players on the team. Winslow is safe too, since he's the best young talent they have. The 8th spot is really hard to pick, and there are like five guys you couldn't go wrong with here. I would go with Napier, since he has a good mix of upside and a long-term (cheap) contract. Sorry to leave out Haslem

I'd protect Goran, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside, Winslow...and here it gets tricky. I'd probably protect Green and Napier, stash Richardson overseas for a year, and hope that STAT's age, and McBob's injury keep them here. I don't think they'd take Haslem, but one of Bird or Chalmers could very well be gone. I would expect they'd take Chalmers, and I'd be fine with that...

BBallFreak wrote:I'd protect Goran, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside, Winslow...and here it gets tricky. I'd probably protect Green and Napier, stash Richardson overseas for a year, and hope that STAT's age, and McBob's injury keep them here. I don't think they'd take Haslem, but one of Bird or Chalmers could very well be gone. I would expect they'd take Chalmers, and I'd be fine with that...

Interesting strategy. I never considered that re: overseas stashing. I just doubt the Sonics (praying they're the expansion team soon) would snatch someone outside of maybe Napier or Green.

Wade, Bosh, Whiteside, Goran, Deng, McBob, Winslow are set in stone - Can't believe that one or two of you have left McBob out.

Final save:

Not Bird he's too old for an expansion team, not Napier, Ennis or Walker they really aren't good enough to have a space on our 15man. Zoran we could wish would go. Amare - I want to see him play for us this season but after that meh. UD would refuse to play anywhere else and retire.

That leaves JRich, TJ and Green. Green is the best of them but he's now a ring chaser so wouldn't play for an expansion team. JRich is better than TJ but I'm not sure that an expansion team would be taking a rookie second rounder so maybe I'd protect TJ. Having said that on ability I'd protect Green.

If I were an expansion team I'd take Michael Supercool Beastly.

I dont know how it was when the last expansion teams came, but wouldnt it make sense that they collect only young players and tank the first 2-3 years? So why should we protect Amare or Haslem? Makes no sense.

Wade, Hassan, Bosh, Dragic, Winslow Deng, Josh, Green

The only player they might grab is shabazz.

TMIMITW wrote:

heat4life wrote:

TMIMITW wrote:Wade Bosh, Winslow, Whiteside, Green, Dragic, Richardson, McBob

Deng is on one year option...teams wouldn't take him because he will bolt after the season
Ill keep Green because of his potential and cheap salary

You do know that Green is on a 1 yr deal as well therefore throwing your whole Deng argument away.
You protect your best talent and higher assets. Deng has the most value. I do agree with the rest of your protected players. Richardson might be a tossup for me. I think TODAY, Napier holds better value.

But look at our cap situation, I am sure an expansion team will look to build for years to come.... I want Deng, I am just gambling that the team wouldn't take him... Napier and chalmers are more interesting so I would dangle them out there.

My logic is based on what we need to get rid of and who we need to still compete for a championship for years to come. Now if you want to keep Deng then McBob/Green is next to go

You have to keep in mind that players are just "chips" to these teams. It is all about the value that the "chip" holds for you. Deng has a $10 mil expiring contract and is a starter in this league. Well regarded veteran who is known as a good mentor. Any expansion team would pounce at the chance of having him on the roster. Gerald Green, while a rotation player, is more of a known quantity with a minimum expiring salary. Which one of the two do you think can net you a better asset in a trade?

heat4life wrote:

TMIMITW wrote:

heat4life wrote:
You do know that Green is on a 1 yr deal as well therefore throwing your whole Deng argument away.
You protect your best talent and higher assets. Deng has the most value. I do agree with the rest of your protected players. Richardson might be a tossup for me. I think TODAY, Napier holds better value.

But look at our cap situation, I am sure an expansion team will look to build for years to come.... I want Deng, I am just gambling that the team wouldn't take him... Napier and chalmers are more interesting so I would dangle them out there.

My logic is based on what we need to get rid of and who we need to still compete for a championship for years to come. Now if you want to keep Deng then McBob/Green is next to go

You have to keep in mind that players are just "chips" to these teams. It is all about the value that the "chip" holds for you. Deng has a $10 mil expiring contract and is a starter in this league. Well regarded veteran who is known as a good mentor. Any expansion team would pounce at the chance of having him on the roster. Gerald Green, while a rotation player, is more of a known quantity with a minimum expiring salary. Which one of the two do you think can net you a better asset in a trade?

Yeah you are right, Keep Deng! Cause If I was the expansion team I would grab him first and ask him who he wants to play with

Wade, Bosh, Whiteside, Dragic, Deng, Winslow, McRoberts, Green

Dragic Wade Winslow Bosh Whiteside Napier deng Mcbob

Hey guys, seems the vote went:

Wade, Bosh, Whiteside, Dragic, Deng, Winslow, McRoberts, Green

Thanks for the help!