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 Thunder 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.

For me I protect:
Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, Morrow, Roberson, Payne, and one of Collison/McGary. My head says McGary my heart Collison.

That leaves unprotected:

Kanter, Singler, Waiters, Augustin, the remaining of Collison/McGary, and Novak.

I would protect:
Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, Morrow, Roberson, Payne, and McGary.

Available:
Kanter/ Waiters
Augustin/ Novak
Collison/ Singler

Other than Kanter and Waiters I doubt any of the others would be taken.

Collison and Singler will make a decent amount of money.

Augustin and Novak will be free agents so I would think they would not be avail.

Rookies shouldn't be included as an expansion would happen prior to the draft. Either that or next year's free agents shouldn't be.
KD, Russ, Serge, Steven, Robes, Mitch, A-Mo, Kanter
I don't think an expansion team would take Nick.

spearsy23 wrote:Rookies shouldn't be included as an expansion would happen prior to the draft. Either that or next year's free agents shouldn't be.
KD, Russ, Serge, Steven, Robes, Mitch, A-Mo, Kanter
I don't think an expansion team would take Nick.

I think they're doing it as a hypothetical if the roster was set now. But I guess we should check this.

Chuck Texas wrote: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 Thunder 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.

Hey Chuck, see spearsy's point above. How are we doing this? Because technically either Payne or next year's FAs shouldn't count, but it seems weird due to timing.

spearsy23 wrote:Rookies shouldn't be included as an expansion would happen prior to the draft. Either that or next year's free agents shouldn't be.
KD, Russ, Serge, Steven, Robes, Mitch, A-Mo, Kanter
I don't think an expansion team would take Nick.

I know IRL this would be done prior to the draft/FA. But we are doing it differently here for 2 reasons:

1. As an intellectual exercise its much more interesting if you have make tough decisions on a complete roster rather than during an off-season where many teams don't have many more than 8 players under contract and some not even that.

2. This is a dead time on the forums between the heart of FA/SL and the start of training camp so creates some discussion/content during this lull.

So I beg everyone's indulgence on this scenario being a little off from reality.

There are a few obvious ones:
1. KD
2. Russ
3. Ibaka
4. Adams

Some that you know would get taken if you left them exposed:
5. Morrow
6.McGary
7. Payne

Then one you'd rather not lose:
8. Augustin

I'd take my chances with Roberson. I don't think an expansion team would take him. I also don't think Collison would get taken because he offers no upside at his age and they would have a lot of options for role players. I'd also hope they were foolish enough to take Waiters.

Thank you much.

Looks like we're gonna try to do this over the next day or 2, so any final thoughts? We have for sure:
KD, Russ, Serge, Adams, Morrow, McGary

With one vote for Kanter, 2 for Payne, 3 for Roberson, one for DJ.

I really think Roberson should be kept and Payne's value is too high. Kanter may get taken, and the expansion rules are only 1 player can be taken from a team. I don't see the allure of DJ that much when other options likely will be out there. My 2 cents. Any other thoughts? As of now voting is leaning to protect those 2 but I'd like more input if we had any.

My vote:

1 Durant
2 Westbrook
3 Ibaka
4 Adams
5 McGary
6 Morrow
7 Payne
8 Kanter

In this scenario, I could see Waiters being the pick from our team. He's still young and has potential. He's also capable of creating his own shot and scoring, which is something expansion teams will need.

I don't know if an expansion team would take Roberson, so like Kizz, I'm gambling that they wouldn't. Same with DJ.

As much as I hate his contract, I just like Kanter as a part of this team going forward. He'll be a key cog for us offensively, running the PnR with Russ and Cam, and is a solid rebounder. I am optimistic Billy will be able to get him playing respectable defense.

KD, Russ, Serge, Adams, Morrow, McGary, Payne, Roberson are who I'd protect. I think Roberson gets a little undervalued, but I don't think GMs would make that mistake. I'd risk Collison getting taken—don't think he would be, but it's possible, and I'd rather protect McGary.

Kanter, Waiters, Singler, Augustin, Collison, Novak all unprotected. Kanter probably gets taken, same with Augustin. Waiters, Collison, Singler all possibles too.

kd 35 wrote:My vote:

1 Durant
2 Westbrook
3 Ibaka
4 Adams
5 McGary
6 Morrow
7 Payne
8 Kanter

In this scenario, I could see Waiters being the pick from our team. He's still young and has potential. He's also capable of creating his own shot and scoring, which is something expansion teams will need.

I don't know if an expansion team would take Roberson, so like Kizz, I'm gambling that they wouldn't. Same with DJ.

As much as I hate his contract, I just like Kanter as a part of this team going forward. He'll be a key cog for us offensively, running the PnR with Russ and Cam, and is a solid rebounder. I am optimistic Billy will be able to get him playing respectable defense.

dbrandon wrote:KD, Russ, Serge, Adams, Morrow, McGary, Payne, Roberson are who I'd protect. I think Roberson gets a little undervalued, but I don't think GMs would make that mistake. I'd risk Collison getting taken—don't think he would be, but it's possible, and I'd rather protect McGary.

Kanter, Waiters, Singler, Augustin, Collison, Novak all unprotected. Kanter probably gets taken, same with Augustin. Waiters, Collison, Singler all possibles too.

Thanks guys, looks like an extra vote for each of Kanter and Roberson, and 2 for Payne. And they can only take 1 player per team so both DJ and Kanter couldn't get poached luckily. As of now the list is:
KD, Russ, Serge, Adams, McGary, Payne, Morrow, and Roberson with Kanter 2 votes back of Robes.

PROTECT:
1) Durant
2) Westbrook
3) Ibaka
4) Adams
5) Morrow
6) McGary
7) Payne
8) Waiters

AVAILABLE:
Kanter/Collison/Singler/Roberson/Novak/Augustin


I'm taking my risk on letting Kanter, Collison, Roberson, and Singler being selected. I don't think any team will pick Collison unless they want veteran presence in the locker room. Kanter will most likely be taken out of the pack. Roberson and Singler I feel like they might get selected but I'll take the risk.

The reason I chose Waiters over Kanter, Roberson, and Collison was because I feel like he still has the potential to turn his career back.

Phydeounix wrote:AVAILABLE:
Kanter/Collison/Singler/Roberson/Novak/Augustin

I'm taking my risk on letting Kanter, Collison, Roberson, and Singler being selected. I don't think any team will pick Collison unless they want veteran presence in the locker room. Kanter will most likely be taken out of the pack. Roberson and Singler I feel like they might get selected but I'll take the risk.

The reason I chose Waiters over Kanter, Roberson, and Collison was because I feel like he still has the potential to turn his career back.

Just for the sake of discussion, I agree with you in that I still like Dion's potential, but you don't feel that way about Kanter?

He's actually younger than Waiters. He was ruled ineligible and wasn't allowed to play college basketball, so he missed out on a whole year of competitive basketball, along with the development and experience that comes with it. He's already a polished player offensively, and having defensive-minded coaches like Billy and Monty should only help his development on the other end. You could certainly argue that he's not worth his contract at this point, (and I would agree), but I do think he has the potential to be worth the money he's being paid.

With that said, it sounds like we'll be losing Kanter to this expansion draft.

kd 35 wrote:

Phydeounix wrote:AVAILABLE:
Kanter/Collison/Singler/Roberson/Novak/Augustin

I'm taking my risk on letting Kanter, Collison, Roberson, and Singler being selected. I don't think any team will pick Collison unless they want veteran presence in the locker room. Kanter will most likely be taken out of the pack. Roberson and Singler I feel like they might get selected but I'll take the risk.

The reason I chose Waiters over Kanter, Roberson, and Collison was because I feel like he still has the potential to turn his career back.

Just for the sake of discussion, I agree with you in that I still like Dion's potential, but you don't feel that way about Kanter?

He's actually younger than Waiters. He was ruled ineligible and wasn't allowed to play college basketball, so he missed out on a whole year of competitive basketball, along with the development and experience that comes with it. He's already a polished player offensively, and having defensive-minded coaches like Billy and Monty should only help his development on the other end. You could certainly argue that he's not worth his contract at this point, (and I would agree), but I do think he has the potential to be worth the money he's being paid.

With that said, it sounds like we'll be losing Kanter to this expansion draft.

Don't worry. I feel the same way about Kanter. I just didn't mention him. I do believe he can become a decent defender considering he is still young plus he has Ibaka there.

Yeah I don't see Waiters over Kanter, and I think there's honestly a better shot of Roberson's offense developing than Kanter's defense. But so far the voting is consensus for KD/Russ/Ibaka/Adams/Morrow/McGary/Payne and the 8 is Robes as of now by largest vote.

Waiters - 1 vote
Kanter - 2 votes
Roberson - 4 votes

If the rookie is included I guess I'll protect
KD, Russ, Serge, Steven, Cam, Robes, Kanter, McGary

Kanter is going to be more valuable to the second unit than A-Mo. I really hope Morrow doesn't get picked though.

Protected:
KD
Westbrook
Ibaka
Kanter
McGary
Adams
Roberson

Unprotected:
Nick
DJ
Morrow
Payne
Singler
Waiters
Novak

PGs are pretty easy to replace in today's game.
Presti has proven he can draft or find through FA, good high defense role playing shooting guards.

Ive never been a fan of expansion drafts. There are a few alternatives when it comes to adding teams to the league. One i like that was highlighted a few years ago in the general basketball section (i think), was the idea of league supplemented trades to the new teams. So lets say OKC sends the Las Vegas Gambleholics Ibaka for 1 future first. One of the incentives for OKC would be taking Ibaka's salary and the league paying that amount for OKCs current roster. Not affecting the cap, but making it so the franchise is subtracting what? 14 million is it? From the amount they need to pay.
Plus give each new team 3 picks in the lottery with the only guaranteed position being the number 1 overall for one of the three, the rest being mixed in with everyone else's chances. Blah blah blah.

Bravenewworld wrote:Protected:
KD
Westbrook
Ibaka
Kanter
McGary
Adams
Roberson

Unprotected:
Nick
DJ
Morrow
Payne
Singler
Waiters
Novak

PGs are pretty easy to replace in today's game.
Presti has proven he can draft or find through FA, good high defense role playing shooting guards.

Ive never been a fan of expansion drafts. There are a few alternatives when it comes to adding teams to the league. One i like that was highlighted a few years ago in the general basketball section (i think), was the idea of league supplemented trades to the new teams. So lets say OKC sends the Las Vegas Gambleholics Ibaka for 1 future first. One of the incentives for OKC would be taking Ibaka's salary and the league paying that amount for OKCs current roster. Not affecting the cap, but making it so the franchise is subtracting what? 14 million is it? From the amount they need to pay.
Plus give each new team 3 picks in the lottery with the only guaranteed position being the number 1 overall for one of the three, the rest being mixed in with everyone else's chances. Blah blah blah.

FYI, only picked 7, you get another.