Expansion Draft Scenario -- Who would you protect?

[Texas Chuck]

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 Clippers 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.

[nickhx2]

fortunately this is really easy since we have a pretty set core with lots of fringe players.

protect: cp3 - blake - dj - jj - lance - smith - pierce - rivers

up for grabs: cole aldrich - wes johnson - jamal crawford - jordan hamilton - cj wilcox

up for grabs but plz don't take!: branden dawson

[Don Tommy]

I would protect dawson over pierce. I don't think anyone starting an expansion squad would want such an old player. A new team should follow the 76ers way of collecting young assets over veterans that may help win a couple of games.

[nickhx2]

even if an expansion occurred right here right now this team is still trying to contend for a championship. letting pierce potentially go would go directly counter to that. and i can definitely see an expansion team wanting an old schooler like paul pierce to lead a new group of guys through his twilight years.

besides, i highly doubt an expansion team is gonna try to take one of the last guys picked in the second round. possible, just unlikely.

so i don't agree with pierce being unprotected.

[Ranma]

I don't value Austin Rivers all that much and I'm a little skeptical someone will pick up Lance Stephenson, but we can't take the chance of losing LS for the 2015-16 season. I assume an expansion team would prefer players who are not on expiring deals, but obviously there is value in veteran presence as well as trade assets with salary flexibility.

I value Cole Aldrich more than Austin since we really don't have a legit backup C outside of him. Stephenson fills a similar role as Junior Rivers and I prefer signing UFA Kendall Marshall for the backup PG job, anyway. The two players I'd be afraid of losing on the unprotected list are Wesley Johnson and Branden Dawson, but I think an expansion team would be more interested in either Jamal Crawford or C.J. Wilcox, although, there would be a likelihood of Dawson getting strong consideration given his summer league performance.

Protected

• Chris Paul
• Blake Griffin
• DeAndre Jordan
• J.J. Redick
• Paul Pierce
• Josh Smith
• Lance Stephenson
• Cole Aldrich

Waiver Draft Eligible

• Jamal Crawford
• Austin Rivers
• Wesley Johnson
• Branden Dawson
• C.J. Wilcox
• Jordan Hamilton

[mkwest]

Protected
Branden Dawson
Blake Griffin
DeAndre Jordan
Chris Paul
Paul Pierce
JJ Redick
Josh Smith
Lance Stephenson

Unprotected
Cole Aldrich
Jamal Crawford
Jordan Hamilton (Unguaranteed)
Wesley Johnson
Pablo Prigioni
Austin Rivers
CJ Wilcox


There's a consensus on 7 of the 8 spots so far.