Say that you were the owner of an NBA expansion team for the 2009-2010 season. How would you set up your franchise? -------------------------------------------------------- LOCATION: Must be a city in the continental United States that does not currently have a team. TEAM NAME: Must not be a current NBA franchise. Be creative! COLORS: Pick two colors to represent your team! STADIUM/SPONSOR: Pick a current corporation to sponsor your stadium! COACH: Must be a currently UNEMPLOYED Coach or RETIRED Player. ROSTER: Given that an expansion team has only 66% of the salary cap, use the following guide to pick your players. I understand there's lots of room for argument as to where a player should fall in terms of salary but for the sake of the game, let's just run with the list. Rules: Pick 3 Mid Level Players Pick 5 Lower Level Players Pick 4 Minimum Level Players Select your draft pick (anyone on the nbadraft.net list) MID: Marvin Williams Raymond Felton Drew Gooden Ben Gordon Wally Szczerbiak Anderson Varejao Zydrunas Ilgauskas Linas Kleiza Antonio McDyess Jamal Crawford Von Wafer Jarrett Jack Marquis Daniels Trevor Ariza Hakim Warrick Charlie Villanueva Nate Robinson Eddy Curry Quentin Richardson Chris Wilcox Desmond Mason Matt Barnes Jamario Moon Jermaine O'Neal Anthony Parker Kyle Korver Lower Level: Glen Davis Leon Powe Eddie House ZaZa Pachulia Ronald Murray Devean George Gerald Green* Johan Petro Chris Andersen Anthony Carter (G-Denver) Sean May Walter Hermann Will Bynum* Kwame Brown Rasho Nesterovic Ricky Davis Fred Jones Brian Skinner Chris Mihm Mark Blount Jamaal Magloire Ramon Sessions Tyronn Lue Damon Jones Rashad McCants* Maurice Ager Jarvis Hayes Devin Brown Damien Wilkins Joe Smith Robert Swift Marcin Gortat Keith Bogans Donyell Marshall Theo Ratliff Grant Hill* Channing Frye Bobby Jackson Shelden Williams Michael Finley Ime Udoka* Carlos Delfino Joey Graham Ronnie Price Juan Dixon Mike James Etan Thomas MIN: Shannon Brown Eric Snow Juwan Howard Aaron Gray Lindsey Hunter Stephen Hunter Dahntay Jones Marcus Williams Luther Head Dikembe Mutombo* Josh McRoberts* Steve Novak Steve Francis Francisco Elson Rodney Carney Jason Collins* Jarron Collins Kevin Ollie Calvin Booth Trenton Hassell Stromile Swift Melvin Ely Brian Cook Adonal Foyle Kareem Rush Mike Wilks Ike Diogu* Jacque Vaughn DRAFT PICK: nbadraft.net
Location: San Diego Team Name: Sharks Colors: Blake and White Stadium: Samsung Center Coach: Jeff Van Gundy ------------- Roster: PG: Raymond Felton | Will Bynum SG: Marquis Daniels | Rashad McCants SF: Grant Hill | Ime Udoka | Gerald Green PF: Blake Griffin | Josh McRoberts | Ike Diogu CN: Jermaine O'Neal | Jason Collins | Dikembe Mutombo
Location: St. Louis Team name: Spirits Colors: Gold and White Stadium/Sponsor: Nissan Center Coach: JVG of course Roster: Raymond Felton | Ramon Sessions Ben Gordon | Ricky Davis | Luther Head Quentin Richardson | Steve Novak Blake Griffin | Stromile Swift | Melvin Ely ZaZa Pachulia | Glen Davis
Location: Las Vegas Team Name: Outlaws Colors: Black w/ Red/Silver Trim Stadium/Sponsor: Thomas and Mack Center (until new arena is built) / MGM Mirage Coach: Jeff Van Gundy PG: Raymond Felton, Ramon Sessions SG: Jamal Crawford, Ronald Murray, Luther Head SF: Grant Hill, Steve Novak, Trenton Hassell PF: Blake Griffin, Chris Andersen, Glen Davis C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Francisco Elson
LOCATION: San Francisco TEAM NAME: Beatniks COLORS: Red & Gold/Yellow STADIUM/SPONSOR: Maserati Stadium COACH: Jeff Van Gundy ROSTER: C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas/Dikembe Mutombo PF: Blake Griffin/Mark Blount/Stromile Swift SF: Rashad McCants/Michael Finley/Steve Novak SG: Von Wafer/Devin Brown/Kareem Rush PG: Raymond Felton/Ramon Sessions DRAFT PICK: Blake Griffin
Location: Austin Mascot: Bats Colors: Green, Black, and Gold Arena Sponsor: None Coach: If I can bend the rules slightly, Sam Cassell. Otherwise, Jeff Van Gundy. PG: Jarrett Jack, Eric Snow, Lindsay Hunter SG: Ben Gordon, Michael Finley, Anthony Carter SF: Joey Graham, Jarvis Hayes PF: Antonio McDyess, Blake Griffin, Melvin Ely C: Zaza Pachulia, Aaron Gray
LOCATION: Jasper TEAM NAME: The Confederacy COLORS: White on White STADIUM/SPONSOR: John Deer Field COACH: Flip Saunders ROSTER: C: Robert Swift/Zydrunas Ilgauskas PF: Zaza Pachulia/Chris Andersen/Chris Mihm SF: Walter Hermann/Blake Griffin/Josh McRoberts SG: Steve Novak/Wally Szczerbiak/Kyle Korver PG: Aaron Gray/Nando De Colo
Location: Las Vegas Team Name: Gamblers Colors: Black on Black Stadium Sponsor: Vagisil Arena Coach: JVG C:Zydrunas Ilgauskas,Chris Andersen PF:Blake Griffin,Stromile Swift,Joe Smith SF:Grant Hill,Rodney Carney,Steve Novak SG:Marquis Daniels,Michael Finley, PG:Raymond Felton,Anthony Carter,Jacque Vaughn
