Remembering the Texans' Expansion draft a few years ago, many NFL teams left perfectly good players unprotected, because they had contracts that were too large, and only a new team could take them on. It occurs to me that this years NBA expansion draft could be the same way, with overpaid players being left unprotected in hopes the Bobcats will take some off the rosters of other teams. (Perhaps they could be persuaded to do this by throwing in draft picks/cash, I think I read there is a loophole that allows this?) So which players should the Rockets leave unprotected? I'd say Mo Taylor, Kelvin Cato, and Weatherspoon. While it might seem extreme, it's unlikely Bobcats would take all 3, or even 2, but I could see how Mo or Cato could be solid players in the size challenged east, and their contracts aren't extremely long term, so the Bobcats would be able to shed/resign them as they see fit. Obviously this would free up alot of money for the Rockets to sign a better player, or give them freedom to take on salary via trade.
Random - I'm not sure where you're headed with this but your logic is way off. 1) No team is allowed to lose more than one player in the draft. 2) The Bobcats can not "re-sign them as they see fit". A contract is a contract except for unprotected RFA's who become UnRFA's. This has never happened before in an expansion draft. 3) Don't have long contracts? Taylor is thru 2007 and Cato 2006. However, there is absolutely no way the Bobcats will tie up $8m of their $30m cap in Cato or Taylor. But what they likely would/could do is something like - Kelvin Cato @ $8m for picks + Othella Harrington + Mutombo (last year of contract for both players). 4) Because the rules of the Charlotte draft differ from any predeeding expansion draft, I wouldn't bet on them not taking a player with a high $ contract. (See above example of turning a high $ contract to low, short contracts). 5) The Rockets have $51.m committed for 2004-05. Losing an $8m player does not free up any FA signing cap space. Nothing personal, but you need to do your homework on the mechanics of the Charlotte expansion draft.
Personally I HIGHLY doubt the Rockets will leave Taylor and Cato unprotected in the Expansion Draft. I see out protected 8 being Francis Yao Mobley Jim Jackson Cato Taylor Nachbar Pike That leaves Spoon, left. I think Griffin, Padgett and M. Jackson will all be FAs. I wonder if we would protect Badiane? That would be interesting. I am sure the Rockets would love for the Bobcats to take Spoon off their roster just like we would have hoped they would have taken Moochie if he was still here. Cato has trade value so there is no reason to leave him unprotected. And while Taylor is overpaid he has really has played well for this team and in my opinion is a very important part of this team off of the bench.
Deuce - We keep seeing eye-to-eye on the expansion draft. Since Badiane does not have a contract for 2004-05, he is not considered in the expansion draft. IOW, there is no need to protect him. However, his rights could be traded.
