So in next year's expansion draft, teams can only protect 8 players. I'm curious which 8 you all would protect. I figure I'd have to say: Francis Yao Mobley Griffin Nachbar Posey - if he's signed after that I'm not sure. I think I'd protect Maddox because he's young and cheap and might be taken and maybe Kato, who despite his contract, is a solid backup big man if he continues to play like he has so far this year. I'd love it if someone took Taylor or Norris off the books (truth be told, I wouldn't shed a tear of Kato's contract was taken too), but in general I'm not sure about the last 2 spots, the last 3 if Posey is unsigned. Thoughts? Also, do you know if this expansion draft takes place before or after the regular draft? Will the Rockets have to use some of those protected slots for drafted rookies?
First of all, this won't happen next year, but the summer of 2004. And, a year and a half will reveal a whole lot from our younger players, and could easily change this assessment. This expansion draft will be especially hard for the Rockets, Sacramento, Indiana, Dallas, Portland, LAC, and other teams with younger, deeper talent. The Rockets WILL lose someone they'll wish they hadn't. And, I'll bet there will be a slew of trades for draft choices, to protect various tradeable players. But, if it was today, here's who I'd pick: Yao - future franchise superstar Center Francis - future franchise superstar PG/SG Griffin - possible future superstar PF Mobely - future star SG Boki - future solid SF Morris - future SF/PF backup Cato - very solid backup Center Posey - solid backup SF/SG All of these players are not only valuable pieces to the rebuilding of our team, but they are also very tradeable young up and comers. The remaining players are replaceable through FA or the draft. Rice - His contract will have ended, or else we'll have traded him to someone for his ending contract. Taylor - it all depends on how he does, coming back from his injury. Based on today, you'd have to leave him unprotected, but if he comes all the way back to where he was, you'd have to replace him on the above list with whoever doesn't pan out from among Morris or Posey. Norris - Oh, please, please take him... and they just might. Maddox - of course, by then, he might have developed, but based on what we've seen now, no. Mickeal - I don't think he'll be here by then, but he's replaceable. Hawkins - replaceable. Collier - very replaceable.
Yao Francis Griffin Nachbar Mobley Posey Cato All others are either replaceable or will not be taken.
The ones staying for a while: Yao Francis Griffin Mobley Cato Posey Nachbar Hawkins The ones cut: Collier T. Morris Mickeal Maddox The ones gone to another team by free agency or trade: Rice Taylor Moochie
Do we have to protect 8? I'd leave Cato and Moochie unprotected hoping that someone would take them. But if I had to pick one, I'd leave Cato unprotected just to get rid of his contract. Yes, the guy has been the biggest surprise of the season and he's a solid backup center. But a backup center making 6-7mill/year?! THat's too much. By that time, Yao should be averaging more than 35 minutes a game, making Cato less valuable. And I don't think Cato's gonna develop into a PF type. Saving on Cato and Mooch's contracts would allow us to sign some veteran bench players looking to play for a contender and save money to resign Griff and Yao later. My problem, which 8 to protect. Here's my list Yao Steve Griff Cat Boki Posey Hawkins (practice squad) Maddox (practice squad)
derrock, Hawkins and Maddox? Please tell me your joking. If we wanted to get rid of Cato's contract, there are tons of teams willing to give us quality players in return for a quality player. The bad contracts are MoT and Mooch. MoT won't be here as long as his contract runs, and besides, Griffin will take over next year, so he'll be a backup. Moochie makes too much and doesn't bring anything that a minimum player won't or can't bring. Cato, we definitely need. Cato and Mo Taylor for Brian Grant. No cap implications for any of the teams, and everyone gets their wish. Heat get depth (quality depth) and we get a banger/bruiser that we need down low. Heat become instant contenders, and they become much younger: Cato/Stepania MoT/Malik Allen Caron Butler Eddie Jones Travis Best/Anthony Carter Throw in one TOP tier FA (J Oneal, Duncan, Kidd calibre) or two second tier players (Mobley, Eddie Jones, Rashard Lewis quality) and you have conetntion again. I'd even throw in Mobley, Mooch and a future 1st for Eddie Jones. Cato/Stepania MoT/Malik Allen Caron Butler Mobley Travis Best/Mooch 2 excellent FA's, and a future first. Still, cap situation doesn't change.
That's why I asked if we could had protect 8 . I suppost TMo would be better in order to keep Stevie from carrying his bags. And Sane, you broke the rules. I didn't know trades were allowed .
1. Cato and Mo Taylor will not make the Heat contend. To contend you need at least 2 superstar players on your team or 1 superstar and at least 2 all stars. Cato, Mo Taylor, Butler, Jones, best There are 0 superstars, 1 all star, and 1 very good but inexperienced player. That'll get you 35 wins. 2. If you add a Top tier FA to almost any team in the NBA, they'll contend. Imagine Cleveland, one of the worst teams in the league adding J. O'Neal: Ilgauskas O'Neal R. Davis D Wagner Or adding Jason Kidd to Memphis: P. Gasol Gooden Battier Kidd etc, etc. etc. Considering there's only 5 starters on the floor at 1 time, if you add in 1 superstar, youve just upgraded 20% of your team. if you add 2 second tier players, youve just upgraded 40% of your team.
I would protect : Yao Francis Mobley Griffin Posey Boki Cato Hawkins But I think they will protect Moochie instead of Hawkins.
Main guys: Yao, Francis, Mobley, Griffin, Posey The rest of the guys can all be replaced with other people who are worthy enough.
1. Yao 2. Francis 3. Griffin 4. MObley 5. Boki 6. Cato 7. Posey 8. Morris out 1. MoTaylor... makes too much for backup 2. Moochie... nothing special here... again too much $$ 3. Collier 4. Hawkins 5. Maddox
