In case of League Expansion: Who would you protect?

[perkinsfor3]

Let's say we're getting an expansion draft. Seattle and St Louis are getting teams, and all 30 teams are allowed to protect up to 8 players on their current rosters from being drafted by these two teams.

Which players are protected?

Blazers are deep. Do we protect:
Dame
Ant
C.J.
Gary Trent Jr.
DJjr
Nassir
Robert Covington
Nurk

And leave these unprotected?
CJ Elleby
Rodney Hood
Carmelo Anthony (nooo)
Jaylen Hoard
Zach Collins (nooo)
Enes Kanter
Harry Giles (nooo)
Moses Brown

I'm running a small poll on Twitter to find out which players would be available in such a draft, if you'd like you could vote here: (similar polls are available for all other teams).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

In before @wizenheimer and @TBpup say we should leave CJ unprotected.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

There couldn't be an expansion team play this season, so we'd only protect players on contact after this season.

Although likely there would need to be multiple seasons of lead time to plan this. Then the Blazers would consider the impact of losing players in expansion draft for the prior offseasons construction of their roster. Or maybe the NBA sets it up so the franchise uses their G league team to sign and draft players one year prior so no expansion draft is needed.

For the sake of the argument, if we needed to protect players this current season I would protect;

Dame
Nurk
CJ
Covington
Trent
DJJ
Collins
Ant

in that order. Only change from OP is Collins in place of Nassir. If it includes players under contract or RFA for next season, the only possible change from my list is put Nassir in place of DJJ if DJJ opted out.

 

[julius]

Leave Moses unprotected....it doesn't matter that he's not on the team!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Moses Brown and Jaylen Hoard are not on the Blazers.

Blevins is on a two way, obviously he wouldn't be protected.

 

[perkinsfor3]

Moses Brown and Jaylen Hoard are not on the Blazers.

Blevins is on a two way, obviously he wouldn't be protected.

My bad lazily copied Rotoworld depth charts for this without double checking!

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't see much reason to protect Simons

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I don't see much reason to protect Simons

I don't disagree, I just don't see a strong reason to protect anyone after the top 6 so take your pick on two of Nassir, Collins, Simons. All of them flash upside but none of them have demonstrated they are a rotational player.

Collins has the worst contract (due a raise soon) but Nassir has probably shown the least so I went with Collins.

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't disagree, I just don't see a strong reason to protect anyone after the top 6 so take your pick on two of Nassir, Collins, Simons. All of them flash upside but none of them have demonstrated they are a rotational player.

Collins has the worst contract (due a raise soon) but Nassir has probably shown the least so I went with Collins. Ant is likely in the middle.

ok...sure

I guess you could protect the guys with the most years left on their rookie deal and that would be Little and Simons. My thinking is that no team would waste an expansion draft pick on Simons at this point. They might on Collins or Little

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Whom.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Whom.

This is an invalid sentence.

 

[AldoTrapani]

Vancouver and Montreal. America has enough teams

 

[blazerkor]

Vancouver and Montreal. America has enough teams

There is this city in the U.S. just 170 miles north of here that had there team straight up stolen from them that I think deserves a team before any other city... Canada or otherwise.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

In before @wizenheimer and @TBpup say we should leave CJ unprotected.

I totally agree with them.
It is doubtful an expansion team would take him with his contract and age.

 

[AldoTrapani]

There is this city in the U.S. just 170 miles north of here that had there team straight up stolen from them that I think deserves a team before any other city... Canada or otherwise.

Kings got stolen from Kansas. Then moved to Sacramento. Why not the outrage for that. San Diego had their team stolen. The list goes on. Why is Seattle so special

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Who would I protect?

1. Dame
2. CJ
3. Nurk
4. Covington
5. Collins
6. Trent Jr
7. Simons
8. Hood

Jones = oh so close with Hood....but Hood is more likely to opt in and stay with team
Melo = too old
Kanter = contract too short
Little = close but chose Jones over him as Hood is in our rotation
Elleby = very replaceable
Giles = contract too short

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I get the logic, but this feels like such a random thread to bump with that tweet.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I don't see much reason to protect Simons

Still of the same opinion?

Vancouver and Montreal. America has enough teams

Vancouver had one and lost it already.

I get the logic, but this feels like such a random thread to bump with that tweet.

Glad he did. Im curious how people feel about Simons compared to back then.

 

[wizenheimer]

Still of the same opinion?

of course not...I'm as guilty of bad takes as anybody else. Not sure why the bump was needed though

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

of course not...I'm as guilty of bad takes as anybody else. Not sure why the bump was needed though

Bumped so i could call you out!!!

Haha.

 

[wizenheimer]

Bumped so i could call you out!!!

Haha.

damn you...this isn't over!

just remember this:

 

[illmatic99]

if this exercise is repeated now... i would protect:

1. Dame
2. Simons
3. Nurk
4. Grant
5. Sharpe
6. Hart
7. Nas
8. GP2

Think we'd have consensus on this top 8.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The best expansion currently in the NBA is that Zion dude.

 

[SlyPokerCat]

if this exercise is repeated now... i would protect:

1. Dame
2. Simons
3. Nurk
4. Grant
5. Sharpe
6. Hart
7. Nas
8. GP2

Think we'd have consensus on this top 8.

With the way Walker is playing. If we signed him to a 3 year deal, i'd probably keep him over GP2

 

[KSF-ERIC]

if this exercise is repeated now... i would protect:

1. Dame
2. Simons
3. Nurk
4. Grant
5. Sharpe
6. Hart
7. Nas
8. GP2

Think we'd have consensus on this top 8.

Perhaps Jabari instead of Grant if he pops during the season?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

damn you...this isn't over!

just remember this:

Oh I am SURE I will provide you with many opportunities to correct me as time goes on round here. But its on you to take advantage!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

if this exercise is repeated now... i would protect:

1. Dame
2. Simons
3. Nurk
4. Grant
5. Sharpe
6. Hart
7. Nas
8. GP2

Think we'd have consensus on this top 8.

1 Sharpe
2 Dame
3 Simons
4 Hart
5 Grant
6 Nas
7 GP2
8 Nurk

I actually like Nurk as a starter, he's just way overpaid at an irrelevant position, with a contract at risk to be a big negative, with little upside. If we weren't bidding against ourselves and he was paid the full MLE (as no team would've offered him more), I'd have him above Grant.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Where would people put Duren/CJ/Nance/Norm/Roco on their list? I think I'd add them like this;

1 Sharpe
2 Dame
I Duren
3 Simons
II Norm
III CJ
4 Hart
5 Grant
IV Roco
V Nance
6 Nas
7 GP2
8 Nurk

Crazy to think how many great guards and mediocre bigs this franchise has had the last two years.

 

[Tince]

Where would people put Duren/CJ/Nance/Norm/Roco on their list? I think I'd add them like this;

1 Sharpe
2 Dame
I Duren
3 Simons
II Norm
III CJ
4 Hart
5 Grant
IV Roco
V Nance
6 Nas
7 GP2
8 Nurk

Crazy to think how many great guards and mediocre bigs this franchise has had the last two years.

Sharpe over Dame? You can't be serious.