Thought this was as good a time as any to look forward to the expansion draft. Rulings state teams can protect up to eight players, and cannot protect unrestricted free agents. Here is Seattle's current roster balance as it stands. Under contract for 04/05 (team/player options included): Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Ronald Murray Nick Collison Luke Ridnour Jerome James Calvin Booth Antonio Daniels Vitaly Potapenko Reggie Evans Vladimir Radmanovic Free Agents: Brent Barry Richie Frahm Leon Smith Ansu Sesay With that list in place, I'm interested to hear thoughts (both from Seattle fans and non fans) on who the team should look to protect, and who should be dangled i n front of the Bobcats.
As much as I like him and know how good he is. I would want 'Shard to go. There's got to be someone, particularly a team who can fix his inconsistency so he can be at his best most of the time. I'm going to miss Barry, he was a fine PG. Good leader too, with all that experience he has, but then again, you have Ray Allen for that. His defense will be missed too most likely especially for compensating in Ray's lack of it. I think Potapenko and Radmanovic are useful, but I feel they could net you people you could find more useful in next season's trades. Otherwise that list looks fine to me.
^ Why do you think Brent isn't going to stay? People are making assumptions over his playing future, when there is a good chance he stays in Seattle, too. Brent's defense is not that great, either. No better than Ray's, anyhow.
If I could only protect 8 players...here is who I would let the Bobcats pounce on...pun intended. Calvin Booth He hasn't lived up to his salary and he can easily be replaced IMO. Antonio Daniels One of the guards that shared time while Brent was out has to go. Flip is up and coming, and Ridnour will go into his 2nd season. The Sonics should see how Flip and Luke's playing pans out next season. This leaves AD as the odd man out...great guy to come in off the bench but I'd drop him before Flip or Luke. Reggie Evans As much as I like this guy's intensity and guts, he just isn't the most skilled player on the team and he doesn't make the cut.
^ Another one is Jerome James...It is very unlikely that the bobcats would select him due to his huge contract, so theres no need to waste a spot and protect him. and if he does get selected, I'm sure the Sonics won't mind at all...
I agree that James isn't worth keeping around...but I think the Sonics can get something for him via trade because there are still teams who are interested in Jerome.
My protected list (assuming it has to be eight), or in other words, the first eight I would protect: Group one: Luke Ridnour, Nick Collison, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Vladimir Radmanovic, Flip Murray. This is my primary six. All of these players are either integral to this franchise's future, or provide valuable trade bait. Radmanovic and Murray seem to be the most likely to be left unprotected from this primary six, but both would be cheap bargains for a Bobcats franchise looking for exactly that. Group two: Reggie Evans, Antonio Daniels. From the remaining roster, I have picked Evans and Daniels. In Reggie's case, he provides a lot of hustle and rebounding, and although his game is limited, at such a cheap price I would want to keep him around in Seattle, as he provides what we lack. If left unprotected, he would make a cheap hustle guy for the Bobcats, and you can bet your life they'll look for bargain guys like that. With AD, I don't feel comfortable leaving him unprotected with the futures of Ray Allen and Brent Barry far from secure. He is cheap and solid, and will either fit the roster next season if Brent goes, or make a nice little filler in any trade scenarios. Group three: Brent Barry, Ansu Sesay, Richie Frahm, Leon Smith, Jerome James, Calvin Booth, Vitaly Potapenko. The remaining players, who are left unprotected. Barry, Sesay, Smith and Frahm are all F/A's. Barry is the only one of importance i n this lot, although Frahm and Sesay are both handy back-ups. Leon Smith only played four minutes. Potapenko I would like to see stick around, but I don't see the point of protecting him as I don't know why the Bobcats would touch him, short of us offering picks and/or cash. James and Booth I would love to see Charlotte take, but not even a new franchise would be that stupid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">^ Why do you think Brent isn't going to stay? People are making assumptions over his playing future, when there is a good chance he stays in Seattle, too. Brent's defense is not that great, either. No better than Ray's, anyhow.</div> Didn't he say he wanted to go?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">Didn't he say he wanted to go?</div> If you believe the media beat up involving San Antonio, who will pursue him in the summer. Brent's been saying all the right things, and I am still very confident that if the deal is adequare, we'll see Bones in a Sonics uniform next season.
Ray Allen(.......) Rashard Lewis(Scored 50 and will be a future allstar) Ronald Murray(the up and coming ideal Gaurd) Nick Collison(You havent even seent the kid play yet and he was a amazing in college) Luke Ridnour(he can run, shoot, pass, score) Reggie Evans(this guy is the most underrated rebounder and shot blocker in the game) Antonio Daniels(great leader on and off the court) Vladmir Radmonovic(great shooter like all Euros, and decent post)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PS11:</div><div class="quote_post">Rashard Lewis(Scored 50 and will be a future allstar)</div> Interesting to see this, it seems to be the general consensus of Rashard from opposition fans. However, those who watch him on a regular basis cast their doubts over whether he will reach the plateau of an All Star, or whether he will stay around the mark of where he is right now.
Protect: Allen Flip Lewis Ridnour Radmonovic (sp?) Collison Daniels Evans Everyone else is pretty much useless or a FA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Streetball2k3:</div><div class="quote_post">Everyone else is pretty much useless or a FA.</div> With the exception of Potapenko, it's hard to argue with that statement.
*BUMP* With some new posters on board, here's a place where you can give your own thoughts on the expansion draft, coming up later this month.
my friend told me that on ESPN there was a rumor trade about almost all the Sonics (except for exceptions of Murray, Ridnour, Collison and perhaps Barry) would be traded...hmm...and we'd get back Marcus Camby...Eddy Curry (sp?), and some other pretty interesting names...i don't know how that would work out...like 3/4 teams involved?
i was kinda depressed when he told me that cuz Ray Allen is my fave player...but what the hey...i can root for him on another team also...~ hmm...how do you think the trade would work...what teams would get which players?
Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Ronald Murray Nick Collison Luke Ridnour Antonio Daniels Vitaly Potapenko Vladimir Radmanovic
