The Wizards have released their list of protected players for this week's expansion draft for the Philadelphia Union. Most of the players on the list are not that surprising, but there are a few minor ones, and a big one in my opinion. Here is the list:
Arnaud, Davy
Conrad, Jimmy
Harrington, Michael
Hercegfalvi, Zoltan
Jewsbury, Jack
Kamara, Kei
Leathers, Jonathan
Lopez, Claudio
Souter, Kevin
Wolff, Josh
Zusi, Graham
There are a few deviations from my list earlier in the week, namely, Kevin Souter being protected over Santiago Hirsig, and Jonathan Leathers and Josh Wolff being protected over Matt Besler and Kevin Hartman. The biggest surprise in my opinion, is Wizards rookie, Matt Besler being left unprotected. Besler played in 28 of the Wizards 30 games this past year. The minor surprise is Souter being protected over Hirsig, but I have a feeling there is more to this than has been published. Also, despite was Ives says on his blog, Roger Espinoza and Chance Myers have NOT graduated from the Generation Adidas program according to the Wizards so they will be protected automatically.
As for who is available to be drafted, aside from the previously mentioned Besler, Hartman, and Hirsig, the Wizards have also made available Adam Cristman, Herculez Gomez, Aaron Hohlbein, Michael Kraus, Eric Kronberg, Matt Marquess, Rauwshan McKenzie, Kurt Morsink, Boris Pardo, and Lance Watson.
My opinion on who I think Philadelphia will take hasn't change though. While Besler being exposed is definitely an appealing option and I wouldn't be surprised if Philadelphia did take him, I still think Gomez is the leader to be taken. His salary, leadership, and work ethic make him extremely appealing even though his output hasn't been the best with Kansas City.
You think I'm right? Is Gomez still the favorite? Or you think Besler is now? Who are you surprised was protected/exposed?
Monday, November 23, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Again I agree with what you are saying and think they will take Gomez.
As far as Besler, Wizards might just be sure that an expansion team is going to want experience in the center of their backline. He is still very green and somewhat raw, if he can take some steps forward in his distribution and decision making, he will be a solid player.
You sound like Ives at the end of the post. :)
What do you think of this list? Is a good list or a bad list? Should they even have created a list at all? Leave your comments on the list below.
I just don't get protecting Souter instead of Holbein or Besler?
I think this might well bite them hard.
I don't think Philly will take Hartman, but if they do, we're screwed. Pardo and Kronberg just don't cut it.
Yeah, I do come off like Ives there don't I....
Reepicheep, we couldn't drop Souter for Hohlbein or Besler. The Wizards had to protect 3 of their 4 internationals, Souter is one of those internationals. So if we dropped Souter we'd have to add Hirsig to the list not one of those two.
As for Hohlbein and Besler, it's a similar situation to last year when the team left Wahl and Hohlbein available.
Ah yes, Souter is international. I forgot. Thanks.
I'm still nervous. Rebuilding a defense every year is getting old.
Regarding leaving those backline players exposed... Maybe we are moving Jewbury to the backline where he belongs...
Post a Comment