Expansion Selection & NBA Draft Story

Months and months of hard work by the Bobcats basketball operations staff will come to fruition in less than three weeks when the first-ever Charlotte Bobcats players will be selected through the Expansion Selection on June 22 and the NBA Draft on June 24.

In building their first squad, the Bobcats have an advantage over the expansion teams of the past. Unlike the expansion draft in 1995 (Toronto and Vancouver), 1988 (Charlotte and Miami) and 1989 (Minnesota and Orlando), the Bobcats will not compete with any other new team as they select existing NBA players in the expansion draft.

Charlotte will choose a minimum of 14 NBA players who are under contract or restricted free agents with their teams at the completion of the 2003-04 season. Only one player can be selected per team. Each team may protect a maximum of eight players but must make at least one player available to the Bobcats for selection.

The advantage will not end there. The Bobcats own the fourth selection – the highest-ever pick by an expansion franchise – in the 2004 NBA Draft. In 1995, the Grizzlies selected sixth and the Raptors followed in the seventh position, while in 1988, Charlotte had the eighth pick and Miami followed at number nine. The expansion franchises in 1989 had an even longer wait as Minnesota chose 10th and Orlando selected 11th.

History has shown that the Bobcats can acquire talented players from Day One.

In the past, the fourth overall pick of the NBA Draft produced some of the NBA’s top players, such as Charlotte native Antawn Jamison, Rasheed Wallace, Stephon Marbury, Jamal Mashburn, Dikembe Mutombo, Glen Rice, Sam Perkins, Byron Scott and Billy Cunningham. In addition, Chuck Person, Alvan Adams and Dave Cowens all won NBA Rookie of the Year after being selected fourth in the NBA Draft.

The 1995 expansion draft produced B.J. Armstrong (Toronto) and Greg Anthony (Vancouver) as the top two choices. In 1989, the Orlando Magic selected Scott Skiles, who set the NBA record for most assists in a game (30) with the Magic. The Charlotte Hornets acquired Dell Curry with their initial pick in the 1988 Expansion Draft and also added Muggsy Bogues with the team’s third choice.

Following is a summary of the expansion draft rules:

A. Player Selection

• The Bobcats will select a minimum of 14 players who are under contract or restricted free agents for the 2004-05 season.
• The Bobcats may select no more than one player from each team.
• The Bobcats can only select players that are left unprotected by an NBA team.
• Each of the 29 NBA teams may protect a maximum of eight players on its roster who are under contract or are restricted free agents at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season.
• Each of the 29 NBA teams will designate the players on its roster who are eligible for selection by the Bobcats.
• Each of the 29 NBA teams must designate at least one player on its roster to be eligible for selection by the Bobcats, even if the team does not have eight players under contract or as restricted free agents for the 2004-05 season.
• Any player under contract selected by the Bobcats will immediately be placed on the Bobcats roster.
• Any eligible restricted free agent selected by the Bobcats shall immediately become an unrestricted free agent.
• Unrestricted free agents are not eligible to be protected nor are they eligible to be selected by the Bobcats.

B. Pre-Expansion Draft Trades

• Teams will be permitted to enter into pre-Expansion Draft trades in which Charlotte agrees to select or not select certain unprotected players.

C. Salary Cap

• Charlotte will be permitted to select players in the Expansion Draft without regard to the Salary Ca
• Charlotte will have a Salary Cap in its first season equal to 66% of the Salary Cap applicable to the rest of the league and a Salary Cap in its second season equal to 75% of the Salary Cap applicable to the rest of the league.
• Charlotte will be permitted to sign any restricted free agent it selects in the Expansion Draft using the same “Bird,” “ Early Bird” or “Non-Bird” Exception that the player’s prior team would have had.
• Compensation paid to a selected player under a contract protected for lack of skill will be excluded from Charlotte’s Team Salary if the player’s contract is terminated (via the waiver procedure) prior to the start of the 2004-05 season.
• A team with a Team Salary above the Salary Cap will receive a Trade Exception to replace a player (other than a restricted free agent) selected from its unprotected list.

D. Post-Expansion Draft Transactions

• A team will not be permitted to reacquire a player that it loses in the Expansion Draft prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the Expansion Draft, unless the player is waived and not claimed by any other team.