http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1087023618181890.xml Wesley might not be protected N.O. guard could be made available in expansion draft Saturday, June 12, 2004 By Jimmy Smith Staff writer Though the deadline for filing wasn't until Friday, the Hornets already had turned over to the NBA the names on their protected list for the June 22 expansion draft. But Bob Bass, retiring executive vice president for basketball operations and general manager, isn't saying who's safe and who's exposed. League rules forbid it. "We had something come down from the office, sort of a gag rule," Bass said. "There can be a lot of unhappiness with the players if they're on the (unprotected) list or if they're not taken or taken." Teams cannot protect unrestricted free agents. Those are players whose contracts will expire June 30. Teams are allowed to protect a maximum of eight players who are under contract from the draft in which the expansion Charlotte Bobcats will begin to build their team for next season. Players who are restricted free agents, meaning that their current employer can match offer sheets signed with another team, can either be protected or left unprotected. Currently, the Hornets have 14 players on their roster, eight of whom are under contract for next season: guard Baron Davis, forward Jamal Mashburn, forward P.J. Brown, guard David Wesley, forward George Lynch, guard Darrell Armstrong, center Jamaal Magloire and forward David West. The Hornets have three restricted free agents under contract, guard Courtney Alexander, who missed last season with a torn right Achilles' tendon, guard Shammond Williams, obtained in a February trade with Orlando, and guard Maurice Carter, signed as a free agent late in the season. It's possible Alexander could be put on the protected list, because the team feels he has yet to reach his potential and, at 27, has more upside than Wesley, also a shooting guard, because of his size (6 feet 6, to Wesley's 6-1) and athleticism. If that happened, the Hornets had to make a decision on whom to leave unprotected. The most likely candidate would be Wesley. Wesley, scheduled to earn $4.455 million next season, makes his offseason home in Charlotte. Wesley, who will turn 34 in November, said Friday he had not heard anything from the Hornets. "I've heard rumors lately that I'd be protected," Wesley said. "If I was on the (unprotected list), I'd be shocked." New Orleans has three unrestricted free agents: swingman Stacey Augmon, forward Robert "Tractor" Traylor, and guard Steve Smith. Those three are assured of being on the expansion list. . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3814. --

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