PORTLAND, Ore. ā Gavin Wilkinsonās office is wallpapered with lists.
The Timbersā general manager and technical director has researched the rosters of every Major League Soccer team and watched countless games ā constructing plans and contingencies for the rapidly approaching MLS Expansion Draft on Nov. 24.
Thatās when Portlandās debut MLS team will truly begin to take form with the addition of 10 players selected off the unprotected lists of the leagueās current teams.
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āItās exciting,ā Wilkinson told MLSsoccer.com. āI wouldnāt say weāre nervous about it. Weāve done a lot of homework. Weāre as prepared as we can be without knowing whatās going to happen.ā
Portland have the first pick and will alternate selections with the Vancouver Whitecaps for 10 rounds.
Current teams are allowed to protect 11 players, with the remaining unprotected players are eligible to be taken by the two new franchises. A team may lose up to two players during the expansion draft, but no more. Active Generation adidas players are automatically protected and will not be included in each teamās list of 11 players available for selection.
MLS expects to release the list of unprotected names at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 22. The draft follows on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.
āWeāve gone through every squad and identified players we like,ā Wilkinson said. āThere are many different scenarios.ā
Historically, the expansion drafts have enabled first-year teams to claim key players.
Last year, the Philadelphia Union selected Jordan Harvey with the first pick. Harvey, a defender, led the team in minutes played in 2010. The Union also used their fourth selection on former Sounders midfielder Sebastien Le Toux, who enjoyed a career year in Philadelphia this season and was named to his first career MLS Best XI.
Wilkinson said he expects the Timbers to land āfour or fiveā starting players from the draft, adding to the four the Timbers already have on the roster.
āFor the very first pick, weāll take the very best player, regardless of position,ā he added.
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