PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers have been awarded the first pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft, it was announced today as a result of the Expansion Priority Draft conducted by Major League Soccer between the Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Timbers and Whitecaps selected priority among eight player-acquisition mechanisms as the two clubs prepare for their inaugural MLS season in 2011. Technical director Gavin Wilkinson represented the Timbers in the selection process.
In addition to the first pick in the Expansion Draft, Portland will have the second selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft as well as priority over Vancouver in designated player ranking, discovery ranking and lottery ranking.
“Today is a significant milestone for the organization and sets up how we approach the development of our MLS roster,” said Wilkinson. “The results of today’s draft help reinforce the direction of the organization and allow us to go one step further in identifying and researching players of interest.”
The Whitecaps have the first pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, and subsequently have priority in allocation ranking, USL player ranking and waiver/re-entry draft ranking.
Expansion Priority Draft Results1. MLS SuperDraft
- Vancouver will have the 1st selection in each round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, including the 1st overall selection. Portland will have the 2nd overall selection and the 2nd selection in each following round.
- The selection order for the remaining teams is determined by reverse order of regular season finish in 2010. The SuperDraft consists of four rounds as clubs select from a list of eligible players such as college seniors and Generation adidas signings. The SuperDraft will be held in January in conjunction with the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore.
2. Expansion Draft
- Portland will select 1st, Vancouver will select 2nd.
- The two expansion clubs will select a total of 10 current players each to be added to their rosters, alternating after each player selection. MLS clubs may protect 11 players from their roster who, along with Generation adidas players that will not graduate after the 2010 season, and Home Grown players, will be ineligible for selection by the two expansion clubs. This draft will be held after MLS Cup and before the SuperDraft in January at a date to be announced later.
3. USSF Division-2 Pro League Player Priority Ranking
- Vancouver will occupy the 1st spot in the USSF Division-2 Pro Rankings, while Portland will rank 2nd.
- Vancouver and Portland will have priority over players on their current roster and one other USSF Division-2 Pro League player, subject to another MLS club’s right of first refusal. Should both clubs request the same player on the opening day, Vancouver will have the first right to add the player to its roster.
4. Designated Player Ranking
- Portland will occupy the 1st spot in the Designated Player Ranking, Vancouver will occupy the 2nd spot, followed by the remaining MLS clubs, in reverse order of finish in the 2010 season, taking into account playoff performance.
- In the event that a player is requested by more than one team in the same day, the Designated Player Ranking will be used to determine which team has priority.
5. Allocation Ranking
- Vancouver will occupy the 1st spot in the Allocation Rankings, while Portland will rank 2nd, followed by the remaining MLS clubs, in reverse order of finish in the 2010 season, taking into account playoff performance.
- Allocations are used in the event that tow or more teams file a request for the same player on the same day (i.e. in the case of returning U.S. National team players and/or any other player the league is its discretion believes should be allovated using the rankings.)
6. Discovery Ranking
- Portland will occupy the 17th place in the rankings prior to the season while Vancouver will occupy the 18th.
- The Discovery Ranking is determined by average points per game during the then current League season with the team with the lower points per game average earning priority over the team with higher points per game average.
7. Waiver/Re-entry Draft Ranking
- Vancouver will occupy the 17th spot in the rankings while Portland will occupy the 18th spot.
- The Waiver Draft Ranking is determined by points per game once all teams have played at least three games in the current season. If the waiver takes place prior to all teams playing in at least three League games, priority will be granted based upon the prior year’s performance - reverse order of finish in the 2010 season, taking into account playoff performance. The Waiver Draft is used to acquire players that have been waived by an MLS team during the season; a player who completed his college eligibility and was not made available in the SuperDraft; a player who has remaining college eligibility, was not made available in the SuperDraft, but has been offered an MLS contract; or a player who played in MLS previously where his last MLS team does not wish to exercise their right of first refusal.
- Further details about the Re-entry Draft will be released at a later date.
8. Lottery Ranking
- Portland will occupy the 17th spot in the Lottery Rankings while Vancouver will occupy the 18th spot.
- The Lottery Ranking is based on the MLS point system such that the team with the least number of points receives the greatest chance of attaining the player. Expansion teams are placed at the bottom of the order. The Lottery Ranking will be used for SuperDraft eligible players who MLS attempted to sign prior to or after the SuperDraft.
About MLS Portland Timbers
On March 20, 2009, Major League Soccer (MLS) awarded Portland the league’s 18th franchise to begin play in the top-flight professional soccer league starting in 2011. The Portland Timbers will mark their debut MLS season in 2011 in a significantly renovated PGE Park that will create one of the most exciting and authentic soccer environments in the country. New stadium amenities will include better sightlines closer to the action, new premium seating on the east side of the field, a new club lounge and a new entry plaza and team store. The Timbers have been a beloved part of the Portland sports landscape since their early beginnings in the North American Soccer League in 1975, launching the era of “Soccer City USA” in the Rose City.
