So I have an idea for an article and I was wondering if anybody would be willing to help me out. Assuming that there will be an Exquisite (and I don't see why there won't be), I'm trying to come up with what I believe to be the "perfect" Exquisite checklist, consisting only of players that are worthy of Exquisite. For the past few years, we've treated to some head-scratching selections (Speedy Claxton? Stromile Swift? Huh?) and I think Upper Deck owes us enough favor to not include these guys in the upcoming release. So here's a small list that I've come up with so far. If anybody has a player they want to add, post it and if enough people demand that particular player, then they get added to the list. Conversely, if enough people want a particular player out, then we have to take them out. Think of it as a hall of fame discussion where we debate the merits of players making it or not. I understand that people may not want certain players here because it would ruin their old cards' value (example: Grant Hill's old Autographics issues might drop in value if he ever signed again) or because they sign too much already (example: does Jason Kidd ever say no to signing?), but take that out of the equation.

Note: the players in bold are those who were added by other people in other forums. I want to see if there are any that I'm missing or that you might disagree with their inclusion.

Stars and Hall of Famers expected to be there:

All 2008-09 rookies and sophomores (this is a given if you look at previous releases, so don't bother asking why I didn't include Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose), Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Jerry West, Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, John Stockton, Brandon Roy, Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Cylde Drexler, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Dennis Rodman, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Gervin, Julius Erving, Gary Payton, Chris Mullin

The next tier of stars rounding out the checklist:

Danny Granger, Baron Davis, Andrew Bynum, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Monta Ellis, Rajon Rondo, Jameer Nelson, Caron Butler, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Rudy Gay

Locked up by Topps:

Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Greg Oden, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Allen Iverson (?)

Here's where it gets interesting (players in bold are those added and removed by HKers)...

Sure would be nice:

Earl Monroe, Bob Cousy, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Larry Johnson, Shawn Kemp, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Rasheed Wallace, Stephen Jackson (he's immune, don't even think of taking him out ), Kevin McHale, Wilt Chamberlain (cut auto), Pete Maravich (cut auto), Drazen Petrovic (cut auto), Oscar Robertson, Darryl Dawkins, Red Auerbach (cut auto), Joe Dumars, Dominique Wilkins, George Mikan (cut auto), Len Bias (cut auto), Mitch Richmond, Byron Scott, Dikembe Mutombo

Don't count on it:

Dirk Nowitzki, Charles Barkley, Chris Webber, Patrick Ewing Sr., Reggie Miller

Maybe?

Gheorge Muresan, David West

Players cut