You know we could also combine the idea of Justice and Speedball making the New Warriors with your West Coast Avengers/Thunderbolts idea.  That way you don't have to worry about NPCing three, possibly four people.  Hell we can even take it all in a more somewhat original direction like the group being based out of Portland or Seattle instead of LA.

I remember funny enough having an idea of making a young Marvel RP, setting it in Portland, and calling it like Rose City Warriors or something like that.  It was a very passing thought though which I'm not even sure has a reason for mentioning here.