A method provided in one embodiment includes determining a first resource indicator indicative of a first resource capability of a first network element, determining a second resource indicator indicative of a second resource capability of the first network element, determining a third resource indicator indicative of a third resource capability of the first network element, and sending the first resource indicator, the second resource indicator, and the third resource indicator to a second network element. The second network element is configured to determine a first metric value for the first network element based upon the first resource indicator, the second resource indicator, and the third resource indicator. The second network element is further configured to utilize the first metric value to determine a list of one or more acceptable network elements for a wireless device to establish a connection therewith.