Hello and welcome back to another article from kawntent sports. An NBA Expansion Draft is rumored in the next few years. Let’s talk about who would be protected and who would be drafted if two new teams entered the league: the Seattle Lumberjacks and Las Vegas Sand (I could see those two names having good branding, but feel free to suggest better names in the comments!). 10 players from each team will be protected, and just one player can be drafted from each team. This means some random players will be the number one options on their teams, so this should be exciting. In this scenario, the Grizzlies move to the Eastern Conference because they are the easternmost team in the Western Conference (and because Ja is NOT fine in the West). I did not include any currently unsigned players (so PJ Washington isn’t eligible to be drafted and thus isn’t protected by Charlotte) but they can be signed by an expansion squad. Protections and available guys are in no particular order, just separated into 2 categories. An expansion draft is especially helpful with the new CBA and will help teams stay under the new, unexpected second luxury tax. Let’s start with (current) Eastern Conference protections and best remaining players, going by seeding order.
Milwaukee Bucks
Protected:
Giannis Antetokounmpo Jrue Holiday Brook Lopez Khris Middleton Bobby Portis Pat Connaughton MarJon Beauchamp Grayson Allen Robin Lopez Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Notable available:
Wesley Mathews Malik Beasley
Boston Celtics
Protected:
Jayson Tatum Jaylen Brown Malcolm Brogdon Robert Williams Al Horford Kristaps Porzingis Derrick White Dalano Banton Payton Pritchard Sam Hauser
Notable available:
Blake Griffin Oshae Brissett Luke Kornet Justin Champagnie
Philadelphia 76ers
Protected:
Joel Embiid James Harden Tyrese Maxey DeAnthony Melton Tobias Harris PJ Tucker Mo Bamba Paul Reed Terquavion Smith Patrick Beverley
Notable available:
Jaden Springer Danuel House Max McClung Montrezl Harrell
Cleveland Cavaliers
Protected:
Donovan Mitchell Darius Garland Jarrett Allen Evan Mobley Max Strus Isaac Okoro Dean Wade Emoni Bates Caris LeVert Damian Jones
Notable available:
Ricky Rubio Georges Niang Danny Green
New York Knicks
Protected;
Jalen Brunson Julius Randle Josh Hart Mitchell Robinson Isaiah Hartenstein Donte DiVincenzo RJ Barrett Quentin Grimes Immanuel Quickley Jericho Sims
Notable available:
Isaiah Roby DaQuan Jeffries Evan Fournier Miles McBride
Brooklyn Nets
Protected:
Cam Johnson Mikal Bridges Nic Claxton Spencer Dinwiddie Dorian Finney-Smith Royce O’Neale Cam Thomas Noah Clowney Dariq Whitehead DayRon Sharpe
Notable available:
Ben Simmons Dennis Smith Jr Lonnie Walker IV
Miami Heat
Protected:
Jimmy Butler Bam Adebayo Tyler Herro Kyle Lowry Caleb Martin Kevin Love Jaime Jaquez Jamal Cain Omer Yurtseven Nikola Jovic
Notable available:
Josh Richardson Thomas Bryant Duncan Robinson Haywood Highsmith
Atlanta Hawks
Protected:
Trae Young Clint Capela DeAndre Hunter Dejounte Murray Onyeka Okongwu Bogdan Bogdanovic Saddiq Bey Kobe Bufkin AJ Griffin Jalen Johnson
Notable available:
Patty Mills Garrison Mathews Bruno Fernando
Toronto Raptors
Protected:
Pascal Siakam Scottie Barnes Gary Trent Jr. Jakob Poeltl OG Anunoby Dennis Schroder Gradey Dick Precious Achiuwa Malachi Flynn Christian Koloko
Notable available:
Chris Boucher DJ Wilson Thaddeus Young Otto Porter Jr
Chicago Bulls
Protected:
Zach LaVine DeMar DeRozan Nikola Vucevic Alex Caruso Coby White Ayo Dosunmu Patrick Williams Derrick Jones Jr Andre Drummond Dalen Terry
Notable available:
Lonzo Ball Torrey Craig Jevon Carter Carlik Jones Matt Thomas
Indiana Pacers
Protected:
Tyrese Haliburton Bennedict Mathurin Myles Turner Bruce Brown Obi Toppin Jarace Walker Jalen Smith Isaiah Jackson Andrew Nembhard Ben Sheppard
Notable available:
Buddy Hield Daniel Theis TJ McConnell Aaron Nesmith Jordan Nwora
Washington Wizards
Protected:
Jordan Poole Tyus Jones Kyle Kuzma Daniel Gafford Anthony Gill Delon Wright Bilal Couilably Deni Avdija Corey Kispert Patrick Baldwin Ryan Rollins
Notable available:
Johnny Davis Landry Shamet Danilo Gallinari Kendrick Nunn
Orlando Magic
Protected:
Markelle Fultz Paolo Banchero Franz Wagner Mo Wagner Wendell Carter Cole Anthony Jalen Suggs Anthony Black Jett Howard Jonathan Isaac
Notable available:
Gary Harris Joe Ingles Devin Cannady Chuma Okeke Caleb Houstan
Charlotte Hornets
Protected:
LaMelo Ball Brandon Miller Miles Bridges Cody Martin Nick Richards James Bouknight Mark Williams Kai Jones Nick Smith Jr Terry Rozier
Notable available:
Gordon Hayward JT Thor Bryce McGowens
Detroit Pistons
Protected:
Cade Cunningham Ausar Thompson Jalen Duren Isaiah Stewart Bojan Bogdanovic Alec Burks Jaden Ivey Killian Hayes Isaiah Livers Monte Morris
Notable available:
Marcus Sasser Joe Harris Marvin Bagley James Wiseman
Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments! Who should’ve been protected that wasn’t? Who should’ve been allowed to walk to an expansion team? Stay tuned for West protections and a draft, coming this week.