Hello and welcome back to the expansion draft series by kawntent sports. Today we will be discussing Western Conference Protections. Each team can protect 10 guys and will only be allowed to have 1 selected. Order of players is irrelevant here, but teams are ordered by standings.
Denver Nuggets
Protected:
Nikola Jokic Jamal Murray Michael Porter Jr Aaron Gordon Christian Braun Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Zeke Nnaji Peyton Watson Julian Strawther Reggie Jackson
Notable available:
Justin Holiday DeAndre Jordan Vlatko Cancar
Memphis Grizzlies
Protected:
Ja Morant Jaren Jackson Jr Desmond Bane Marcus Smart Steven Adams Brandon Clarke Ziaire Williams Jake LaRavia Santi Aldama Kenneth Lofton Jr
Notable available:
Xavier Tillman Josh Christopher Luke Kennard David Roddy Derrick Rose John Konchar
Sacramento Kings
Protected:
DeAaron Fox Domantas Sabonis Harrison Barnes Malik Monk Kevin Huerter Keegan Murray Davion Mitchell Chris Duarte Colby Jones Kessler Edwards
Notable available:
Trey Lyles Alex Len
Phoenix Suns
Protected:
Kevin Durant Bradley Beal Devin Booker DeAndre Ayton Cameron Payne Eric Gordon Damion Lee Yuta Watanabe Drew Eubanks Josh Okogie
Notable available:
Keita Bates-Diop Chimezie Metu
Los Angeles Clippers
Protected:
Paul George Kawhi Leonard Terance Mann Norman Powell Russell Westbrook Nic Batum Robert Covington Ivica Zubac Bones Hyland Kenyon Martin Jr
Notable available:
Amir Coffey Marcus Morris Kobe Brown BJ Boston Mason Plumlee Jason Preston
Golden State Warriors
Protected:
Stephen Curry Chris Paul Klay Thompson Andrew Wiggins Kevon Looney Draymond Green Gary Payton Jonathan Kuminga Moses Moody Brandin Podzimenski
Notable available:
Cory Joseph Dario Saric Trayce Jackson-Davis
Los Angeles Lakers
Protected:
LeBron James Austin Reaves Anthony Davis DAngelo Russell Gabe Vincent Jarred Vanderbilt Jalen Hood-Schifino Rui Hachimura Max Christie Max Lewis
Notable available:
Taurean Prince Jaxson Hayes
Minnesota Timberwolves
Protected:
Karl-Anthony Towns Anthony Edwards Rudy Gobert Mike Conley Naz Reid Kyle Anderson Shake Milton Jaden McDaniels Leonard Miller Troy Brown Jr
Notable available:
Josh Minott Nickiell Alexander-Walker Jordan McLaughlin
New Orleans Pelicans
Protected:
Zion Williamson Brandon Ingram CJ McCollum Herb Jones Trey Murphy Dyson Daniels Jordan Hawkins Jose Alvarado Larry Nance Jr EJ Liddell
Notable available:
Jonas Valanciunas Kira Lewis Jr Cody Zeller
Oklahoma City Thunder
Protected:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Josh Giddey Chet Holmgren Jalen Williams Jaylin Williams Lugentz Dort Cason Wallace Alexej Pokusevski Tre Mann Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Notable available:
Victor Oladipo Usman Garuba Davis Bertans TyTy Washington Isaiah Joe Aaron Wiggins
Dallas Mavericks
Protected:
Luka Doncic Kyrie Irving Grant Williams Maxi Kleber Dereck Lively Josh Green Jaden Hardy Dwight Powell Olivier-Maxence Prosper Seth Curry
Notable available:
Tim Hardaway Jr JaVale McGee Richaun Holmes
Utah Jazz
Protected:
John Collins Jordan Clarkson Lauri Markkanen Kelly Olynyk Taylor Hendricks Walker Kessler Brice Sensabaugh Keyonte George Ochai Agbaji Talen Horton-Tucker
Notable available:
Collin Sexton Simone Fontecchio
Portland Trail Blazers
Protected:
Damian Lillard Jusuf Nurkic Scoot Henderson Anfernee Simons Shaedon Sharpe Kris Murray Matisse Thybulle Rayan Rupert Nassir Little Keon Johnson
Notable available:
Jerami Grant Jabari Walker
Houston Rockets
Protected:
Fred VanVleet Jalen Green Kevin Porter Jr Alperen Sengun Amen Thompson Jabari Smith Jr Jock Landale Tari Eason Cam Whitmore Jeff Green
Notable available:
Dillon Brooks Aaron Holiday
San Antonio Spurs
Protected:
Victor Wembanyama Devin Vassell Keldon Johnson Tre Jones Zach Collins Jeremy Sochan Malaki Branham Blake Wesley Charles Bassey Lamar Stevens
Notable available:
Doug McDermott Reggie Bullock Devonte Graham Khem Birch Cedi Osman Julian Champagnie
This concludes the protections for the expansion draft. Check out the Eastern Conference protections on my profile to see who else is available, along with some other details about the draft. Let me know in the comments what you think of the protections - should someone be protected who wasn’t? Also, who deserves to be the first pick in the expansion draft? Candidates include Ben Simmons, Victor Oladipo, Jerami Grant, among others. The expansion draft series will continue with the draft, and I’m wondering, would you all like to participate? Who would like to be each GM drafting for the new squads? Lots to discuss here, let me know your thoughts!