NBA Expansion Draft: Which Stars Would Each Team Shield?

With the NBA possibly expanding by 2026, analysts simulated protection lists using the 2004 Bobcats rules, allowing each team to protect up to eight players. The exercise highlights tough decisions, such as leaving Dyson Daniels unprotected due to his expensive contract and limited shooting. Teams must balance protecting core talent while exposing enough players to satisfy expansion requirements.

The simulation applied the 2004 Charlotte Bobcats framework, which permits eight protected players per franchise and excludes unrestricted free agents from eligibility. Analysts noted expansion teams would operate with only two-thirds of the standard salary cap in their first season, a constraint that heavily influences which contracts appear attractive to new franchises.

Financial considerations drove several notable omissions. Dyson Daniels' four-year, $100 million extension made him a risky protection choice for Atlanta given his shooting limitations and playoff struggles, while Boston left 36-year-old Paul George exposed, betting no expansion club would dedicate roughly half its spending power to an aging veteran. Commissioner Adam Silver indicated a decision could arrive by the end of 2026, with Las Vegas frequently mentioned as a candidate city.