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An NBA expansion is seemingly inevitable. Shams Charania just reported that talks to add teams in Seattle and Las Vegas are becoming deeper and deeper. The league could go to 32 teams as soon as the 2028-29 season. Of course, with expansion comes the expansion draft, and deciding which players to protect and which to leave exposed to the draft is at the forefront of all general managers’ minds as they build their rosters.
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Of course, an expansion draft is still a couple of years away, and it is unclear what the exact rules of a draft would be. The last expansion draft took place in 2004 for the Charlotte Bobcats. Then, each team had to expose at least one player, which had to be a player under contract or a restricted free agent. A maximum of eight players could be protected, and each team couldn’t lose more than one player.
If an expansion draft were to happen now, teams would have to make some tough decisions on who to protect or expose. Every team would likely risk losing a player they wouldn’t want to see go. So, assuming the league would operate under the same rules as 2004, who would be the most controversial player left unprotected by each team?
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Unprotected player: Neemias Queta, C
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On July 3, Neemias Queta signed a four-year, $56 million deal after a breakout season with the Boston Celtics. Just days later, Mitchell Robinson, fresh off a championship with the New York Knicks, agreed to a three-year, $47 million contract to join the Celtics. While Queta stepped up in a big way for a Celtics team that was in the midst of a gap year, Robinson seems poised to be the starting center. He was the best backup five in the NBA last season and is an elite rim protector and rebounder. Queta does a lot of the same things as Robinson, and the Celtics probably don’t need so much money invested in the pivot spot.
Unprotected player: Ben Saraf, SG
The Brooklyn Nets drafted five players in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. They are still clearly in the midst of a rebuild, but they’ve got too many young players to protect them all, assuming teams will be allowed only eight protections. That is unfortunate because expansion teams will almost surely target young players on cheap and controllable contracts. Of last year’s class, which was overall underwhelming, the Nets could keep Egor Demin, Danny Wolf, Drake Powell, and Nolan Traore, but that would still leave Ben Saraf vulnerable to being poached. This decision would prove that the Nets likely wish they could have a do-over on the 2025 NBA Draft.
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Unprotected player: Pacome Dadiet, SG
The Knicks have one thing on their mind, and that is going back-to-back as NBA champions. New York would be unlikely not to protect any of their expensive stars. A young, recent first-rounder like Pacome Dadiet is far from safe, though. Knicks fans have high hopes for the Frenchman, but the team hasn’t had the minutes available to develop the jumbo guard, so he has averaged just 1.7 points per game in each of the last two seasons.
Unprotected player: Ariel Hukporti, C
Speaking of the Knicks, one young player they already had to move on from was Ariel Hukporti. The big man signed a cheap one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was one piece of a great 76ers offseason, but they probably wouldn’t be able to protect him after making a number of moves in free agency. The 76ers signed LeBron James, Anfernee Simons, and Dean Wade to team-friendly deals, all of whom would obviously be prioritized over Hukporti. Furthermore, the 76ers traded for Jaylen Brown, and V.J. Edgecombe, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid can’t be forgotten about. While having plenty of backup centers is important in Philadelphia because of Embiid’s injury history, the team just wouldn’t have the space to protect Hukporti.
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Unprotected player: Jamal Shead, PG
Jamal Shead was the only Toronto Raptors player to see court time in all 82 games last season. His reliability and consistency don’t guarantee him a roster spot going forward, though. Shead doesn’t necessarily fit the Raptors’ MO of defense and length. His scoring pop and playmaking are valued in Toronto, but the team has a large chunk of their core under contract long-term. Shead only has one more year on his deal, and the team could leave him unprotected because of it.
Unprotected player: Patrick Williams, PF
While Shead only having one year left on his deal could cost him, the Chicago Bulls would take a different approach with expansion draft protections. Patrick Williams still has three more years at $18 million a piece left on his contract, which is one of the worst in the NBA. The Bulls would likely leave their former number four pick unprotected in the hopes that an expansion team would take him off their hands.
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Unprotected player: Meleek Thomas, SG
Meleek Thomas is a somewhat big-name rookie, and his scoring prowess looks like a good fit in Cleveland. Even so, he fell into the Cavaliers’ laps in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft for a reason. Thomas is inefficient, doesn’t bring much passing, and lacks on the defensive end. While his scoring prowess can create some big moments, there will also be some growing pains with the Arkansas product early on. A contending team like the Cavaliers can’t afford that right now considering their championship window is likely pretty short. The Cavaliers are all in on winning now, which wouldn’t bode well for Thomas.
Unprotected player: Kevin Huerter, SG
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For years, the Detroit Pistons had too many slashers and not enough shooters. That is no longer the case, as drive-and-dishers like Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson now have Isaiah Joe, Duncan Robinson, and Kevin Huerter to kick the ball out to. Those players are well regarded as some of the best catch-and-shoot specialists in the NBA, and while teams can never have enough shooting, the 3-point need is handled in Detroit. If an expansion draft happened, the team would likely have to risk losing one of their shooters. Considering the team just traded for Joe, and Robinson is one of the very best marksmen in the NBA, Huerter would likely be the odd man out. His numbers haven’t lived up to his reputation in recent years.
Unprotected player: Ben Sheppard, SG
The Indiana Pacers were really bad last season with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined because of his achilles tear. The team will hope to get back to contention this upcoming season, though. While Indiana was struggling to win games, their young players was afforded more of an opportunities to prove themselves. Recent first-rounders Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard were given bigger roles in their third seasons, but Walker showed more growth than Sheppard. That makes the latter more likely to go unprotected than the former.
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Unprotected player: Gary Trent Jr., SG
Gary Trent Jr. went from a signing cheap contract to being awarded a four-year, $64 million deal by the Milwaukee Bucks. The big payday had some wondering if their were some questionable, under-the-table promises made by the Bucks, but one thing is for sure, and that is that Trent’s deal looks like an overpay. After adding so much young talent in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the Bucks don’t really need an overpaid and aging role player like Trent.
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Unprotected player: Dyson Daniels, SG
Dyson Daniels has proven himself as an elite defender, one capable of guarding one through four while racking up the steal numbers. His defense earned him a four-year, $100 million extension ahead of last season that kicks in this year. With the Atlanta Hawks no longer needing someone to cover for Trae Young‘s defensive flaws, and with Daniels not showing much growth as a shooter, that deal now longer looks like an overpay. The Hawks like Daniels, but they might not mind getting off of his contract, especially because Lu Dort and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are also on the roster. An expansion team just may be interested in one of the best defenders in the NBA, too.
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Charlotte Hornets
Unprotected player: Dennis Schroder, PG
Dennis Schroder is no stranger to switching teams. The point guard will play for his 12th different team this upcoming year on the Charlotte Hornets. Unfortunately for Schroder’s moving expenses, his journeyman label could land him without protection in an expansion draft scenario.
Unprotected player: Bobby Portis, PF
Bobby Portis came over in the Antetokounmpo trade. While he is a vocal leader who plays with intensity, his contract is just a little pricey, so the Miami Heat would likely decide not to protect him. After Pelle Larsson’s new deal kicks in, and considering Nikola Jovic’s contract, the Heat have a little too much money locked into role players, and the eldest of that bunch would be whom the Heat would be most okay losing.
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Unprotected player: Jonathan Isaac, PF
Jonathan Isaac never quite lived up to his potential with the Orlando Magic. A lanky and athletic player, Isaac could have become one of the best defenders in the NBA, but injuries prevented him from seeing enough court time for that to become a reality. Plus, the offense has always left a lot to be desired. Orlando has enough wing defenders that they don’t need Isaac anymore.
Unprotected player: Deandre Ayton, C
The Washington Wizards are combining a youth movement with veteran additions. Trae Young and Anthony Davis were traded for to join a team that has drafted tons of first-round prospects in recent years, including the most recent number one pick, AJ Dybantsa. One other veteran addition the team made was signing Deandre Ayton, a fellow former first overall pick and one of three such players on the roster. Ayton’s lofty draft status wouldn’t save him when it came time to protect players, though. He has been regressing in recent years, and Washington would prioritize their bigger stars and their young, future stars.
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Unprotected player: DeMar DeRozan, SF
A lot of Denver Nuggets fans would advocate for leaving Christian Braun unprotected if it came down to an expansion draft. With an expensive, star-studded core, Denver is the most cash-strapped team in the NBA, and their battle against the second apron has been their biggest challenge in recent years. Potentially moving off of Braun would solve a lot of financial issues, but considering the team just traded Peyton Watson, the Nuggets need Braun’s athleticism and point-of-attack defense more than ever. Plus, Braun has been a winner throughout his basketball life, winning in high school, college, and as a rookie contributor to Denver’s only NBA Finals triumph. Braun is a vocal and emotional leader for the team and could have a bounce back year.
The Nuggets could instead expose DeMar DeRozan. The all-time great shooting guard was just signed by the Nuggets as their big offseason addition to be the team’s spark plug scorer off the bench. DeRozan is expected to play a big role in Denver this year, but considering he is an aging veteran who lasted a long time on the open market, it is unlikely an expansion team would steal him from the Nuggets.
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Unprotected player: Donte DiVincenzo, SG
The Minnesota Timberwolves are always one of the most aggressive teams when it comes to roster construction. That was again the case this offseason, as they traded away Naz Reid and Julius Randle and added LaMelo Ball. The moves prove that Minnesota is all in on doing whatever it takes to get into the NBA Finals now. That fact could lead to them exposing Donte DiVincenzo to an expansion draft because he is unlikely to play this upcoming season due to an achilles tear. Plus, the former leader in 3-point makes is a free agent at season’s end, so he doesn’t provide much short or long-term value to the Timberwolves, despite his clear talent.
Unprotected player: Alex Caruso, SG
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No team would be negatively effected by an expansion draft more than the Oklahoma City Thunder. That is because no team has better depth and more value contract than the team, even after financial constraints forced them to move off of Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe this offseason. It is unfortunate that the Thunder would be penalized by their roster building success in recent years in an expansion draft scenario, but that is the reality of the NBA.
The Thunder would have to expose a lot of great players, but none better than Alex Caruso. The bald-headed baller has proven himself as one of the best defenders in the NBA, regardless of whether he is guarding wings, guards, or bigs. The team wouldn’t expose back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, nor his fellow superstars, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell, and Cason Wallace provide too much on cheap contracts, and first-round capital was just invested into Aday Mara. Furthermore, the Thunder team looking to win now needs Isaiah Hartenstein‘s size. That leaves Caruso, Jaylin Williams, Bennett Stirtz, Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topic, and Kenrich Williams as the players available in an expansion draft.
The exact rules of an expansion draft are unclear, but we are operating under the assumption that if Las Vegas or Seattle drafted one Thunder player, the other team couldn’t take another. Regardless, OKC would surely lose a high-quality role player or a young prospect in an expansion draft.
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Unprotected player: Yang Hansen, C
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The Portland Trail Blazers shocked the draft world when they took Yang Hansen 16th overall in 2025. Despite the Chinese center’s draft status, there just might not be much of a future in Portland for Hansen. Donovan Clingan is the team’s center of the present and future, and Robert Williams was just re-signed to a three-year deal. It would hurt to lose Hansen just a year after he was nearly a lottery pick, but the Trail Blazers have tons of depth that is more important to the team’s current and future outlook.
Unprotected player: Brice Sensabaugh, SG
Brice Sensabaugh is a bucket-getter who has displayed some serious flashes for the Utah Jazz. When the team has been injured or out of the playoff running, Sensabaugh has often put up huge scoring numbers. However, he has never been consistent, and scoring opportunities will only become more infrequent in the years to come with Darryn Peterson and All-Stars like Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the roster. At best, Sensabaugh could be a sixth man spark plug for Utah, but at worst, he is taking away touches from better players.
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Unprotected player: De’Anthony Melton, SG
The Golden State Warriors’ old but nostalgic roster would leave them in a weird place when it comes to protecting players from an expansion draft. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green likely mean too much to the franchise for the Warriors to not protect them. In fact, the Warriors might try to protect all of their veterans and push for one final championship. De’Anthony Melton would lose to the numbers game in that case.
Unprotected player: Bradley Beal, SG
The Los Angeles Clippers are not in a great position right now. They’ve entered a rebuild, but were just docked five future first-round picks because of the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention scandal. They aren’t good enough to win a lot of games now, but they don’t have much of a route to getting better in the future. Bradley Beal is the big-name player they’d likely leave unprotected. He isn’t the All-Star-level scorer he once was.
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Unprotected player: Bronny James, SG
Bronny James is the worst player on this list, but he’d certainly be one of the most controversial players left unprotected league-wide. The son of LeBron James hasn’t done much at the NBA level, and his value to the Los Angeles Lakers has faded with the elder James departed to Philadelphia. Still, his fan base is huge.
Unprotected player: Miles Bridges, SF
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Miles Bridges was just acquired via trade by the Phoenix Suns. That doesn’t secure him a long-term home in Arizona, though. Bridges’ elite aerial abilities could pair well with the Suns roster, but expansion draft protections are a numbers game, so protecting a soon-to-be free agent might not make sense. Bridges’ $22 million deal expires after the upcoming season.
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Unprotected player: Keegan Murray, PF
Keegan Murray is a good player, and one of the few Sacramento Kings’ draft hits over recent years. However, the Kings got too excited with their scouting success and will be paying the 3-point specialist close to or over $30 million for the next five years. Some would argue that the Kings aren’t in a position to move on from good players, but hitting a complete reset might be smart. Freeing up some cap space ahead of a Jalen Duren pursuit makes sense.
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Unprotected player: Naji Marshall, PF
Naji Marshall’s will make just over $9 million this season. His salary jumps up nearly double next year and will remain steady for two more seasons to follow. The Dallas Mavericks could be intrigued by an expansion team scooping up the backup forward before his big pay raise.
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Unprotected player: Steven Adams, C
The Houston Rockets are all in on a jumbo lineup. They’ve deployed a lineup of Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams before, the former of whom is 6-foot-7, and the latter four of which are nearly 7-foot tall. Sengun and Adams are primary centers, and the team also has Clint Capela. While there is an affinity for size, there is also a frontcourt logjam, and potentially losing a big would hurt a lot less than potential losing a guard or wing.
Unprotected player: GG Jackson, PF
The Memphis Grizzlies have had an insane amount of roster turnover in recent years. At first glance, it would make sense for the team to hold onto GG Jackson. He was once a premier prospect; he entered the NBA as the youngest player in the league, and the scoring potential is evident. Even so, it has become clearer and clearer over the years that Jackson likely isn’t a part of Memphis’ long-term plans.
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Unprotected player: Saddiq Bey, SF
The New Orleans Pelicans just extended Saddiq Bey. However, he is not a young prospect, nor a superstar. A role player like Bey likely wouldn’t be protected from the expansion draft, despite the ink still drying on his new contract.
Unprotected player: Tarris Reed Jr., C
The San Antonio Spurs have a 7-foot-4 phenom in Victor Wembanyama, but they prioritized getting bigger and stronger in the offseason nonetheless. The 2026 runner-ups drafted both Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. near the end of the first round in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Spurs, like the Thunder, would have to expose some really good players to an expansion draft due to the team’s incredible depth and youth. Quaintance was drafted before Reed, so the UConn product would be more likely to go unprotected.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
