The Athletic NBA Daily NBA Expansion Draft Protections | Morning Shoot Around
Feb 18, 2026
A panel runs mock expansion draft protections for every NBA franchise, debating which stars and role players teams would shield. They explain the format and two new-team plan, then walk team-by-team through tough protection choices and contract dilemmas. They close by arguing expansion-team build philosophies and how draft assets versus win-now pieces shape decisions.
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Naming The Las Vegas Team Was A Running Joke
- The hosts joked about team names and identity while assigning protections, showing how branding matters for expansion fandom.
- They cycled through Vipers, Strips, Diamonds, Rattlers and landed on 'Strips' for Las Vegas.
Assume A Near-Term Expansion Date
- When modeling protections, pretend the expansion occurs next summer to avoid contract expiry complications.
- That simplifies choices and helps form a usable mock protection list.
Short Contracts Have Trade Appeal
- Teams often protect players with short, tradable contracts to flip for picks or flexibility.
- Younger upside can lose out to short-term salary utility in protection choices.