The Athletic NBA Daily NBA EXPANSION DRAFT | Morning Shoot Around
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Mar 18, 2026 They run a mock NBA expansion draft between Seattle and Las Vegas, picking players and debating immediate contending versus tanking for a superstar. They weigh rules, protections, contract grabs for draft compensation, and realistic expectations for expansion talent. They discuss building backcourts, adding young wings and centers, scouting breakout candidates, and marketing vibe picks to sell hope to fans.
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Expansion Drafts Don't Deliver Instant Superstars
- Expansion drafts rarely produce immediate stars and therefore push new teams toward long-term rebuilding strategies.
- Andrew Schlecht and Dave DuFour note that most high-talent players stay protected, so expansion teams should expect role players and development projects instead of instant contenders.
Prioritize Tanking To Secure Future Draft Capital
- Tanking early can be the optimal strategy for an expansion team because the draft pool won't supply a franchise star.
- Esfandiar Baraheni and Andrew recommend prioritizing long-term picks and patience over trying to compete year one in the West.
Flip Unwanted Contracts For Future Picks
- Use expansion selections to extract future draft assets by agreeing to absorb bad contracts in return for picks.
- Dave DuFour suggests calling teams (e.g., Miami) and asking for future firsts to take on players like Andrew Wiggins or Yakup Peral.