The NBA looks like it could add franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas for the first time in over 20 years. The league’s governors have voted to explore expansion, and reports say the goal might be to get new teams on the floor in time for the 2028-29 season. That does not mean it is guaranteed, but it is enough for a very early fantasy exercise.
A colleague and I decided to waste some free time by running a mock expansion draft using a public tool. We treated it less like a prediction and more like a demonstration of how two new clubs could be assembled given today’s rosters, salaries and contract situations.
What matters about expansion rules
Until the NBA announces precise rules, we relied on precedent and the 2023 collective bargaining agreement details that already exist. Key points:
Existing teams may protect up to eight players. They must leave at least one player unprotected.
Only players under contract for the coming season, or those entering restricted free agency that summer, are eligible for selection. Players who will be unrestricted free agents are excluded.
Each expansion club must select at least 14 players. Once a club picks a player from one team, the remaining unprotected players on that origin team are off limits.
Restricted free agents taken by an expansion team give that team Bird rights, but the selected player becomes an unrestricted free agent immediately and can test the market.
An expansion club can waive a selected player, which removes their salary from the team cap but still counts toward the salary floor calculation.
Existing teams may negotiate trades or deals with expansion clubs to influence picks. We did not model those side deals here.
Under the current CBA, expansion clubs operate under lower salary thresholds than established teams for their first two seasons. In Year 1 they can spend up to 66.6% of the full salary cap, and in Year 2 up to 80%.
Because rules can change and rosters will shift between now and 2028, we based our exercise on the present-day player pool. The mock draft used a Spotrac tool that projects Year 1 cap for expansion teams at about $132 million, which we also referenced for roster construction.
How we approached picks
The strategy was simple: build functional rosters that mix veterans who set culture with younger, high-upside players. One of us drafted for a Seattle squad called the SuperSonics, the other for a Las Vegas team named the Neon. Below are each club’s 14 picks, the contract facts as listed in the tool, and the quick rationale for each selection.
1. Seattle SuperSonics: Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Contract: $18.2 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Start with defense and attitude. Dort is a high-level perimeter defender who sets a tone and gives the new franchise toughness right away.
2. Las Vegas Neon: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Contract: $42.2 million (2026-27), $44.9 million (2027-28), 2028 UFA
Rationale: Risky but high ceiling. Zion brings star-level upside, finishing inside, and would be a marquee attraction for a Vegas opening. He also carries heavy salary and some health questions, so this is a bold early bet.
3. Seattle SuperSonics: Bennedict Mathurin, Los Angeles Clippers
Contract: Restricted free agent
Rationale: A young scorer who can grow into a long-term rotation piece. Mathurin offers offense and youth in a manageable contract situation if the team re-signs him.
4. Las Vegas Neon: D'Angelo Russell, Washington Wizards
Contract: $6 million (2026-27, player option), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Cheapish veteran guard who can run pick-and-rolls and space the floor. Not the sexiest pick, but fits the immediate need for ball-handling and shooting.
5. Seattle SuperSonics: Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs
Contract: $3 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Versatile, switchable wing on a bargain deal. Good depth piece who has started meaningful minutes on a winning team.
6. Las Vegas Neon: Mohamed Diawara, New York Knicks
Contract: 2026 RFA
Rationale: A long, young wing with shooting upside. Restricted free agent status means the Neon must decide whether to invest in him, but the physical profile is attractive.
7. Seattle SuperSonics: Day'Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets
Contract: $6.25 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Athletic center option who provides size and rim protection. Good value for interior minutes off the bench or spot starts.
8. Las Vegas Neon: Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies
Contract: $9.2 million (2026-27), $9.7 million (2027-28 player option), 2028 UFA
Rationale: Veteran backup guard who can shoot and manage the second unit. If healthy, he brings reliable spacing and playmaking to enliven a high-scoring Vegas plan.
9. Seattle SuperSonics: Jrue Holiday, Portland Trail Blazers
Contract: $34.8 million (2026-27), $37.2 million (2027-28 player option), 2028 UFA
Rationale: Veteran floor general and elite defender. Holiday provides leadership and two-way stability, pairing well with Dort on the perimeter.
10. Las Vegas Neon: Al Horford, Golden State Warriors
Contract: $6 million (2026-27, player option), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Experienced big who spaces the floor and mentors young players. Horford fits the role of a calming veteran presence around younger scorers.
11. Seattle SuperSonics: Jordan Walsh, Boston Celtics
Contract: $2.4 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: A young wing who has earned minutes on a deep roster. Defensive versatility and some three-point shooting make Walsh a useful depth piece.
12. Las Vegas Neon: Johnny Furphy, Indiana Pacers
Contract: $2.3 million (2026-27), $2.5 million (2027-28 team option), $3.1 million (2028-29), 2029 UFA
Rationale: Athletic wing with upside who is rehabbing from injury. Cheap, young, and fits the plan of taking several long-term bets.
13. Seattle SuperSonics: Tidjane Salaün, Charlotte Hornets
Contract: $8.2 million (2026-27), $10.4 million (2027-28 club option), 2028 RFA
Rationale: A high-upside 20-year-old with size and shooting for his age. Risky pick, but the potential is why he was chosen.
14. Las Vegas Neon: Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets
Contract: $25 million (2026-27, player option), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Proven lead guard and winner who orchestrates offense and defends. Coming off injury but offers veteran leadership and shot creation.
15. Seattle SuperSonics: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Toronto Raptors
Contract: $2.8 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Hard-nosed small-ball center who performs well on both ends. Strong value as a scrappy rotation big.
16. Las Vegas Neon: Paul Reed, Detroit Pistons
Contract: $5.6 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Energetic backup big who can provide defense, rebounding and personality off the bench at a modest cost.
17. Seattle SuperSonics: Marcus Smart, Los Angeles Lakers
Contract: $5.4 million (2026-27 player option)
Rationale: Tough vet who defends and sets standards. Smart’s intensity helps protect the culture in the backcourt.
18. Las Vegas Neon: Cody Williams, Utah Jazz
Contract: $6 million (2026-27), $7.7 million (2027-28 club option), 2028 RFA
Rationale: Young wing prospect who flashed improvement this season. Another lottery-ticket style pick for the Neon’s young core.
19. Seattle SuperSonics: Jonathan Kuminga, Atlanta Hawks
Contract: $24.3 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: High-usage wing who can score at volume. Kuminga offers upside as an offensive engine, even if the fit is not guaranteed.
20. Las Vegas Neon: Max Strus, Cleveland Cavaliers
Contract: $16.7 million (2026-27), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Reliable movement shooter and solid defender for a wing position. Strus helps spread the floor for the Neon’s primary scorers.
21. Seattle SuperSonics: Spencer Jones, Denver Nuggets
Contract: Restricted free agent
Rationale: A role player who excels in spot minutes and does not demand shots. Efficient and dependable depth.
22. Las Vegas Neon: Royce O'Neale, Phoenix Suns
Contract: $10.9 million (2026-27), $11.6 million (2027-28), 2028 UFA
Rationale: Veteran 3-and-D wing who defends multiple positions and provides spacing. Useful as both a short-term stabilizer and mentor.
23. Seattle SuperSonics: Jaden Ivey, Chicago Bulls
Contract: Restricted free agent
Rationale: Ball-dominant guard with playmaking chops. Good candidate to run the second unit and provide offensive punch.
24. Las Vegas Neon: Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks
Contract: $2.2 million (2026-27 club option), 2027 UFA
Rationale: Cost-effective young guard who can handle and shoot. A low-cost addition to round out the backcourt rotation.
25. Seattle SuperSonics: Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic
Contract: $7.6 million (2026-27)
Rationale: Rugged center who can defend, rebound and set screens. Fills minutes behind other bigs and keeps the lineup physical.
26. Las Vegas Neon: Ousmane Dieng, Milwaukee Bucks
Contract: 2026 RFA
Rationale: Young, long wing with shooting upside in limited minutes. A low-risk pick that could be re-signed with Bird rights if he breaks through.
27. Seattle SuperSonics: Cam Payne, Philadelphia 76ers
Contract: Restricted free agent
Rationale: Veteran reserve guard who is willing to accept a bench role. Adds experience and playmaking in short stints.
28. Las Vegas Neon: Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat
Contract: 2026 RFA
Rationale: Athletic wing defender who has earned minutes on a strong defensive team. Also offers some showmanship and energy.
29. Seattle SuperSonics: DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
Contract: $25.7 million (2026-27)
Rationale: Veteran scorer and midrange master. A 20,000-point scorer who can lead the offense and mentor younger teammates while they develop.
30. Las Vegas Neon: Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
Contract: (contract details as listed at time of mock)
Rationale: Elite rim protector and defensive anchor. Adding Gobert would pair rim defense and shot-blocking with Zion’s interior offense, at the cost of significant salary.
Final thoughts
Would real expansion drafts look exactly like this? Probably not. Rules may be updated, rosters will change, and front offices will structure trades and protections strategically. Still, this mock shows plausible approaches: build a defensive identity and veteran culture in Seattle, and take big swings around a potential star in Las Vegas.
Whatever the final form, expansion would create a fascinating roster-construction puzzle. For now, this was a way-too-early look at how two new franchises might try to get competitive, entertain fans, and balance risk with upside.
