How a looming NBA expansion draft could impact two new potential franchises

NBA expansion is becoming closer to being a reality and that could dramatically change the league's landscape. Adding two new teams hasn't happened since 1989, 35 years ago and many fans may not know what to expect when the NBA inevitably announces their expansion plans.

With up to 15 NBA roster spots and three two-way spots, both expansion teams will have to fill out their rosters ahead of their debut but how would that work? An expansion draft has often been used in that event but the last time one has taken place was back in 2004 with the addition of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets). Let's take a look at how an expansion draft could work.

How an NBA expansion draft could work.

Generally, each existing team is allowed to protect eight players from being drafted by an expansion franchise. The players that aren't protected are being entered into a pool, which the two new franchises can choose from.

That means that expansion teams usually don't end up with star players or rising stars since they are the first to be protected by teams. Instead, the best strategy for a new franchise is to get experienced players who can help them win games during their inaugural season. That would likely mean targeting mid- to low-end rotation players with several years of experience.

An interesting wrinkle that wasn't around in previous expansion drafts could be the teams may be more willing to unprotect rotation players making significant salaries. If the draft were to happen tomorrow, would the Brooklyn Nets protect Ben Simmons, or would the Chicago Bulls do the same with Lonzo Ball or even Zach LaVine?

Given his ugly contract, the lack of trade options and that they would receive a massive trade exception in his place, it might not be that crazy. With the expansion draft at least four years away, we won't get that specific answer, though other players and similar situations may be available.

How two new NBA expansion teams may build their roster.

That would give a new team a better starting point than other expansion teams had in previous years. Another interesting thing to note about an expansion draft would be that the two new teams would be limited to picking one player from each existing franchise. That means 30 franchises and 30 picks until both new teams reach the 15-man roster limit.

Moreover, historically, expansion teams have limited use of cap space for the first couple of seasons of their existence, with them only being able to use approximately 2/3 of the salary cap. That is likely done to prevent a team from cheaping out during the expansion draft and then going on a spending spree in free agency.

They are also normally prevented from picking first in the NBA draft for the first couple of years and are even assigned lottery picks regardless of record. As a result, it could take time for the NBA's newest teams to find their footing, but with the explosion of talent around the league and entering the league, they should be competitive in no time.