As the NBA explores the prospect of expansion, the buzz around an expansion draft is growing louder. Teams like the Sacramento Kings are already considering which players they'll protect. However, Kings fans can rest easy about Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis-they're unlikely to be on the protected list.
If Las Vegas and Seattle get the green light for their new teams, they're expected to hit the court in the 2028-2029 season. For Seattle fans, it's been a long wait to see the Sonics back in action, and even a couple more years can feel like an eternity.
During this period, the league will conduct an expansion draft, allowing the new franchises to pick existing players and secure picks in the 2028 draft. While the Board of Governors is yet to finalize the rules, past drafts offer some guidance.
Historically, teams have been allowed to protect eight players, leaving the rest available for selection. Additionally, there's been a cap of one player per team to prevent any single team from losing too much talent. For the Kings, the decision on who to protect is as clear as who to leave exposed.
Sacramento's strategy would likely involve leaving LaVine and Sabonis unprotected. The Kings' front office is steering towards a rebuild, and both players are seen as mismatches for this vision. If the draft were today, neither LaVine nor Sabonis would make the protected list, though they wouldn't be prime targets anyway.
One key factor is the players' hefty contracts. Previous expansion drafts required teams to assume existing contracts, and both LaVine and Sabonis come with significant salary commitments. This financial burden would likely deter Vegas or Seattle from picking them, as it could create immediate salary cap challenges.
Interestingly, this scenario might not even arise for the Kings. Assuming LaVine opts into his player option, he's only set to stay with Sacramento for one more season.
Meanwhile, Sabonis's contract runs through the 2027-2028 season. By the time the expansion draft rolls around, neither is expected to be on the Kings' roster.
There's also a chance the Kings could trade LaVine or Sabonis before the draft. Ideally, these trades would occur before the 2026-2027 season, but that seems a stretch given the current landscape.