NBA expansion draft rules explained

The National Basketball League famously called the NBA, is one of the biggest sporting leagues. Not just the biggest sporting league but also one of the biggest growing businesses. Many businessmen and billionaires invest in NBA teams and want to have their team in the league. Currently, there are 30 teams in the league, and at some point, a few more teams can be added. If a team is added to the NBA, an expansion draft will occur. So, let’s take a look at the NBA expansion draft rules explained below.

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NBA expansion draft rules explained

As explained above, when a new team is added to the NBA, an expansion draft will take place.

During the expansion draft, a new team will be given a chance to select players from the already-established teams in the league. But there is a twist to this process. The already established teams get a chance to protect eight players on their team. The unprotected players of the team are the options for the new team to select and make their team.

The team often saves their best players, especially the young talents who have impressed them the most. Whereas, the unprotected players are those who are veteran players of the team and players who are getting overpaid looking at their performances.

One player from each team can be selected by the new team. A minimum of 14 players and a maximum of 29 players can be selected by the new team.

The last expansion draft took place in 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats (Charlotte Hornets) were introduced to the league.

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Every expansion team in NBA history

• 1961: Chicago Packers (Washington Wizards)
• 1966: Chicago Bulls
• 1967: San Diego Rockets (Houston Rockets) and Seattle Supersonics (Oklahoma City Thunder)
• 1968: Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns
• 1970: Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Buffalo Braves (Los Angeles Clippers)
• 1974: New Orleans Jazz (Utah Jazz)
• 1976: Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Nets (Brooklyn Nets)
• 1980: Dallas Mavericks
• 1988: Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets (New Orleans Pelicans)
• 1989: Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic
• 1995: Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies (Memphis Grizzlies)
• 2004: Charlotte Bobcats (Charlotte Hornets)

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