Who will each team protect in the expansion draft? US media predicts selections for 30 teams: Yang Hansen on Portland's list

Beijing time March 18, the NBA Board of Directors will vote next week (March 25-26) to formally discuss plans to add two new teams in Las Vegas and Seattle. This does not mean the league will expand immediately, but it indeed marks that expansion has moved from long-term speculation to a real process with a clear timeline. According to ESPN, these two new teams are expected to officially begin playing in the 2028-29 season.

If expansion is truly coming, the management of each team in the league is already contemplating the most painful part of this process: who to protect and who to let go. The expansion draft rules framework outlined by Spotrac is clear:Existing teams can protect up to 8 players; only non-expiring contracts and restricted free agents are eligible for protection.Each team must expose at least 1 unprotected player, and therefore each team can lose only 1 player in the draft.US media FadeawayWorld published an article predicting: if an expansion draft were held now, who are the 8 players each team would most likely protect.

On Portland's 8-player protected list, we see the name of Chinese player Yang Hansen.The US media believes the 8 players Portland would protect are Sharpe, Kamara, Henderson, Lillard, Avdija, Clingan, Yang Hansen, and Krejčí.

The US media analysis states: This protected list retains Portland's true core foundation. Sharpe, Kamara, Henderson, Avdija, and Clingan are unquestionable choices for protection, as they are the young core in the team's long-term rebuilding plan.

Yang Hansen's inclusion is also reasonable, as a promising interior rookie worth keeping; while Lillard is protected because even at this stage, his value to this roster remains higher than most veterans. Krejčí secures the final spot over other young fringe players because he appears more suited to immediately enter the regular rotation.

This means Holiday, Grant, Chris Murray, and Sissoko will be exposed for selection. Among them, Holiday and Grant remain serviceable players, but both are older and do not align with the rebuilding timeline of the young core.

Predictions for the 8-player protected lists of the other 29 teams are as follows—

Atlanta HawksJalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Zachary Risacher, Corey Kispert, Asa Newell

Boston Celtics:Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Nemias Queta, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman

Brooklyn Nets:Michael Porter Jr., Nicolas Claxton, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Noah Clowney, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf

Charlotte Hornets:LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Kon Nuper, Tidjane Salaun, Liam McNeeley, Moussa Diabaté, Ryan Kalkbrenner

Chicago Bulls:Josh Giddey, Jaden Ivey, Matas Buzelis, Noah Esen, Rob Dillingham, Isaac Okoro, Patrick Williams, Leonard Miller

Cleveland Cavaliers:Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, James Harden, Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jalen Tyson, Tyrese Proctor

Dallas Mavericks:Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Dereck Lively II, Ryan Embiid, Naji Marshall

Denver Nuggets:Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, DaRon Holmes II, Julian Strawther

Detroit Pistons:Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland II, Isaiah Stewart, Duncan Robinson, Marcus Sasser, Bobi Klintman

Golden State Warriors:Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski, Guillermo Santos, Will Richard, Quentin Post

Houston Rockets:Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Fred VanVleet, Dorian Finney-Smith

Indiana Pacers:Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Ivica Zubac, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard

Los Angeles Clippers:Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland, Benedict Mathurin, Derrick Jones Jr., Isaiah Jackson, Yannick Konan Nidhaouss, Cameron Christie, Jordan Miller

Los Angeles Lakers:Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Adou Thiero

Memphis Grizzlies:Ja Morant, Santi Aldama, Zach Edey, Taylor Hendricks, Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., G.G. Jackson, Jalen Wells

Miami Heat:Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Jović, Kyle El, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson

Milwaukee Bucks:Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis, AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., Ousmane Dieng

Minnesota Timberwolves:Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Jon Bellinger, Terrence Shannon Jr.

New Orleans Pelicans:Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Jeremiah Fells, Jordan Hawkins, Derek Quinn, Yves Missi

New York Knicks:Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, José Alvarado, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek

Oklahoma City Thunder:Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Ajay Mitchell

Orlando Magic:Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva, Jess Richardson

Philadelphia 76ers:Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, Justin Edwards, Adam Bona, Jabari Walker, Johnny Bloom

Phoenix Suns:Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Kamar Maruach, Ryan Dunn, Osom Ighodaro, Rahil Fleming, Mark Williams

Sacramento Kings:Deandre Hunter, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Devin Carter, Nick Clifford, Killian Hayes, Maxim Reynaud, Dylan Cardwell

San Antonio Spurs:DeAaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, Luke Kornet, Stefan Castle, Carter Bryant

Toronto Raptors:Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, R.J. Barrett, Gradey Dick, Colin Murray-Boyles, Ja'Kobe Walter, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jamal Shead

Utah Jazz:Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, Keyonte George, Bryce Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier, Walker Kessler

Washington Wizards:Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Will Riley, Kyshawn George