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Who would the Thunder protect in an Expansion Draft?

By Austin Sternlicht

EDMOND, OK - MARCH 30: The Oklahoma City Thunder team poses for a team photo on March 30, 2017 at the Integris Health Thunder Development Center in Edmond, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
EDMOND, OK - MARCH 30: The Oklahoma City Thunder team poses for a team photo on March 30, 2017 at the Integris Health Thunder Development Center in Edmond, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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There’s not a question that the OKC Thunder would keep the NBA MVP in an expansion draft. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
There’s not a question that the OKC Thunder would keep the NBA MVP in an expansion draft. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

As rumors of NBA expansion continue, the OKC Thunder will need to consider who to protect if an expansion draft occurs.

In a Players Tribune interview with Portland Trailblazers guard C.J. McCollum, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussed how NBA expansion could be in the near future.

"“I think it’s just a question of when the right time is to seriously start thinking about expansion… Think about the state we are at in the league right now. It’s amazing to me we have fans coming out after these finals saying there’s only one good team in the league. If people really believe that, even though we have 450 of the best players in the world, and 450 can only form one really good team, it probably doesn’t make sense to expand in terms of dilution of talent.”"

If the NBA were to expand, an expansion draft would need to take place to help fill the new team’s roster. The last expansion draft occurred in 2004, when the Charlotte Hornets entered the league. Per expansion draft rules, each team will be able to protect up to eight players on the roster. So who should the Thunder protect if an expansion draft happened?

There are obviously some easy decisions. The entire projected starting lineup (Westbrook, Roberson, George, Patterson, Adams) should be protected. This group of five has a chance to be one of the best starting units in the entire league.

Alex Abrines should also be an easy decision. At 23, he is a rising star for Oklahoma City. He will only continue to get better as he gets older and stronger. Plus, he is on a team-friendly contract for two more years before hitting restricted free agency.

That leaves only two players for OKC to protect. With nine players still on guaranteed contracts, the Thunder will need to decide which two are the most important to keep for this upcoming season and beyond.

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