NBA expansion is no longer just speculation. Reports indicate the Board of Governors could vote this summer on adding teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, setting the stage for an expansion draft in the coming years.
If approved, the format would mirror past drafts. Each existing team can protect up to eight players, and the two new franchises would take turns selecting from the unprotected pool. Each current team can lose only one player.
For the San Antonio Spurs, that may not sound alarming at first glance. But once you dig into the roster, the math becomes uncomfortable.
Victor Wembanyama makes three protections automatic for the San Antonio Spurs
There is zero debate about the franchise cornerstone. Victor Wembanyama is untouchable. So are Devin Vassell and De’Aaron Fox, who form the immediate competitive core around him. That’s three slots gone immediately.
From there, the Spurs’ youth movement forces hard decisions. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are high-upside guards on rookie contracts. Both project as long-term pieces next to Wembanyama.
Now you’re at five.
The final three slots get complicated quickly for the San Antonio Spurs
Keldon Johnson likely earns protection because of his age, production, and team-friendly contract. That makes six.
Julian Champagnie has quietly developed into a reliable rotation wing on a bargain deal, and protecting cost-controlled contributors matters in expansion drafts. That leaves one final slot.
Veterans like Harrison Barnes (but has with 18 million high value, though), Kelly Olynyk, Luke Kornet, and Bismack Biyombo provide stability but may not align with long-term priorities. Meanwhile, young pieces like Carter Bryant (made a good showoff during the dunk contest, though) or Harrison Ingram offer upside but remain unproven. The eighth slot could ultimately come down to timeline versus reliability.
Spurs are safer than OKC but not immune
Unlike the Thunder, San Antonio is more top-heavy. That works in their favor in an expansion draft.
If a new team poaches a veteran like Barnes or Olynyk, it stings but doesn’t alter the franchise’s trajectory. The Spurs’ identity revolves around Wembanyama, Fox, and the emerging young core.
If a new team poaches a veteran like Barnes or Olynyk, it stings but doesn’t alter the franchise’s trajectory. The Spurs’ identity revolves around Wembanyama, Fox, and the emerging young core.
Still, there is a real risk.
If an expansion team targets Johnson’s contract value or one of the young guards’ upside, San Antonio could lose a piece that fits perfectly around Wembanyama’s timeline. Expansion teams often prioritize age and cost control, not just star power.
Overall, the Spurs are better positioned than many contenders because their hierarchy is clearer. But once you start counting to eight, it becomes obvious that someone meaningful will be exposed.
And in a league where depth and development are everything, even losing one rotation-caliber player could force tough decisions sooner than expected.
