What should an expansion team's draft strategy be?

[Statlanta]

Save money.

You are most likely gonna be bad and probably won't participate in both the first draft and revenue sharing.

The first coach and GM are probably gonna be lame duck, FIFO type coaches.

[SSUBluesman]

A lot of it depends on what the rules are. Being forced to pick in the middle of the lottery vs top 3 for the amateur draft, are teams still able to protect only 8 players, etc. Ideally the NBA would put the new team in a position to succeed ala the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, in which case I would adopt their strategy of making side deals to acquire young players/assets.

Ultimately I'd try and target younger players who look like they would break out playing a bigger role. I'd want at least two older vets to mentor the younger guys and "play the game the right way". Hopefully I'd have hired a coach or have a couple in mind and would be looking for players that fit into their system. I'd spend a fair amount of resources scouting the G League to hopefully find a diamond in the rough or two. Also I'd focus more on franchises like the Raptors that have a track record of identifying/developing talent.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

it depends on what other teams are going to leave available for the expansion draft.
the idea is to have enough guard play to not totally suck in terms of product, but then the game should be cumulating assets that could be traded at a later stage.
don't assume you'll find there someone that could be part of your next great team, it will take too many years for that.

___
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[Harry Garris]

There's something to be said for fielding an entertaining team and filling seats. The Charlotte Hornets grabbed Dell Curry and Muggsy Bogues and Bogues immediately became the heart and soul of the team. That was a scrappy bunch in the early years and they were always putting up a fight even with bad records. They also traded for Kelly Tripucka who was their first all-star and big scorer. They already had an identity when LJ and Zo came along a few years later, even though it didn't get a ring, it was still a good run for a while not long out of the gate.

I'd go for "put people in seats" while also accumulating draft picks. I didn't know this until I checked, but both the Heat and Hornets got draft picks in trade for agreeing not to take certain players. Of course you could also combine that with taking on a dump for draft picks. Getting a guy like Westbrook and picks would make sense--you get an entertainer on a bad team as well as assets. I'd probably grab a fading star or two as well if you get guys who will be good mentors and role players instead of sulking.

I don't think I'd want to start out tanking for five years and risking never getting a real fan base. But then I'd be thinking like an owner and GM and not a fan, wanting to build a multi-billion-dollar business asset over the long haul.

I think this is an important one because according to Mark Cuban anyway, the biggest hang up that the current governors have over expanding the league further is that the small market owners really don't want expansion teams to cut into their slice of revenue sharing at all.

(I personally think this is silly and it wouldn't be that difficult for a Seattle and a Vegas based team to be at least in the middle of the pack in terms of revenue-sharing eligible money generated within just a couple of seasons, but whatever...)

If the expansion teams are put into above average sized markets and the teams are semi-competitive right away and develop an immediate fanbase there's far less risk of that happening.

[giberish]

I know a lot of the board thinks the only acceptable way to build a team is multiple 0-82 seasons, but I don't see that a good plan for an expansion team.

You need to give your new fans a reason to care. They've been waiting for a long time, don't make them wait 5 more years for a process. You want a team that tries hard and is at least somewhat entertaining. With the flattened lotto odds your chances of getting a top-4 pick as the 8th worst team isn't that much worse then as the worst team. Also, judging by past expansion teams you will probably be barred from winning the lottery for several years anyway.

Find some young (or at least youngish) guys that you think can do more with a bigger role (guys either buried because they're on stacked teams or because their team doesn't appreciate what they have). Pick up a few spare late 1sts with either cap space or expansion draft moves. If there are some interesting cheap FA options floating around don't be afraid to sign them to longer term deals that you think are good value.

[Warriorfan]

Accumulate picks and draft well.
I would get players who could be traded to playoff teams.

[jazzfan1971]

There won't be much left unprotected worth having. See if you can sell your selections for picks

[Harry Garris]

There won't be much left unprotected worth having. See if you can sell your selections for picks

Seriously? You don't think any NBA team's 9th best player on their roster would be worth having?

I couldn't disagree more. You could get quite a few promising young players through an expansion draft and then probably take a couple of quality veterans as well to trade off to contending teams at the deadline for protected FRPs.

[Texas Chuck]

Worth pointing out its unlikely an expansion team is going to a big market. Not sure if Dallas or Chicago could support a 2nd team like LA and NY, but you have to imagine their influential governors would be able to prevent that. So assume you are dealing with a small or medium market here.

[Texas Chuck]

(I personally think this is silly and it wouldn't be that difficult for a Seattle and a Vegas based team to be at least in the middle of the pack in terms of revenue-sharing eligible money generated within just a couple of seasons, but whatever...)

I definitely don't want to re-hash this too much, but I think the question to be answered is how much money is generating locally versus the national TV money and thus are those additional teams paying more into the pie than taking out. If say national TV money is 60% then its a losing money deal basically regardless. And as many teams are still losing money(supposedly), its hard to imagine new teams growing that pie.

It doesn't mean there aren't reasons to expand, but I think Cuban's probably got right on the finances for the existing teams.

[Colbinii]

Worth pointing out its unlikely an expansion team is going to a big market. Not sure if Dallas or Chicago could support a 2nd team like LA and NY, but you have to imagine their influential governors would be able to prevent that. So assume you are dealing with a small or medium market here.

Good point.

My strategy would be different than many in here.

1) Pick Rotational NBA Quality Players to fill out a majority of the roster [8-10 players].

2) Pick a couple of "Larger" Salaries in the "Rotational NBA Quality Pool" as those salaries, in a year or two, become large expiring contracts which can be used to match for an actual star player OR be used to take on longer salary with assets if the team decides to accumulate assets.

Building on #2, having a 2 and 4 year plan is extremely crucial. Who are upcoming Free Agents? What stars are likely to leave? Is there a draft you believe to be deep in the next few years?

Being a team which is competitive--potentially good--is crucial to building a fan base. Oklahoma City has been the luckiest franchise [via relocation] but if you can hit the ground running or acquire a star within 2-3 years then you can start to build a Culture [A la Miami or Dallas]. The next best thing to being an S Tier Market is being an S Tier Culture.

[Johnny Bball]

Say the Supersonics + another team get added as expansion teams. What strategies are their to get the most out of the expansion draft? Do you worry about large salaries (or intentionally grab them to help other teams free up cap)? Do you grab only the youngest players? Do you grab only the best players?

Cheapest players possible and save cap space. Use cap space for picks and bad contracts. Take picks for not selecting certain rare exposed players (good/cheap), if not, take them trade them. There's almost no players exposed that will be with a losing expansion team for long to help it grow.

You absolutely do not want to take the Westbrooks or Haywards. You do that when they give you picks to do it. If you can get a player like say Turner and someone will trade for him, by all means, ship him out. Tank for two years. Rinse and repeat. Evaluate after two years. You should have 2 top 4 picks on the team, future draft picks stashed and tons of cap space.

[DrCoach]

1. have a 5 year plan.
2. Develop a culture
3. sign 4-5 low salary Vets that can set the culture you want
4. sign young Vets that aren't playing to cheap reasonable contracts but have potential and fit your timeline.
5.draft young and absorb/use cap space to take players that will net you picks.
6. get great developmental coaches
7. utilize G-League to develop and look for young talent.

[jazzfan1971]

There won't be much left unprotected worth having. See if you can sell your selections for picks

Seriously? You don't think any NBA team's 9th best player on their roster would be worth having?

I couldn't disagree more. You could get quite a few promising young players through an expansion draft and then probably take a couple of quality veterans as well to trade off to contending teams at the deadline for protected FRPs.

Ok, go look at the last time we had expansion and come tell me the best assets that were landed.

[Harry Garris]

(I personally think this is silly and it wouldn't be that difficult for a Seattle and a Vegas based team to be at least in the middle of the pack in terms of revenue-sharing eligible money generated within just a couple of seasons, but whatever...)

I definitely don't want to re-hash this too much, but I think the question to be answered is how much money is generating locally versus the national TV money and thus are those additional teams paying more into the pie than taking out. If say national TV money is 60% then its a losing money deal basically regardless. And as many teams are still losing money(supposedly), its hard to imagine new teams growing that pie.

It doesn't mean there aren't reasons to expand, but I think Cuban's probably got right on the finances for the existing teams.

Short-term, sure I agree with Cuban. But it's difficult to imagine how it wouldn't be a good thing for the league to grow into new and large media markets in the long term.

Also the owners get a huge expansion check to tide them over for any losses on revenue sharing they may incur in the short term as well.

[Zion Wembanyama]

Aaron Holiday
Frank Ntilikina
Hamiduo Diallo
Donte DiVincenzo
Josh Christopher
Terance Mann
P.J. Dozier
John Butler
Jaxson Hayes
Cam Reddish
Georges Niang
Frank Jackson
Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot
Justice Winslow
Keita Bates-Diop
DJ Wilson
Josh Jackson
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Isaiah Todd

This.

[Harry Garris]

There won't be much left unprotected worth having. See if you can sell your selections for picks

Seriously? You don't think any NBA team's 9th best player on their roster would be worth having?

I couldn't disagree more. You could get quite a few promising young players through an expansion draft and then probably take a couple of quality veterans as well to trade off to contending teams at the deadline for protected FRPs.

Ok, go look at the last time we had expansion and come tell me the best assets that were landed.

What I'm trying to say is the average 9th man on a NBA roster is a much better player and better asset today than back in 2004. The league is just more talented now.

[alevirfe]

Seriously? You don't think any NBA team's 9th best player on their roster would be worth having?

I couldn't disagree more. You could get quite a few promising young players through an expansion draft and then probably take a couple of quality veterans as well to trade off to contending teams at the deadline for protected FRPs.

Ok, go look at the last time we had expansion and come tell me the best assets that were landed.

What I'm trying to say is the average 9th man on a NBA roster is a much better player and better asset today than back in 2004. The league is just more talented now.

this can't be overstated. the difference between an end of bench guy now versus 20 years ago is staggering

there's SO much talent in the NBA nowadays. there's players that can't crack the rotation but would produce if given minutes. that just wasn't the case in yesterday's NBA

just look at how the NBA has expanded contracts available for two way players. the Raptors famously built their core through the G-league with Siakam & VanVleet both playing on the championship 905 team before contributing to the main roster

[MrBigShot]

Mix of young players with upside that just haven't panned out for whatever reason, and vets that could potentially be traded to contending teams. Keep salary low and more or less serve as a salary dump for teams to get picks.

[Gusto1903]

the most Valuable Assets. Young, developmental players or players that can be role players in playoff teams, to flip for future assets.