What would a 2022 expansion draft look like? Part 2

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Fiend in Phoenix: A scandal rocks the Suns organization and owner Robert Sarver.

Pocket Rockets: Las Vegas Aces are up 2-0 in the NBA. Read below why they're selling out crowds and captivating NBA players.

Expansion Part 2: Breaking down a hypothetical two-team 2022 expansion draft - part 2! 

Let's talk some hoops y'all. If you're reading this, you're on the same wavelength as Tyrese Haliburton:

Suns’ Owner Robert Sarver suspended, fined $10 million after terrible workplace conduct

What Happened: Robert Sarver, who has owned the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) since 2004, was punished by the NBA for unacceptable office and personal conduct. He will be suspended from both leagues for 1 year and fined $10 million. Read this EPSN article for the full breakdown.

The Details: An investigation found that Sarver 1) repeated the N-word when recounting the statements of others on at least five occasions, 2) made inappropriate comments and conduct relating to physical appearance of female employees and 3) engaged in demeaning and harsh treatment of employees.

Due Diligence: The NBA’s investigation included interviews with 320+ current and former employees of Sarver, as well as Sarver himself. Additionally, it sifted through 80,000+ documents and human resources materials.

Response: $10 million fine is the maximum permitted by the NBA, and the funds will be donated to organizations "addressing race and gender-based issues in and outside the workplace." Others still find this punishment as more of a “slap on the wrist” rather than taking a hard stance against Sarver. We recommend reading The Ringer's take on this.

Las Vegas Aces up 2-0 in WNBA Finals with record attendance

What Happened: In a best-of-three WNBA Finals, the Las Vegas Aces are one win away from a title. The three-headed monster of 2022 MVP A’ja Wilson (26 points), Chelsea Gray (21 points), and Kelsey Plum (20 points) led the way for Vegas in Game 2. COTY Becky Hammon might capture a ring in her first season!

Vibes: The hype is real in Vegas. For Game 1, the Aces sold out Michelob Ultra Arena with 10,135 fans, a WNBA record. The atmosphere has been truly electric. Plus, NBA players like Ja Morant and Kyle Lowry are sitting courtside!

HYPOTHETICAL Scenario: The NBA is adding two new franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas! Each existing team will get to protect eight of their players, with the rest being available in the first expansion draft since 2004. If you didn’t read Monday’s Part 1, here it is. The one rule is that only one player from each team can be selected… good luck!

Utah Jazz

Keepers: Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, Jarred Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, Ochai Agbaji, Walker Kessler

Notable Unprotected Players: Talen Horton-Tucker (Taken by Seattle), Mike Conley, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Stanley Johnson, Rudy Gay, Hassan Whiteside, Johnny Juzang

The Jazz elect to protect Walker Kessler because he fits the timeline better than Mike Conley and has arguably greater potential than the already-established THT. With so many draft picks and young guys, Utah can afford to swing for the fences by protecting the 2022 first round selection out of Auburn. While Conley is a better player today than Horton-Tucker, Seattle wants young talent for their rebuild and that is what THT offers.

Sacramento Kings

Keepers: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell, Richaun Holmes

Notable Unprotected Players: Terence Davis (Taken by Vegas), Jeremy Lamb, Alex Len, Trey Lyles, Chimezie Metu, KZ Okpala

The top eight for Sacramento is pretty self explanatory. With the eight most valuable guys off the board, Vegas picks up Terence Davis, a 25 year old shooting guard who has shown flashes of good three-point shooting and averaged 10.4 ppg last season for SacTown. 

New York Knicks

Keepers: RJ Barrett, Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Isaiah Hartenstein

Notable Unprotected Players: Evan Fornier, Derrick Rose, Cam Reddish  (Taken by Seattle), Miles McBride, Jericho Sims

The last man protected was Isaiah Hartenstein. Though criminally underrated, Hartenstein was an elite backup big man for the Clippers last season, defends the rim very well, and is on a team-friendly deal.

If Seattle wanted to instantly attract some extra fans, they might take DRose over Reddish, but we have them shrewdly planning for the future with the younger wing who may still have some untapped potential. Rose stays in The Garden! But remember the Cam Reddish hype in high school???

Los Angeles Lakers

Keepers: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Patrick Beverley, Lonnie Walker IV, Austin Reaves, Max Christie, Kendrick Nunn, Thomas Bryant

Notable Unprotected Players: Russell Westbrook (Taken by Vegas), Wenyen Gabriel, Troy Brown Jr, Damian Jones, Juan Toscano-Anderson

Shockingly, the Lakers do not protect Russell Westbrook. Even more shockingly, Las Vegas picks him up. It's kinda bizarre how this is the way we can rationalize the Lakers ditching Russ. The Lakers would likely seize this opportunity to shed Westbrook’s 1-year/$47 million deal to more easily acquire role players via trade.

From Vegas’ perspective, none of the other Lakers’ unprotected guys are offering anything to them long term. So, they’ll take on Russ because his gargantuan contract is only one year and he is the best player available. Plus, the media attention that comes with having Russ on your team is uniquely important to an expansion team, which has no franchise history or great players from which to gain relevancy or clout.

Orlando Magic

Keepers: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr, Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba, Markelle Fultz

Notable Unprotected Players: Terrence Ross, Gary Harris, RJ Hampton (Taken by Seattle), Mo Wagner, Ignas Brazdeikis, Bol Bol, Chuma Okeke

The Magic have so many young guys who could make a leap and protected those with hight ceilings (Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony) but also high floors (Wendell Carter Jr, Markelle Fultz). They omit protecting vets Terrence Ross and Gary Harris, but will end up keeping them and probably will use them as trade bait later for future assets. 

Instead, Seattle takes RJ Hampton because he is only 22 and has arguably the highest achievable ceiling of those who remain, though Chuma Okeke and Mo Wagner were other great candidates.

Dallas Mavericks

Keepers: Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie, Christian Wood, Tim Hardaway Jr, Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, JaVale McGee

Notable Unprotected Players: Jaden Hardy (Taken by Vegas), Josh Green, Frank Ntilikina, Theo Pinson, Davis Bertans

Vegas lucked out by having access to two GOAT’s: Frank “Clamp God” Ntilikina and Theo “Dance God” Pinson. But instead, they are foolhardy and choose… Jaden Hardy. The G-League Ignite product was ranked very highly coming out of high school before falling to the 37th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, so Vegas swings for the fences with this one. If you haven't seen this guy hoop, we recommend:

Brooklyn Nets

Keepers: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Seth Curry, Joe Harris, Royce O’Neale, Nic Claxton

Notable Unprotected Players: TJ Warren, Blake Griffin, Cam Thomas (Taken by Seattle), Markieff Morris, LaMarcus Aldridge

TJ Warren may prove to be a better player than Claxton, but the wing is only one a one year deal and could very well not re-sign. Luckily, the Nets get to keep Warren because Seattle takes Cam Thomas. Since Seattle won’t be a contender, they opt for the high-ceiling young talent over the proven, older veteran.

Denver Nuggets

Keepers: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Bones Hyland, Zeke Nnaji

Notable Unprotected Players: Peyton Watson (Taken by Vegas), Jeff Green, Facundo Campazzo, Ish Smith, Davon Reed, DeAndre Jordan

It was close between Nnaji and Watson, but we opted to protect Nnaji because he has proven he can compete at the NBA level. Still, Vegas picks up Watson, the 30th overall pick in the 2022 Draft out of UCLA. The expansion team essentially picks up a late first rounder for free.

Indiana Pacers

Keepers: Tyrese Haliburton, Benedict Mathurin, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner, Jalen Smith, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson, TJ McConnell

Notable Unprotected Players: Andrew Nembhard (Taken by Seattle), Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Goga Bitadze, Lance Stephenson

TJ McConnell is too GOATed for the Pacers to give up, even if he doesn’t fit their timeline. He is a terrific teammate who could mentor young guys or serve as solid trade bait. 

For Seattle, it was between Andrew Nembhard and Goga Bitadze, as Stephenson and Theis are too old to be a part of the long term picture. While Bitadze has contributed respectable ball at a young age, his ceiling seems quite low and if Seattle gets to a playoff level he will probably be a backup. Instead, Seattle gambles on the 31st pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga. Can't believe that Zags team didn't win March Madness this season...

New Orleans Pelicans

Keepers: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Herb Jones, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr, Jaxson Hayes

Notable Unprotected Players: Devonte Graham (Taken by Vegas), Trey Murphy III, Jose Alvarado, EJ Liddell, Kira Lewis Jr, Willy Hernangomez, Tony “GOAT” Snell

While Graham is a better player than Hayes, he is not on a very team friendly deal so the Pels opt for a younger, cheaper talent that had a solid second half of the 2022 season. For Vegas, there were a TON of great options, but we decided Graham was needed because someone needs to shoot the ball and create offense.  None of the other options had a high enough ceiling to pass up on some guaranteed decent guard play.

Our Jonathan Tjarks Tribute - Bill Simmons, Kevin O’Connor, J. Kyle Mann, and Chris Ryan, (The Ringer)

Omer Yurtseven's 'crazy' work ethic fits perfectly with Heat culture - Drew Maresca, (Basketball News)

What? This Player Has A Better NBA 2K23 Rating Than Klay Thompson And Draymond Green - Ben Stinar, (Sports Illustrated)

That'll do it for us at Enjoy Basketball. Go watch Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at 9:00PM EST on ESPN!

-Conor Geelan

Trivia Answer: The answer to Monday's trivia question is Canada! The Great White North has produced 56 NBA players, the most all-time. It is followed by France (40), Serbia (30), and Nigeria (29). 

Trivia Question: Who was the most recent NBA player to win three consecutive MVP awards?