🏀 What happens if the NBA expanded today...

We have our eyes set on the future today. Flying cars? Check. Robot butlers? Forget that. We’re dreaming 💭 about teams in Vancouver and…you guessed it…SEATTLE!

ALSO 🚨 we’re raffling away FREE copies of NBA 2K24! To be considered, refer a friend to the EB newsletter using the personal link at the bottom of this email! It’s free, and you get access to our off-the-court content, “Out of Bounds!” ⬇️

Today’s Lineup

Expansion 👀 Here’s our mock draft if two more teams joined the league…

Tatum’s Got Jokes 😂 Jayson Tatum gave Kevin Hart a size-appropriate gift

Hot Pink Kicks 👟 These Giannis sneakers are ridiculously fire

The Enjoy Basketball Expansion Draft 🏀

Empires expand. Outer space expands. And, inevitably, the NBA expands too. Today, we theorize how an expansion draft would go! On Monday, we polled you to see where we should expand, and y’all picked Vancouver! We can’t use the Grizzlies, as they’re staying in Memphis despite Evan Turner’s wishes, so respond to this email if you have any name ideas!

Vancouver Pick #1: John Collins
Though Collins’ PPG has declined each of the past four seasons, we thought having his own team could finally give him the scoring volume he craved in Atlanta. With Utah protecting younger players like Ochai Agbaji and Brice Sensabaugh, Vancouver picked Collins over other Jazz options Talen Horton-Tucker and Kelly Olynyk.

Seattle Pick #1: Ben Simmons
Woah. The biggest name on the board goes second overall. The Nets neglect to protect him because of health issues, external problems, and his $35 million salary, but Seattle has the cap space and the patience to build a team around Ben. Now we just have to surround him with shooters…

Seattle Pick #2: Saddiq Bey
The Supersonics pair Simmons with the sharpshooting Saddiq Bey, who shot 40% from three for 11.6 PPG for the Hawks last year! One of the league's best from deep gets the green light…

Vancouver Pick #2: Buddy Hield
We know, we know. Buddy Hield is probably the second-best player on the Pacers, but they’re currently shopping him because they don’t want to extend his expiring contract and would prefer to protect secure young guns like Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard. With tons of cap space, Vancouver will throw the bag at Buddy.

Vancouver Pick #3: Trey Lyles
Just a solid pickup for Vancouver. Lyles had an under-the-radar season for the successful Kings and may be the best big man available, but Sacramento opts to protect Davion Mitchell and Colby Jones instead.

Seattle Pick #3: Moses Moody
A theme of this draft is scoring guards who would average a (perhaps inefficient) 20 PPG if given a high shot volume role on a bad team. Moody has been on hold as the Warriors contend but will explore his true ceiling in Seattle.

Seattle Pick #4: Precious Achiuwa
The Sonics scoop up a serviceable, young center from the Raptors, taking him over Chris Boucher and Otto Porter.

Vancouver Pick #4: Isaiah Joe
We need some shooting, and Isaiah Joe has it in spades! The Thunder seemed to have a dozen players they could protect but chose to keep Ousmane Dieng and Jaylin Williams as part of their young core.

Vancouver Pick #5: Monte Morris
If you need a steady point guard who won’t overdo anything, Monte Morris is your guy. All hail the assist-to-turnover ratio king!

Seattle Pick #5: Mo Bamba
The Sonics needed a shooting center to give Simmons driving lanes, and Bamba was the best option. They steal him from the Sixers, who protect Paul Reed as their backup big.

Seattle Pick #6: Jose Alvarado
The Pelicans were also a brutal team to make cuts for, but the Sonics opt for Jose Alvarado when Naji Marshall and Larry Nance were also on the board. The omnipresent pest will give the new fans something to cheer about!

Vancouver Pick #6: Mo Wagner
Another serviceable big man flies off the board as Vancouver gets their first true center. Orlando instead chose to keep young guards like Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs, tragically breaking up the Wagner brothers. 💔 

Vancouver Pick #7: Malik Beasley
We’re kinda surprised Malik Beasley didn’t get drafted sooner because, with the green light, he could easily put up high teens in points. The pairing of Beasley and Hield will make it rain ☔️ more in Vancouver than...Seattle!

Seattle Pick #7: Isaiah Hartenstein
One of the best backup bigs in the league heads to Seattle as Hartenstein just barely misses the cut for the Knicks.

Seattle Pick #8: Gordon Hayward
In addition to Hayward’s versatile play on the court, the Sonics can afford to eat his $31 million expiring contract and make a run at a big-name player come the offseason!

And so, the first half of the draft is done! Stay tuned for Part II on Friday 👀 

Frozen Moments

• Stanley Johnson talked about how life under Coach Pop was “pure”

• These hot pink Giannis shoes are sooooo fire 🔥 

• This player is JJ Redick’s breakout favorite for 2024!

What We’re Enjoying

We all know Jayson Tatum’s iso package is cold AF 🥶 but he got even colder in the tub with Kevin Hart. He even gave Hart a hilarious gift, so check this interview out:

Plus, the official trailer just dropped for Rick and Morty Season 7! ⬇️

Signing Off

This was a fun newsletter, right? We thought so. It was hard to know which direction teams would go in, but maybe that’s the fun of it. Regardless, we’d still buy season tickets to watch a Ben Simmons/Mo Bamba duo run the fast break.

-Conor Geelan

Trivia Answer: The 2022-23 Sacramento Kings scored the most points in any regular season. Sometimes, we forget that we’re in the most efficient/talented offensive era in basketball history!

Before you go…