For the past few years, it has felt like the buzz around NBA expansion has been building, but for whatever reason, it has taken a back seat lately. But that changed on Monday, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News reported that he is hearing the NBA Board of Governors is likely to vote on possible expansion this summer.
Townsend added that the vote will most likely be to expand by two new teams, and that the favorites are Seattle and Las Vegas.
This would just be the start. There would be endless logistics to figure out, and even if this vote passes, we may still be years away from actually seeing this plan come to fruition. But still, the idea that it’s on the radar means it could be coming at any time.
Let’s imagine that the vote were to pass, and the expansion would happen as soon as next season (obviously, that’s not a likely scenario). The league would hold an expansion draft, and the two teams would take turns choosing players off existing rosters.
In the last expansion draft, every NBA team was allowed to protect eight players, with everyone else on their roster eligible to be poached away by one of the new teams. The Celtics currently boast one of the deepest rosters in the league, but that could be a double-edged sword with an expansion draft, as it means they’re liable to lose a good player.
Luckily, in the past, teams were only susceptible to losing a single player in hte expansion draft, but it could still lead to some seriously painful decisions for the Cs. The team is brimming with young players on good deals, and there are no obvious players to offer up due to salary or poor play.
So, without further ado, let’s go through this hypothetical exercise and see who the Celtics would choose to protect in a 2026 NBA expansion draft, and which players could find themselves on the chopping block.
The locks: There’s no way these players are going anywhere
Jayson Tatum
Age: 27
Remaining Contract (after the 2025-26 Season): 4-years, $259.8 million
Face of the franchise. Brought us a title. He should be a Celtic for life.
Jaylen Brown
Age: 28
Contract: 3-years, $183 million
There would surely be some talk about using this as an opportunity to get out of JB’s contract. That’s ridiculous. Finals MVP and having an MVP-caliber season. Should also be a Celtic for life.
Derrick White
Age: 31
Contract: 3-years, $97.8 million
This is still a bargain contract for one of the core, foundational players on a championship contender.
Payton Pritchard
Age: 28
Contract: 2-years, $16.1 million
This is one of the best contracts in the league for the reigning 6th Man of the Year.
Neemias Queta
Age: 26
Contract: 1-year, $2.7 million (team option)
In Queta, the Celtics have found a legitimate starting center of the future on a minimum contract. They’ll need to extend him soon, but that will be a no-brainer.
Sam Hauser
Age: 28
Contract: 3-years, $34.9 million
Another outstanding contract for one of the premier shooters in the entire NBA. Even if the Celtics were thinking about moving Sam, he would have great trade value in this deal.
On the bubble: I’d hate to see them go, but we can’t protect everyone
Hugo Gonzalez
Age: 19
Contract: Rookie-scale contract (Year 2)
Hugo has shown so much potential on a rookie deal, and he’s already making an impact at the NBA level. Given his age, ability, potential, and team control, he should be the safest member of this group.
Baylor Scheierman
Age: 25
Contract: Rookie-scale contract (Year 3)
Baylor would have been a long shot to make the protected list before this season, but he has made amazing strides on both ends of the court. He seems to be earning Joe Mazzulla’s trust and offers great positional versatility.
Jordan Walsh
Age: 21
Contract: Rookie-scale (Year 4)
Most of what I wrote about Scheierman is true of Walsh as well, and ultimately, the lost spot would almost certainly come down to these two players. He’s bigger and more athletic than Baylor, but not as smooth and skilled, especially with the ball. Still, he’s a valuable asset and still has tantalizing upside at his age.
Outside looking in
Luka Garza
Age: 27
Contract: 1-year, $2.8 million
This is more a testament to the Celtics’ young depth than a knock on Garza. Luka has proven he can give you solid NBA minutes at center on a minimum deal. He could be an attractive pick in this draft for an expansion team.
Amari Williams
Age: 24
Contract: 1-year, minimum (team option, non-guaranteed)
Amari has shown a lot of promise for a 2nd-round rookie, but he’s already 24, and he’s not a staple in the rotation. He faces an uphill climb to crack this top 8, but he’s another guy who could have great appeal to an expansion team.
The final top-8 protected list
So that leaves a very tough decision for the Celtics. Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard, Queta, and Hauser are stone-cold locks due to ability, contract, or both. I’d give Hugo the nod as well, thanks to his age and upside as he’s just starting his rookie deal. So it really comes down to Scheierman or Walsh for the last spot.
Baylor has been playing better lately. He can do a lot more with the ball and has proven to be a more confident offensive player overall. Walsh has the edge on the defensive end as he’s a freakish athlete with good strength and size.
Baylor has the extra year of team control on his deal, but Walsh is still four years younger. This would be a painfully difficult decision, but at the end of the day, as of now, I’d protect Scheierman and pray both expansion teams pass on Walsh.
It’s not an easy call to make at all, but Baylor has really popped lately on both ends, while Walsh has seen his minutes limited. Going forward, the Cs should have the wing spots pretty filled, and Walsh’s skillset seems more redundant with two healthy Jays.
Scheierman’s offense could be more useful to teams trying to build, and the extra year of team control just seals the deal. Hopefully, teams would covet flashier players, and Walsh would slip through the cracks and return to Boston anyway, but in this excruciating hypothetical exercise, he’s the odd man out.