CBS Sports writers John Gonzalez and Sam Quinn conducted a mock expansion draft for hypothetical new NBA teams in Seattle and Las Vegas. Seattle's SuperSonics selected Zion Williamson fifth overall, while Las Vegas's Villains took Tyler Herro fourth. The exercise assumes expansion teams targeting the 2028-29 season.
NBA expansion discussions gained traction after ESPN reported that owners will vote next week on pursuing teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, the latter having lost its franchise to Oklahoma City in 2008. Bids could reach $7-10 billion, with rosters needed by 2028-29 via an expansion draft where each existing team protects up to eight players and exposes others, losing at most one per team to the newcomers' 15 roster spots each. Using Spotrac's tool projecting a $132.9 million cap for new teams, Gonzalez (Las Vegas Villains) and Quinn (Seattle SuperSonics) simulated a no-trades draft, with Seattle picking first after a coin toss. Quinn started with Lu Dort from the Thunder, citing his trade value: 'taking a player who could fairly easily be traded for at least one good first-round pick seems like the proper opening maneuver.' Gonzalez countered with Ty Jerome from the Grizzlies for playmaking. Seattle followed with Wendell Carter Jr. (Magic), then Zion Williamson (Pelicans) as a centerpiece, noting his injury protections. Las Vegas grabbed Tyler Herro (Heat) for showmanship: 'If there's anyone in the NBA who was born to play in Vegas, it's him.' Later picks included Julian Champagnie (Spurs) for Vegas and Jordan Walsh (Celtics) for Seattle. Final rosters featured 30 players total, emphasizing asset value over pure talent—Rudy Gobert went undrafted due to contract concerns. Lessons included prioritizing tradeable assets, gamesmanship, and the draft's role alongside free agency and trades in roster-building.
