Mock NBA Expansion Draft Part 2: Drafting and Building the Seattle and Las Vegas Franchises 

Welcome to part two of our NBA expansion simulation. In part one, we stepped into the role of expansion general managers and built the initial rosters for two hypothetical NBA franchises, one in Seattle and one in Las Vegas. Using NBA 2K26's protected-player lists and expansion draft mechanics, we selected one unprotected player from each NBA team while also balancing salary-cap considerations and long-term plans.

Brad took control of the Seattle franchise, while Emile ran Las Vegas. By the end of the expansion draft, both organizations had assembled a foundation, but the real work was just beginning.

Now comes the next phase of team building. With the expansion draft complete, both franchises enter the NBA Draft and free agency looking to add young talent, fill existing gaps, and establish an identity. Vegas enters the offseason with the No. 5 pick, while Seattle follows at No. 6.

With that groundwork in place, let's dive into the rest of the offseason.

For a refresher on the rosters pre-draft and free agency, here is how things transpired last week:

As another reminder: Vegas was given the 5th pick in the draft for picking second in the expansion draft. This means that Seattle will have the 6th pick.

With all of that established, let’s get into the rest of the offseason.

Vegas Draft (#5 Overall)

I really wish the league's expansion rules had awarded the top four picks, especially in a draft like this one. I would have loved the opportunity to build around Caleb Wilson. I briefly considered trading down to pick up an additional asset, perhaps from a team enamored with Darius Acuff, but ultimately decided to keep things simple and make the selection ourselves.

This spot was always going to be used on a guard, leaving several intriguing options on the board, including Keaton Wagler, Brayden Burries, Mikel Brown Jr., Labaron Philon, Acuff, and Dailyn Swain. For me, the decision quickly narrowed to Wagler and Swain as candidates to become the first draft pick in Las Vegas basketball history.

In the end, I went with Wagler out of Illinois. He is a crafty ball handler and playmaker with legitimate shooting ability. He embraces contact, gets to the free-throw line at a healthy rate, and consistently creates offense for himself and others.

The concerns are fairly straightforward. Wagler is not an elite athlete, which raises questions about how well his driving game will translate against NBA defenders and whether he can hold his own defensively. Still, he is exceptionally young and has plenty of room for physical development. If he can continue adding strength while refining the rest of his game, the offensive skill set is already in place for him to become a potential star.

Vegas views Wagler as one of the franchise's foundational pieces moving forward.

Vegas Free Agency

Heading into free agency we did a few trades to flip some guys for future assets. Dennis Schroder, Steven Adams, and Royce O’Neale were all traded.

After those moves, here is who Vegas signed:

• PF Bol Bol to 1yr/$2.38M deal.

• PF Leonard Miller to 1yr/$2.65M deal.

• PF Nikola Jovic to 1yr/$5.03M deal.

• C Mitchell Robinson to 3yr/$28.35M deal.

• C Isaiah Hartenstein to 3yr/$33.83M deal.

• SG Luguentz Dort to 3yr/$47.25M deal.

Let's talk about a few of these.

Heading into free agency, center was a clear priority. Recreating New York’s 2023 center rotation was never the plan, but that’s ultimately how things unfolded. Hartenstein and Robinson bring different skill sets to the table, yet they complement each other well and ensure we have quality size on the floor throughout the game. I’m not convinced they can consistently share the court, but there is significant value in having both on the squad. They signed identical-length contracts, though Robinson’s injury history led me to structure his deal with a team option after the second season. At their respective price points, I’m comfortable with both investments. 

Lu Dort was signed to bring toughness, defense, and perimeter shooting to a roster that still had plenty of holes heading into the remainder of the offseason. Between Dort and DiVincenzo, I think this group is going to be a nightmare to play against defensively.

Despite his reputation as a rugby guy masquerading as a basketballer, Dort is legitimately one of the league’s better role players, which earned him a well-deserved payday. His defense and three-point shooting should make him a fixture in the starting lineup from day one.

There is also something to be said for adding championship experience to an expansion franchise, especially when he is only 26 years old. And if anyone decides to take a run at Wagler, Dort should be more than capable of handling that situation as well.

Somehow, I seem to have recreated elements of both the 2023 Knicks and the 2024 Thunder without acquiring either team's best player. That's not a bad blueprint to borrow from, and none of these moves significantly limit the franchise's flexibility when it comes to future signings or trades.

Miller and Jović were both brought in on prove-it deals. Neither is guaranteed to become a long-term piece, but both have the upside to develop into useful rotation wings.

Bol Bol was signed partly because he might help draw some fans and partly because, well, why not? There is always the possibility that everything suddenly clicks and he turns into some basketball demigod.

Update: Unfortunately, I must deliver the first piece of bad news in Vegas franchise history.

During offseason progression, Bol Bol somehow regressed so dramatically that he became the lowest-rated player in the entire league, with the minimum possible rating in every single attribute. (I swear this actually happened. We had absolutely nothing to do with it.)

As a result, we now employ what is quite possibly the worst hoopster in the NBA, and perhaps the worst in the history of organized sports.

Seattle Offseason

Looking at this group a week removed from the expansion draft, I'll admit the Sonics came away with less talent than I had hoped. We were able to acquire Ajay Mitchell, who is clearly a foundational piece moving forward, but the challenge is that he may be the only one on the roster with a realistic path to being part of the next great Sonics team.

Dejounte Murray and Corey Kispert are local products, and the organization will lean on them to help generate excitement, particularly in the first season. However, a combination of age, timeline, and playing style makes it difficult to envision either as a long-term fit. Wendell Carter Jr. is probably who I am second-most optimistic about, though even that optimism comes with the expectation that he settles in as a league-average starting center.

Oddly enough, I don't view the lack of long-term talent as entirely negative. Outside of Mitchell, there isn't a single guy that I would hesitate to include in the right trade.

Draft Day Trade

Which brings me to my first move.

We will trade the sixth pick and Marcus Smart to Oklahoma City for Isaiah Joe and the 12th pick. Joe's contract is manageable on its own, but it becomes more complicated when viewed through the lens of OKC's cap outlook, particularly with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's new deal about to hit the books.

This offseason, the Thunder must decide whether to exercise Lu Dort's team option, a price tag that is becoming increasingly difficult to justify. By acquiring Smart, they gain a lower-cost replacement while moving up to No. 6, where they can select Aday Mara. That additional flexibility could also make it easier to move on from Isaiah Hartenstein's contract if they choose.

From Seattle's perspective, the deal lands us a player I genuinely like. With Joe already in the fold, I feel comfortable taking a bigger swing at No. 12, where we select Nate Ament. Ament entered college as one of the top prospects in his recruiting class, but his lone season at Tennessee was underwhelming. Even so, my front office believes the upside is worth betting on at this stage of the draft.

With Joe and Ament added to the mix, this core is beginning to look much more interesting. Joe and Ajay Mitchell give us a backcourt I can envision growing together. It's honestly a little ridiculous that Oklahoma City's depth is strong enough for two of its reserves to become key building blocks elsewhere. As for Ament, the hope is that he develops into the franchise centerpiece this roster currently lacks.

The Big Swing: Jalen Duren

Which brings us to the biggest move of the offseason: signing Jalen Duren to a full max contract (3+1 player option). Detroit ultimately declined to match the offer sheet, leaving us with a new All-Star center, albeit one we may have paid a premium to acquire. 

Projected Starting Fives

Vegas: I'd probably roll with a Wagler-DiVincenzo-Dort-Marshall-Hartenstein starting lineup, with Quickley, GG Jackson, and Robinson playing major roles off the bench. All things considered, I like where we stand.

Seattle: Ajay Mitchell, Dejounte Murray, Isaiah Joe, Nate Ament, and Jalen Duren. That's a pretty strong foundation for an expansion outfit.

That wraps up the offseason for our two mock expansion franchises. Which roster do you prefer right now? More importantly, which one would you rather be building around five years from now? Let us know in the comments.

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