Trail Blazers Poised as Biggest Winners in NBA Expansion? US Media Predicts 8-Player Protected Roster: High Chance of Retaining Yang Hansheng

On February 13th Beijing time, the NBA Board of Governors is anticipated to vote this summer on the league’s expansion by two teams, with Seattle and Las Vegas as the favored cities. Portland’s Rip City Project wrote that the Trail Blazers may become the biggest winners from the NBA expansion. Furthermore, when breaking down Portland’s 8-player protected roster, the outlet thinks the team will most likely keep Yang Hansheng. Here is a detailed analysis—

The expansion will fundamentally reshape the NBA’s overall landscape, especially in the Western Conference. If these two cities secure new franchises, the balance between the Eastern and Western Conferences could finally be achieved. The new teams will build their rosters from scratch through an expansion draft, with existing teams allowed to protect up to 8 players. Additionally, one promising Western team will move to the East, most likely one of these three based on geography: Timberwolves, Grizzlies, or Pelicans.

The Trail Blazers Could Become the Biggest Winners

If the Timberwolves shift to the Eastern Conference, the Trail Blazers lose a star player to worry about. The 24-year-old Anthony Edwards is destined to be one of the league’s best shooting guards for the next decade.

The Grizzlies are smartly rebuilding around their underrated young core, having traded Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. for a total of seven first-round picks, laying a solid foundation for the future.

The Pelicans’ management made a controversial move by acquiring Derrick Quin on draft day, but they clearly seem satisfied with their current roster. By the trade deadline, nearly all of their young core players were deemed untouchable.

In other words, all three teams are promising young squads that could challenge the Trail Blazers’ rebuilding pace. If any one of them moves to the Eastern Conference, it will significantly ease Portland’s path to advancing deeper into the playoffs.

There is also the impact of travel schedules, which will affect the league’s balance.

The Trail Blazers usually rank among the highest in travel miles each season, putting them at a long-term disadvantage. With Seattle’s return as a divisional rival and short trips to Las Vegas, these travel advantages should not be underestimated.

Additionally, there are rules regarding player protection in the expansion draft. As mentioned, each team can protect 8 players. This situation is ideal for Portland—they have nearly half their roster composed of players they could afford to lose. If the team wants to shed contracts like those of Jusuf Nurkić or Jerami Grant, now is the perfect opportunity. Losing one or two veterans would have some impact, but it’s minor compared to the losses other Western powerhouses must endure.

Consider teams like the Thunder, Rockets, and Spurs, who have deep rosters but will be forced to give up high-caliber starters, far more valuable than the players Portland might lose.

Therefore, expansion brings many advantages to Portland: the Western Conference depth is weakened, making the Trail Blazers’ playoff path easier. Their travel burden is reduced. In the playoffs, top teams weakened by expansion draft losses lower the difficulty for Portland’s championship pursuit.

The Trail Blazers are the only team to benefit on all fronts: a more favorable rebuilding pace, competing in a weakened Western Conference, no loss of core players in the expansion draft, and reduced travel strain. Individually, each factor might not seem earth-shattering, but combined, they could be key to changing Portland’s future trajectory.

Which 8 Players Should the Trail Blazers Protect?

According to previous rules, each team can protect 8 players, leaving the rest available for the expansion teams to select. Rip City Project identifies six young core players the Trail Blazers should protect in the expansion draft: Avdija, Klingen, Kamara, Sharpe, Henderson, and Yang Hansheng. These six form the foundation of Portland’s rebuild. Four are recent first-round picks, while two were acquired through trades, collectively making up a young core that is steadily improving.

Rip City Project notes that Yang Hansheng might be the only player potentially left unprotected, given his disappointing rookie season. However, this 20-year-old big man has shown flashes of potential, and if another team picks him up and he performs well, Portland will surely regret it—especially if the new team is their Northwest Division rival Seattle. Ultimately, his ceiling justifies further investment. Considering Portland was willing to take a chance on him in last year’s draft, the front office likely shares this view and will keep Yang Hansheng.

The remaining two protection spots definitely include Lillard, who is almost guaranteed protection given his contract, franchise status, and potential to rebound next season. The last spot will be a choice between Grant and Holiday. Since signing a big contract in 2023, Grant has not fit well with Portland’s rebuild timeline. Meanwhile, Jusuf Holiday is 35 years old, aging, and commanding a high salary.

Under current assumptions, Rip City Project suggests leaving Holiday unprotected and choosing the younger Grant by four years. The final decision may depend on both players’ actual form at the time of the expansion draft.