Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about the expansion draft simulator, modes, and data.

What is the NBA expansion draft and how does it work?

When the NBA adds a new franchise, existing teams have to make players available for the expansion team to claim. Each current team can protect most of its roster, but everyone they leave unprotected goes into what's called the exposed pool. The expansion team then picks from that pool to fill its roster. It's one of the most debated events in basketball because every team has to make hard choices about who to leave exposed.

Why Seattle and Las Vegas?

Both cities have been at the center of NBA expansion conversations for years. Seattle had a team - the SuperSonics - until 2008 and has been pushing to get one back ever since. Las Vegas has become one of the league's biggest markets for events and already hosts a WNBA team. They're the two cities the league has pointed to most clearly.

What's the difference between Expansion Rules and Free Build mode?

Expansion Rules simulates the real thing: you can only pick from players their current teams have left unprotected, and you build an 8-player roster just like the expansion franchise would. Free Build removes all restrictions so you can pick any player in the league. It's more of a dream team builder than a true draft simulation - good for "what if" arguments.

How many players do I pick?

In Expansion Rules mode, you pick 8 players. That reflects how an actual expansion draft works, where the new team claims one player per existing franchise (capped) to get a starting core. Free Build lets you fill a full roster without a fixed limit.

Is the player data based on real stats?

Yes. The exposed pool and player stats are pulled from curated season data, not random placeholders. Each player card shows real performance numbers - points, rebounds, assists, shooting splits - along with badges that highlight what makes them useful: scorer, lockdown defender, rim protector, and others. The data is updated when meaningful roster or stat changes happen.

What does "Site updated" in the menu mean?

That date is when the live web app was last published (each production deploy). The Terms & Privacy page shows the same deploy time in its Last updated line. It is not the same as every small stats or roster tweak; player numbers follow a curated export that we refresh when changes matter.

Which team should I pick - Seattle or Las Vegas?

Entirely up to you. The simulator works the same for both franchises; the choice is about which city you're building for. Plenty of people run it both ways to compare.

Do I need an account or does it cost anything?

No account and no cost. Open it, pick your mode and franchise, and you're drafting in under a minute.

Can I share my roster?

Yes. Once you've built your team there's a share option that exports your picks as a card you can post or send. That's usually where the debates start.

When is the real NBA expansion draft going to happen?

No official date has been set as of early 2026. The league has confirmed expansion is coming but specific timelines for the draft itself have not been announced. This simulator is built around the realistic scenario of "if the draft happened today" using current-season data.

What do the player badges mean?

Badges are shorthand for what a player does well, based on their stats and profile. Scorer means consistent offensive output. Lockdown flags elite perimeter defense. Rim Protector indicates shot-blocking impact. All-Star marks players who have reached that level. They're meant to help you quickly read a player's value without digging through every number.

Player names, teams, and stats are for fan simulation only. See Terms & Privacy for disclaimers and how we handle data.