Hanifan: Which Miami Heat players would I protect in expansion draft?

"A few ground rules: Each team can protect up to eight players. In my opinion, it's recommended that you keep at least 5-6. You may not want to keep that much. You may retain the eight max. For the sake of this exercise, we'll keep at least five. We are assuming this starts at the conclusion of 2025-26 Thus, pending UFA's don't count However, teams can protect players with a team/player option, plus pending RFA's. Each team must expose one player who's not a UFA. Each team can only lose one player and no more than one."

"Skinny: Mitchell's a bulldog and has been one of the Heat's most important players on both ends since he was acquired in the Jimmy Butler blockbuster. He's one of the Heat's best passers, and is shooting 42.2 percent from deep in 75 games with Miami. He'll likely function best as a bench guard, but his friendly contract ($12.4 million expiring) makes him a desirable protection here."

"Bam Adebayo: Skinny: Adebayo's a lock. He may not be a No. 1 option (few are). But he's the culture bearer, and the lynchpin for a perennial top-10 - sometimes top-5 - defense."

NBA expansion is likely, with Las Vegas and Seattle as frontrunners and potential team additions occurring in 3–4 years. The exercise assumes the expansion process begins after the 2025–26 season, so pending unrestricted free agents do not count while teams may protect players with team/player options and pending restricted free agents. Each team can protect up to eight players, must expose at least one non-UFA, and can lose no more than one player. Miami would lock in Bam Adebayo for his defensive leadership and protect valuable role players such as Davion Mitchell for defensive intensity, playmaking, shooting, and cost-controlled contracts.

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