The NBA Board of Governors will “likely vote” for league expansion in the summer of 2026, according to a report from Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Two cities, Seattle and Las Vegas, are the top candidates to house new franchises.
If the league adds two new teams, an expansion draft would be held. In that event, each existing team would have the right to protect up to eight players from said draft.
Which players the Atlanta Hawks choose to protect will be crucial as they reshape their roster in a post-Trae Young era.
Protect: Jalen Johnson
This one is obvious. The now one-time All-Star is perhaps the Hawks’ most valuable asset. This season, Jalen Johnson has taken the reins as Atlanta’s franchise player. With averages of 23.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game entering the All-Star break, he is one of the NBA’s premier stat-sheet stuffers.
In October 2024, Johnson signed a rookie maximum five-year, $150 million contract extension. The contract is a flat extension that will pay him $30 million per year through his age-28 season. Atlanta is committed to building around Johnson for years to come.
Protect: Pelicans/Bucks 2026 Pick Swap
The Hawks acquired a first-round pick swap (with the Bucks) from the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2025 NBA Draft. They’ll receive the most favorable pick in that swap. With the Pelicans having one of the worst records in the league this season, there is a very high chance Atlanta could walk away with a top-five pick in a very talented draft class.
The Hawks have made it known that the pick was untouchable in trade negotiations at the trade deadline. Atlanta feels confident that the pick could be used to draft a future core piece of the franchise. Given their previous unwillingness to trade the pick, it is unlikely that the Hawks don’t protect whoever it is they select.
Protect: Oneyka Okongwu
This has been a career year for the Hawks’ big man. Onyeka Okongwu is posting career marks in points per game (16.2) and assists per game (3.2) through his first 50 contests. He is also expanding on his three-point shooting. When Okongwu entered the league, he couldn’t shoot outside of the paint. However, he vowed to make improvements, and is making good on that promise this season. He is knocking down 37.9% of his threes on 5.4 attempts per game — both career-high marks.
In 2023, Okongwu signed a four-year, $62 million rookie extension. Back then, he played a bench role behind Clint Capela. Now, he is a nightly starter for the first time in his career. He is currently the 26th highest-paid center by average annual value and is on the books for just $15.5 million this season.
Protect: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
This past summer, the Hawks signed former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker to a four-year, $60.6 million contract. His $15.1 million salary this season looks like a steal considering his current production.
Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.3 points per game — double his scoring average from last season. His volume has also doubled. Last year, he only attempted 7.5 field goals and 4.5 three-point attempts per game. This season, he is attempting 15.8 field goals and 8.2 three-point attempts per game. Atlanta made Alexander-Walker a top priority in the offseason, and their pursuit is paying off.
Protect: Asa Newell
The Hawks’ first-round pick is having an adventurous rookie season. Atlanta selected Asa Newell with the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s flashed plenty of upside throughout the start of his rookie year between his time with the Hawks and the College Park Skyhawks — Atlanta’s G-League affiliate.
In six games with College Park, Newell’s production has been remarkable. He’s averaging 21.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game with the Skyhawks while shooting 56.5% from the field and 45.5% from three.
It appears Newell is on a similar path to the beginning of Johnson’s career. Both of them bounced between the G-League and the NBA as rookies. Johnson played in 12 G-League contests during the 2021-2022 season.
Protect: Zaccharie Risacher
The No. 1 draft pick from 2024 is still only in his second season. It would be a bad sign if the Hawks gave up on Zaccharie Risacher this early in his career.
Risacher finished as the runner-up for Rookie of the Year just last season. He averaged 12.6 points on a respectable 55.8% true shooting. However, the Hawks haven’t seen much growth from him in year two. His role within Atlanta’s offense has largely remained the same.
There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding Risacher’s role this year. The truth is, he’s been a very up-and-down player.Unfortunately, he just hasn’t lived up to expectations as a No. 1 pick. That doesn’t mean the Hawks don’t value him, and he should stick around in the event of an expansion draft.
Protect: Dyson Daniels
For the scrutiny around Dyson Daniels’ offensive game, his standing as one of the NBA’s best defensive players is undeniable. Following a season in which Daniels finished second for Defensive Player of the Year and won the Most Improved Player award, the Hawks rewarded Daniels with a four-year, $100 million extension last offseason. Just like Johnson, he is on a flat deal, and will earn $25 million per year starting next season.
While Daniels’ shooting has strangely regressed this season, his value is still very clear to the Hawks organization. His role in Atlanta has only increased with the roster turnover that has occurred throughout this season. Daniels would be an easy decision to protect.
Protect: Mouhamed Gueye
If it comes down to Corey Kispert, Mo Gueye, Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga for the final protection, Gueye is likely the best choice.
For one, Gueye is on the cheapest contract of the group. Additionally, the former second-round pick’s development is promising. Gueye has fit in as a depth big man and has tremendous upside and room to grow.
Both Hield and Kispert play replaceable roles. While Kuminga is an intriguing buy-low player for Atlanta this season, it may be difficult to justify protecting him over others. The Hawks would likely prefer to keep a young player over veterans. Kuminga is just 23 years old, however, roster flexibility would most likely also be a determining factor.
Who Doesn’t Make the Cut?
While each NBA team has the option to protect fewer than eight players, Atlanta should identify their top eight building blocks for the future.
Two-way players such as RayJ Dennis, Christian Koloko and Caleb Houstan are unlikely to be protected.
An interesting decision for Atlanta could be Nikola Djurisic. Last summer, the Hawks gave Djurisic a standard NBA contract, but he has yet to appear in an NBA game. Instead, Atlanta has opted to keep him with College Park to further his development.
Among the names the Hawks might not protect in the event of an expansion draft, it seems unlikely that many of them would be taken. Perhaps Kispert, Hield and Kuminga could be drafted given their pedigree. If a player is not selected in the expansion draft, they return to their original teams. The idea that a certain player may not be drafted may make a team’s decision easier.
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