Who Are The 8 Players You Would Protect from An Expansion Draft?

[F Gump]

Part of the equation is that you don't have to protect a player whose contract is expiring. With some smart planning, it's not much of an issue.

So if it was next summer, the easy solution would be:

PROTECTED
1 Luka
2 Klay
3 Marshall
4 PJ
5 Maxi
6 Omax
7 Lively
8 Gafford

UNPROTECTED
(Lawson if not waived this summer)
Powell

NOT IN THE EQUATION
Kyrie, Exum, Dinwiddie, Grimes, Hardy, Morris