Charlotte Hornets: Who would be protected in an expansion draft?

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the first half of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Spectrum Center on December 12, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Charlotte Hornets looks on during the first half of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Spectrum Center on December 12, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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What would NBA expansion mean for the Charlotte Hornets’ roster?

With the report that the NBA may be looking to add a couple of new expansion teams in the near future to make up for the financial losses caused by COVID-19, NBA GMs need to start keeping tabs on when that may happen and start making a shortlist of players that they would like to keep in preparation of an expansion draft potentially taking place. The Hornets have a lot of key pieces and other players that they would really like to keep, and Mitch Kupchak and the rest of the Charlotte Hornets‘ front office will likely have some tough decisions to make in making their list of 8 players to protect from getting snagged by a potential expansion team. Here is an overview of what a potential protected list could reasonably look like from the Hornets.