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NBA expansion team and NBA expansion draft rules for the Charlotte Bobcats. The NBA expansion draft for the Bobcats is on June 22. The Bobcats' first NBA season will be 2004-05.

NBA Expansion Draft Player Selection

Each current NBA team can protect up to 8 players from its active, injured and suspended lists as of the last day of the season; provided that each current team must leave at least one player unprotected.

Unrestricted free agents and unsigned draft picks will not be eligible to be selected in the Expansion Draft. So, current NBA teams do not protect any unrestricted free agents or unsigned draft picks. The 8 players they protect will be players signed to contracts, or restricted free agents. Restricted free agents are eligible to be selected.

If a current NBA team's restricted free agent is selected by the NBA expansion team in the expansion draft, that player will become an unrestricted free agent, eligible to be signed by any team (including the expansion team) other than his prior team.

Charlotte, the NBA expansion team, has the option to select one (and only one) player from each of the 29 current teams. Charlotte must select one player from at least 14 teams.

Pre-Expansion Draft Trades

Current NBA teams will be permitted to enter into pre-Expansion Draft trades in which Charlotte, the NBA expansion team, agrees to select or not select certain unprotected players.

NBA Expansion rules for Salary Cap

Charlotte, the NBA expansion team, will be permitted to select players in the Expansion Draft without regard to the Salary Cap.

Charlotte, the NBA expansion team, will have a Salary Cap in its first season equal to 66% of the Salary Cap applicable to the rest of the league and a Salary Cap in its second season equal to 75% of the Salary Cap applicable to the rest of the league.

Charlotte, the NBA expansion team, can sign any restricted free agent it selects in the Expansion Draft using the same “Bird,” “Early Bird” or “Non-Bird” Exception that the player’s prior team would have had.

Compensation paid to a selected player in the expansion draft under a contract protected for lack of skill will be excluded from Charlotte’s Team Salary if the player’s contract is terminated (via the waiver procedure) prior to the start of the 2004-05 season.

A team with a Team Salary above the Salary Cap will receive a Trade Exception to replace a player (other than a restricted free agent) selected from its unprotected list.

Post-Expansion Draft Transactions

A current NBA team will not be permitted to reacquire a player that it loses in the Expansion Draft prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the Expansion Draft, unless the player is waived and not claimed by any other team.

NBA expansion rules for NBA Draft

Charlotte, the NBA expansion team, will have the fourth selection in the first and second rounds of the 2004 Draft. In subsequent years, the expansion team will be treated the same as other teams for purposes of determining where it selects in the Draft.