Mock Off-Season (GM Your Favorite Team)

[sportscrazy]

I will use Smitty's salary cap spread sheet to let you know how much cap space you have based on salaries, draft picks, cap holds, etc.

This will be one thread for each day that gives viewers a front stage seat to the behind the scenes that take place in terms of trades and free agency negotiations with my role being the agent for every player.

You will negotiate trades in this thread with other GM's. Once it is completed and agreed to by both sides, each side needs to send me a PM letting me know that they agreed and I will include it in my nightly re-cap of the days transactions.

The point of this is to accurately reflect based on your teams ownership style, player fit in your coaches style, team direction (tanking, going for it all, just trying to make the playoffs, keep flexibility open for next off-season, etc.) and other factors based on a realistic and consistent vision you have for your teams off-season. This is not to finish with the best 15 man roster you can create because keep in mind chemistry is an issue as well. This is to finish with the best possible outcome for your team and its fans both in the short-term and long-term of the franchise's best interests. Trading all of your young players for win now players may not be the best, tying up your long term salary options may not be the best. You will not be assessed on how good your team is at the end of this, but more so how well you maintained that teams goals in terms of youth development, cap flexibility, and other factors that may be important to your team.

Trades
You can post trade offers in each day's thread as well as who is on the trade block and receive offers. Negotiations can take place and another GM can jump in at any time as a third or fourth team to make it work, or just kick you out of the deal altogether if they have a better offer. Once it is agreed to by both sides, it isn't finalized until I receive a PM from both sides showing the same deal.

Free Agents
Free agency negotiations will take place throughout each days threads. You will make a financial offer based on your actual cap space or cap space you could create or have created via trade as well as a sales pitch as to why that free agent should take your offer over another team's offer. Not every free agent will take an offer they are given on the day they receive it so you can retract any offer until the close of the day when it will either be accepted or not. The reason strategy is placed on this is because for example, the Celtics could go all in on a Gordon Hayward pursuit, but Hayward may not make his decision until the close out of Day 2 while Blake Griffin and other free agents may make his decision at the close out of Day 1. Some one could pick up lesser free agents on Day 1 as the better free agents are pursued by other teams.

I will take reality into account, for example Dirk Nowitzki may agree to take less money if Dallas gets certain players around him or may wait to take an offer elsewhere until Dallas makes or does not make certain moves. Some players may be more loyal to their franchise than others and give this grace to their team.

In regards to restricted free agents, when they accept a deal at the close out of one day, the original team of that player has until the end of the close out of the next day to match that offer. If it isn't matched by then, he will take the offer and leave your team.

As a side note, as the agent, I will control player opt outs that are still up for grabs, No Trade Clauses, retirements, etc. on top of free agent signing decisions. I will also chime in throughout the thread in specific situations, for example the Heat want Paul Millsap, but will not clear the cap space it takes for his MAX salary without a commitment from him. I will chime in and let the Heat GM know that if he can create that cap space, Durant will sign there if they make the best sales pitch.

The reason I think free agent negotiations and trade negotiations should be in the thread is first and foremost for the entertainment value of viewers that are just keeping an eye on the thread, but not participating themselves. I also think see other teams offers will create bidding wars that will reflect the final realistic salaries we will see this off-season with the raised cap as well as keep trade value honest. If you say Player X is worth this much, then the other team could say, but no one else offered that much, take another teams offer if you think it's better than mine.

I will be adding the NBA Draft, team options/non-guaranteed contracts and coaching firing/hiring to this year's version. We will start the coaching hires and fires once the season ends AND I have all 30 teams filled then start the actual off-season once the draft lottery results are in.

I wanted to give every one that participated last time the chance to do it again first, so please let me know if you can or cannot participate in this version.

[HartfordWhalers]

Probably not in.

[Warriorfan]

Depending on the start day would be interested.

Warriors are my team but would be OK if I didn't get them. I'm a Kings season ticket holder. Right now also follow Raptors due to fantasy league play somehow ended up with 5 on my team since deadline.

[aramada]

I'd love to have the Bulls again (and/or another team)

[sportscrazy]

Depending on the start day would be interested.

The exercising of team options/players options/non-guaranteed contracts and coaching hires and firing will start once I have all 30 spots filled AND the real life regular season is over.

The rest of the off-season will start 3-5 days after the draft lottery beginning with the NBA Draft. I feel like giving it a few days after to make sure every one is actively able to be involved plus having a few days to process the lottery results will be appropriate.

[sportscrazy]

Also, since there will be a longer period of time to let free agency play out and including the draft. I will, as the agent for all players, float things around.

For example: "Paul George is unhappy with the Pacers off-season so far and is likely to leave next summer."

What this will do (using this specific example) is allow the Pacers to improve at any expense if they choose to keep George any way while other teams could prioritize their cap space for the 2018 off-season in hopes of signing him if the Pacers GM doesn't trade him.

Does any one else have any fun ideas to improve the experience?

[BullyKing]

Subject to life unexpectedly getting in the way when this actually kicks off, count me in again and thanks again for organizing.

[SD2042]

Depending on the timing, I will opt in for the Grizzlies again.

[kalenclayton]

If BOOGIE MONSTER (or someone else) isn't in for SAC, I am interested. I have a pretty good grasp on what my Kings are doing.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I think there are Blazers fans better suited to participate than I am, but if you don't get one, I'll step in.

[jayjaysee]

I'm in. Fine conceding Dallas if someone else is interested in them, for some reason... Would prefer a more interesting job than last time though.


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[Soulyss]

I think there are Blazers fans better suited to participate than I am, but if you don't get one, I'll step in.

I did it last year and it was a lot of fun, but someone else should get a shot... Tim why don't you take it for me?

[pacers33granger]

Unfortunately I have far too many commitments coming up so I'm going to have to pass.

[Spens1]

I think i should be good

I'll opt for the lakers as a first preference and knicks as a second if the lakers are already taken.

[DocRI]

Depending on the start day would be interested.

The exercising of team options/players options/non-guaranteed contracts and coaching hires and firing will start once I have all 30 spots filled AND the real life regular season is over.

The rest of the off-season will start 3-5 days after the draft lottery beginning with the NBA Draft. I feel like giving it a few days after to make sure every one is actively able to be involved plus having a few days to process the lottery results will be appropriate.

So since the lottery is 5/16, the daily threads and "heavy lifting" for this game should be in late May? If so, I'd like to throw my hat into the ring and request the Pistons. June and July are crazy months for me, but unless something unexpectedly changes I should be available.

Thanks in advance, sportscrazy; this sounds like a blast!

[Diamondman07]

Not sure if you have a Boston person yet, if not I'd take consideration.

[Kevin6CD]

Don't have the time to do it myself, but all I ask is that whoever takes the Pistons tears down the crap heap that SVG has assembled.

[Mich3006]

Thanks for the invitation, I´m in (as long as it is like last year).

I don't want to take on the Clippers once again, I'd like to have the Nuggets if possible...

[Drax]

If you need somebody for any team, sign me up. Boston would be awesome but i'd take any of the remaining aswell.

[Laimbeer]

If the Pistons become available I'll take a shot.