The Association is in full gear! Hope everyone has had an opportunity to get through the new CBA, as we instituted a couple of significant changes:
- Player Salary inflation will be more aggressive and tied to not only a player’s final Yahoo rank but also to the set association salary cap of the year
- Bird Rights, in short, provide an ability to “run it back”
- Ant-tanking rules, known as “Busters Rule”
- Free agency acquisition budget (FAAB) is Soft Cap – Team Salary
Feel free to read all about the latest Association Bylaws here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OHREwHtEGRoThy2lnpuR-MsUd6BjUxCKE1hUPWliq0k/edit
The rookie draft show is brewing! And, most importantly, we’ve had two buyouts. BimTown Celtics have decided to sell their team, which has been acquired by the Chicago Sunroofs. Donegal True Grit has had a change of heart and also put his team on the market, paving the way for the team to move to VinCity and be renamed the VinCity Grizzlies. Both of these owners have donned some new back-to-school clothes, sharpened their #2 pencils, and gotten to work, and it’s not even Labor Day yet! We’ve seen so much movement within the first few days that I will split this into two parts. First, let’s take a look at the teams involved in trades heading into the offseason and finish with Killanomics trade analysis.
| Amherst Speedsters | ||||
| Player | Player Salary | 2022 Final Rank | Salary After Inflation | Bird Rights |
| Stephen Curry GSW – PG | 152 | 19 | $178 | |
| Donte DiVincenzo NYK – SG,SF | 4 | 90 | $14 | |
| Malcolm Brogdon BOS – PG,SG GTD | 19 | 98 | $29 | |
| Bogdan Bogdanovic ATL – SG,SF,PF | 2 | 167 | $5 | |
| Anthony Davis LAL – PF,C | 114 | 16 | $140 | |
| Evan Mobley CLE – PF,C | 12 | 32 | $32 | |
| Nikola Jokic DEN – C | 57 | 1 | $90 | E |
| Kelly Olynyk UTA – PF,C | 1 | 101 | $4 | |
| Mitchell Robinson NYK – C | 61 | 102 | $64 | |
| Josh Okogie PHX – SG,SF | 5 | 220 | $5 | |
| Delon Wright WAS – PG,SG | 1 | 130 | $4 | |
| Kevon Looney GSW – PF | 1 | 72 | $17 | |
| LaMelo Ball CHA – PG,SG GTD | 26 | 177 | $29 | Y |
| Chicago Sunroofers | ||||
| Player | Player Salary | 2022 Final Rank | Salary After Inflation | Bird Rights |
| Luka Doncic DAL – PG | 43 | 14 | $69 | Y |
| Devin Booker PHX – SG,SF | 43 | 80 | $59 | Y |
| Terry Rozier CHA – PG,SG GTD | 31 | 103 | $34 | Y |
| Rui Hachimura LAL – SF,PF | 3 | 237 | $3 | |
| Dorian Finney-Smith BKN – SF,PF GTD | 8 | 170 | $11 | |
| Khris Middleton MIL – SF,PF GTD | 93 | 277 | $93 | Y |
| Jabari Smith Jr. HOU – PF,C | 1 | 110 | $4 | |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. DAL – SG,SF | 1 | 142 | $4 | |
| Jalen Johnson ATL – SF,PF | 1 | 232 | $1 | |
| Jalen Smith IND – PF,C | 1 | 190 | $4 | Y |
| Zion Williamson NOP – PF,C GTD | 23 | 250 | $23 | Y |
| Mo Bamba PHI – C | 11 | 272 | $11 |
| Brooklyn Phoeniks | ||||
| Player | Player Salary | 2022 Final Rank | Salary After Inflation | Bird Rights |
| Damian Lillard POR – PG | 137 | 17 | $163 | |
| Josh Giddey OKC – SG,SF,PF | 9 | 81 | $19 | E |
| Kevin Porter Jr. HOU – PG,SG | 3 | 114 | $6 | |
| Jordan Nwora IND – SF,PF | 1 | 260 | $1 | |
| Wendell Carter Jr. ORL – C | 4 | 146 | $7 | E |
| Jonathan Kuminga GSW – PF | 1 | 230 | $1 | |
| Brook Lopez MIL – C | 12 | 10 | $45 | |
| Nic Claxton BKN – C | 7 | 15 | $33 | |
| Jamal Murray DEN – PG,SG | 25 | 71 | $41 | E |
| James Wiseman DET – C | 1 | 305 | $1 | |
| Jaden Ivey DET – PG,SG | 1 | 213 | $1 | |
| Austin Reaves LAL – SG,SF | 1 | 145 | $4 | |
| Cade Cunningham DET – PG,SG | 13 | 385 | $13 | E |
| Rucker Park Busters | ||||
| Player | Player Salary | 2022 Final Rank | Salary After Inflation | Bird Rights |
| Tyrese Maxey PHI – PG,SG | 11 | 95 | $21 | |
| Dejounte Murray ATL – PG,SG | 42 | 25 | $62 | Y |
| Ja Morant MEM – PG O | 18 | 111 | $21 | Y |
| Trey Murphy III NOP – SF,PF | 11 | 24 | $37 | |
| Jarred Vanderbilt LAL – PF | 30 | 97 | $40 | |
| Mikal Bridges BKN – SG,SF | 29 | 7 | $62 | |
| Onyeka Okongwu ATL – C | 1 | 41 | $21 | |
| Deandre Ayton PHX – C GTD | 28 | 70 | $44 | |
| Kyle Anderson MIN – SF,PF GTD | 13 | 76 | $29 | |
| Jalen Duren DET – C | 1 | 139 | $4 | |
| Quentin Grimes NYK – SG,SF | 6 | 127 | $9 | |
| Devin Vassell SAS – SG,SF | 10 | 203 | $10 | |
| Chet Holmgren OKC – PF,C | 1 | 527 | $1 |
| Syracuse Sparrows | ||||
| Player | Player Salary | 2022 Final Rank | Salary After Inflation | Bird Rights |
| Spencer Dinwiddie BKN – PG | 2 | 48 | $22 | |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope DEN – SG,SF | 1 | 59 | $17 | |
| Jalen Green HOU – PG,SG | 8 | 144 | $11 | |
| Jalen Williams OKC – SG,SF | 1 | 46 | $21 | |
| Patrick Williams CHI – PF | 1 | 84 | $11 | |
| Kawhi Leonard LAC – SG,SF GTD | 57 | 37 | $77 | |
| Robert Williams III BOS – C | 23 | 214 | $23 | |
| Andrew Nembhard IND – PG,SG | 1 | 159 | $4 | |
| Alex Caruso CHI – PG,SG | 1 | 117 | $4 | |
| Bennedict Mathurin IND – SG,SF | 1 | 182 | $4 | |
| Lonzo Ball CHI – PG INJ | 11 | 534 | $11 | |
| Dyson Daniels NOP – PG,SG | 1 | 288 | $1 |
| VanCity Grizzlies | ||||
| Player | Player Salary | 2022 Final Rank | Salary After Inflation | Bird Rights |
| Markelle Fultz ORL – PG,SG | 1 | 113 | $4 | |
| James Harden PHI – PG,SG Player Note | 156 | 31 | $176 | |
| Aaron Nesmith IND – SF,PF | 1 | 149 | $4 | Y |
| Tobias Harris PHI – SF,PF | 27 | 42 | $47 | |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. MEM – PF,C | 25 | 18 | $51 | Y |
| Jaylen Brown BOS – SG,SF | 24 | 51 | $40 | Y |
| Alperen Sengun HOU – C | 8 | 64 | $24 | E |
| Luguentz Dort OKC – SG,SF | 1 | 141 | $4 | E |
| Jeremy Sochan SAS – PF | 1 | 251 | $1 | |
| Larry Nance Jr. NOP – PF,C | 5 | 138 | $8 | |
| Tre Jones SAS – PG | 37 | 85 | $47 | |
| Coby White CHI – PG,SG | 1 | 151 | $4 | Y |
As of September 3, 2023, we had a total of 6 trades involving 6 of the 16 teams in the Association. Trade goals differed drastically across the franchises, and lawyers and finance teams were working hard to understand the trade implications and chart a path to becoming an association champion. Let’s delve into what the trades were and the takeaways from Killanomics.
Trade 1: Amherst Speedsters is sending Evan Mobley, Mitch Robinson, Kevon Looney, Josh Okogie, and his 2025 rookie pick to VanCity Grizzlies for Jaren Jackson Jr, Markelle Fultz, and Tre Jones
- AHS currently has 3 top 16 players: Curry, Jokic, and Davis, if running it back, adding a fourth first round player seems like a good bet. However 3 out of the 4 players have troubled injury histories. the best ability is availability right?
- If running it back, needed to reduce roster of players with underwater values. The cost a 2025 pick, what will this team will look like in 2025?
- Needed depth and a point guard who could play today, Fultz answers both those questions but also adds into another point for is the best ability availability?
- Trade Grade B+
- Mobley is $19 cheaper than JJJ and almost certain to finish behind JJJ IF healthy! Mobley enters his third year. Using BBM, from a per game he ranked 81 his freshman year, and 52 in his sophomore year, for totals that number is 64 and 33 respectively. Improvement in points, rebound, assists fg%, ft%, turnovers, slight reduction in blocks, and remained flat in steals. The kid is only getting better and talks out of cavs camp is running some of the offense through him. Offers versatility at an excellent price.
- Trade Grade A+
Trade 2: Rucker Park Busters has agreed to send Devin Vassell $10 to Brooklyn Phoeniks for Josh “Baby Luka” Giddey $19
- BKP gets more defense and an ascending wing on a primer rebuilding NBA team.
- Entering now his fourth season, ranked 225, 70, 202 by totals for his each of his first three seasons, by per game has ranked 300, 92, and 80 in that timeframe
- Points per game,3s per game, Assists per game, steals per game, fg% has increased each season, while his turnovers have been on the rise (negative category), ft% reduced, blocks per game relatively flat, and rebounds have wiggled around 4.0 per game
- Loses an association champion Giddey, assists, fg%, rebounding and PF eligibility, reducing team to only one current PF, Kuminga.
- Trade Grade B+
- RPB gets Chet’s mate in Giddey, building on team chemistry.
- Adds to PF strength getting add a versatile player that can play 1-4 (pg-pf) and not even 21 yet. Strengths include strong rebounder and playmaker whose points, rebounds, ft% and fg% per game increased from freshman to sophomore year. Also to note is 3s per game remain flat while drastically increasing fg%. Giddey Ranked 162 and 111 for rookie and sophmore year per game and 200 and 78 by totals respectively.
- Giddey has had a healthy two years while Vassell has struggled with injuries.
- Trade Grade b+
Trade 3: Syracuse Sparrows has agreed to send Jalen Williams $21 and Patrick Williams $11 (all the Williams) for VanCity Grizzlies Alperen Sengun $24
- VCG collects two assets, grabbing two Williams and leaving only Robert Williams with SYS. Something funny, Jdub and Patrick Williams are the same age, actually JduB is older by a couple of months
- Two of the first three trades involved VCG as they shakeup a roster that historically has never done a trade, is this too much change for their fanbase? Guess moving them as far away from Donegal helps.
- JDub the runaway story during the second half of the year, helping OKC to be the surprise team to capture a play-in game. JDub has a versatile game and does a little bit of everything, efficient scorer, while being an elite defender and thief. He ranked 62 per game and 47 in totals for his rookie season.
- Do we see the sophomore blues with JDub? What impact does Chet have on JDub play? Can Okc maintain 4 top 100 fantasy players? Maybe top 50 given where most of these players are taken in redrafts?
- Will this be the season Pat Williams figures it out? He has improved in points, 3s, assists, steals, blocks, ft% from last season but a reduction in fg%.
- Trade Grade A
- SYS now has the premiere front-court players in Sengun and RWill! Sengun could be eased into a top fantasy player.
- “Udoka plans to utilize Alperen Sengun differently from former coach Stephen Silas to use his best attribute as a passing big, similar to his idol Denver Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic” Baby Jokic Potential?
- In his rookie and sophomore years Sengun ranked 232, 82 per game and 166 and 66 by totals respectively.
- Sengun has improved in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, fg%, while being less efficient at ft line and in the noise 3s per game reduction. Played 29 minutes a game and with strong comments from head coach udoka, the path to fantasy gold is there! The downside is as the Rockets try to make a playoff push, will Sengun defensive deficiencies prevent him from getting at least 30 minutes per game. Coach Udoka talking out he azz, because this team was also trying to sign Brook Lopez this offseason. Brook is a defensive first, rim protecting center. But that plan fell through, so one has to wonder what the rockets look like.
- Trade Grade A-
Trade 4: Rucker Park Busters has agreed to send Jalen Duren $4 and Trey Murphy III $37 to VanCity Grizzlies for Jaylen Brown $40
- See a trend here. VCG dethrones AHS for autotrader, involved in the first 3 out of 4 association trades. Continues to gather young talent and assets playing for less money this season
- Jalen Duren and Trey Murphy both broke out last year, especially Trey leading the pelicans to the play-in despite injuries to Ingram and Zion last season.
- Will Trey Murphy be able to co-exist with high usage Ingram and Zion? Does CJ take a backseat to allow for more Murphy usage? How will Monty Willams handle his center rotation? Will their be opportunities for Duren to play power forward or play over 30 minutes a game?
- Trey & Duren combined Projected Cap Inflation in 24-25: 9% cap
- Trade Grade: B
- RPB is starting to heat up as he now completed his second trade of the offseason.
- In a previous trade where we he traded away points, he gets them back plus more from second-team all-nba, and 2x All Star JB!
- RPB had a center crunch, consolidating two contributors into a star was a great organizational move.
- JB has weak ceiling in defensive fantasy stats, but his offensive production is potent, and he can be penciled in for 55-68 games for a season. Helps manage his inflation since the number of games missed will help keep his inflation value down?
- JB Projected Cap Inflation in 24-25: 5% cap
- Trade Grade B+
Trade 5: Amherst Speedsters is sending LaMelo Ball and Donte DiVicenzo to Chicago Sunroofers for Devin Booker and Jabari Smith Jr.
- CSR completed their first trade! Happy first trade!
- Acquired Lamelo who finished rank 73, 21, 20 per game in his first three seasons and in totals over the same span was ranked 102, 8 and 176. The big question mark here is health, but only 22 on an improved roster with even more offensive threats, on one of the best deals in association, what is there not to like about ball?
- Will find out if lamelo ball’s injuries are freak accident or tied to genetics? Market sides with freak accident
- Trade Grade: A
- AHS adds depth and increases his potential off-season tax bill.
- Devin Booker was fantastic last year leading the suns post KD trade. Now with cp3 gone, looks to be the de-facto point guard.
- Downside is AHS adds another often injured player, although has played at least 54 games each season, no catastrophic injuries.
- Jabari Smith Jr. struggled his rookie season, not living up to the draft hype. However just turned 20 years of age, great showing in summer league, and better head coach are great signs for him going into his sophomore year
- Trade Grade: A+
Trade 6: Rucker Park Busters has agreed to send Ja Morant $21 and Josh Giddey $19 to Chicago Sunroofers for Luka Doncic $69 (giggedy) and Donte DiVincenzo $14
- Synergy is gone but one previous association champion is traded for another. Jr is upgraded to senior.
- RPB pushes the chips to the middle and gets Luka Doncic! also known as skinny engaged Luka
- The JB trade in a vaccum was a B but now acquiring Luka, can easily upgrade to A/A+
- Upgraded two top 10 point guards, i know giddey is multiple position and sneaky for the top point guard is an excellent consolidation move.
- Will probably become a tax team now but now has positioned himself to be a top contender.
- Trade Grade: A+
- CSR makes what i grade a brilliant move, reduces salary cap by $43. Adding two more top 10 fantasy dynasty point guards, and with the recent lamelo ball trade has 3 top 10 fantasy point guards.
- As discussed in an earlier trade, Giddey is probably in the 3% inflation range, and recently acquired JA projects the same for next season given he is scheduled to miss at least 25 games (league suspension).
- CSR is clearly rebuilding, getting younger, and looking to make a splash in free agency
- Trade Grade: A+
And that wraps up the labor day trade draft recap. Welcome back General Managers, looking forward to an eventful 2023-2024 season! Best of luck this season!
University of Fantasy Ball 
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