University of Fantasy Ball

Overview of Restricted Free Agents (RFAs)

RFAs are players for whom teams retain the right to match any offer sheet the player signs with another team. This ability allows teams to keep key contributors, but it requires careful cap management, particularly when navigating the league’s soft and hard caps.

Manager and Player Rights:

• Blackup: Amen Thompson, Brandin Podziemski
• In it 2 Win It II: Jarace Walker, Anthony Black, Cam Whitmore, Grayson Allen
• Machines: Scottie Barnes
• NYK FTW: Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Isaiah Stewart
• Obi Stoppin & Poppin: Coby White, Nick Richards
• Speedsters: Evan Mobley, Franz Wagner, Ayo Dosunmu, T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith
• SteveBlakeExpress: Jalen Suggs, Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond, Andrew Nembhard, Isaiah Hartenstein
• Terror Squad: Desmond Bane, Jonathan Kuminga
• tbach24: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Donte DiVincenzo
• TheBoogieDowns: Naz Reid

Cap Space Considerations

Each team has a defined soft cap, which they can exceed with penalties, and a hard cap, which they cannot exceed. The table below outlines the remaining cap space for each manager:

Manager	Soft Cap Remaining	Hard Cap Remaining
Blackup	117	73
CG Paper	59	73
In it 2 Win It II	207	73
Komputers ‘Puting	95	42
Machines	57	70
NYK FTW	131	73
Obi Stoppin & Poppin	137	31
Speedsters	237	72
SteveBlakeExpress	129	73
tbach24	176	73
Terror Squad	74	49
TheBoogieDowns	173	73

Fantasy Value and Strategic Insights

• Blackup: With young talents like Amen Thompson and Brandin Podziemski, Blackup has potential future stars under their control. However, the remaining soft cap of 117 may limit their ability to match high offers, especially with a hard cap of 73. Strategic focus should be on managing bids wisely to retain these promising assets without jeopardizing overall cap flexibility.
• In it 2 Win It II: Holding multiple RFAs, including Jarace Walker and Anthony Black, this team has the most soft cap space at 207. They can be aggressive in matching offers or even driving up the price for other managers. The key here is to balance the desire to retain multiple RFAs with the need to keep cap space for mid-season adjustments.
• Machines: Scottie Barnes is a versatile asset with growing fantasy value. With only 57 in soft cap remaining, Machines may face tough decisions if bidding wars escalate. Given Barnes’ potential, it may be worth pushing close to the hard cap of 70 to ensure his retention.
• NYK FTW: Managing three RFAs, including Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Stewart, NYK FTW has a solid 131 in soft cap remaining. The focus should be on securing key frontcourt depth while leaving some room for future moves. Norman Powell could be a candidate for a moderate bid if his scoring punch is needed.
• Speedsters: With Evan Mobley and Franz Wagner as top RFAs, Speedsters are in a strong position with 237 in soft cap remaining. Both players are high-value assets with multi-category contributions, and this team can afford to match substantial offers. Speedsters should leverage their cap advantage to solidify their lineup.
• SteveBlakeExpress: Holding a diverse group of RFAs, including Jalen Suggs and Alex Caruso, this team has 129 in soft cap remaining. Caruso’s defensive stats and Suggs’ potential make them priority targets. The strategy should focus on matching offers for key role players while being cautious of overcommitting to lower-value RFAs.
• Terror Squad: Desmond Bane stands out as the premier RFA on this roster. With limited soft cap space (74), Terror Squad will need to be strategic in their approach, possibly letting less critical RFAs go to secure Bane, who could be a game-changer if retained.

Targeting RFAs: Opportunities for Teams Without Rights

Teams that do not currently hold RFA rights still have a significant role to play during this period. Managers like CG Paper, Komputers ‘Puting, and TheBoogieDowns (who only hold one RFA in Naz Reid) have opportunities to shake up the league by making aggressive bids on these restricted players.

CG Paper and Komputers ‘Puting both have moderate cap flexibility, with soft cap space of 59 and 95 respectively. These managers may look to strategically target RFAs whose current managers are tight on cap space. For instance, making a strong bid for Scottie Barnes or Franz Wagner could force Machines and Speedsters into difficult decisions, possibly stretching them close to their hard caps.

TheBoogieDowns have significant room under their soft cap (173) and could use this to their advantage by targeting higher-profile RFAs like Desmond Bane from Terror Squad or Evan Mobley from Speedsters. With this cap space, they can drive up the price, potentially landing a key player or at least forcing their opponents into less favorable cap positions.

Finally, managers with ample cap space like Speedsters could still play a disruptor role by bidding on RFAs from less-capable teams, knowing they have the financial flexibility to outbid or at least raise the cost for others.

Conclusion

The 2024-2025 season’s RFA period in the Watch The Throne Fantasy Basketball League will be a defining moment for many teams. With careful management of soft and hard cap spaces, managers can retain key players and build a competitive roster that can dominate the league. Teams without RFA rights should not sit idle—they can still influence the market by making strategic bids, potentially landing top talent or at least weakening their competition. The key will be balancing immediate needs with long-term strategy, ensuring that cap space is used effectively while securing top talent.

---

Bonus Content: Predictions for the 2024-2025 Season

As we enter the RFA bidding period, here are a couple of predictions based on the current landscape:

1. Evan Mobley Becomes the Highest-Paid RFA

With Evan Mobley’s impressive growth and all-around contributions, it’s likely that Speedsters will be forced into a bidding war to retain him. Given their ample cap space, Speedsters can afford to match almost any offer, but expect other managers to push the price to the brink of the soft cap. Mobley could easily become the highest-paid RFA this season, setting a new standard for value in the league.

2. Scottie Barnes is Poached by a Rival

Machines might struggle to retain Scottie Barnes given their limited cap space. A team like TheBoogieDowns with significant soft cap flexibility could swoop in with a strong offer that Machines can’t match without hitting their hard cap. If this happens, expect Barnes to move to a new team, shifting the power balance in the league.

3. Terror Squad Locks in Desmond Bane, Sacrificing Depth

Desmond Bane is a top-tier RFA, and Terror Squad will likely prioritize matching any offer to keep him. However, with only 74 in soft cap remaining, this could mean sacrificing depth and letting other RFAs like Jonathan Kuminga go. Bane’s retention could pay off with a high ceiling, but it may come at the cost of a well-rounded roster.

These predictions highlight the potential shifts in team dynamics as the RFA period unfolds. The decisions made in the coming weeks will shape the trajectory of the 2024-2025 fantasy basketball season, making this one of the most exciting and strategic times of the year.

---

These predictions add a forward-looking element to your article, engaging readers with potential outcomes and encouraging them to think strategically about their own moves in the league.