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• I got some realllllly good news boys. The season starts today. Set your lineups and check those boxscores! Leegggooooooo
  zach e.d. at Oct 22, 2024 10:16 AM
• Fellas,
  
  The draft is tonight at 8:30 pm. I have trouble getting into the draft room with Google Chrome, so try a different browser if that isn't working for you.
  
  Scott
  zach e.d. at Oct 8, 2024 2:13 PM
• In the interest of transparency, I am changing the trade review period from 48 hours to 24 hours. People have complained about this in the past. If anyone super-duper objects to this, let me know.
  zach e.d. at Sep 25, 2024 3:47 PM
• We've gotten two very good excuses as to why they can't do the week of the 15th. Both individuals asked to push it back to the preceding week. Benevolent dictator that I am, I obliged them. The draft will now be on Tuesday, October 8, at 8:30PM. Please let me know if you have any real objections to this.
  zach e.d. at Sep 25, 2024 12:38 PM
• What's up everybody!
  
  That fantasy basketball season is just around the corner! That means we need to have our auction draft. I've set it for October 15 at 8:00 PM EDT. Let me know if this absolutely does not work for you. Otherwise, I'll see you all there for what should be a rollicking good time.
  zach e.d. at Sep 23, 2024 11:11 AM
• The reason you're seeing some of the more seasoned Ottoneu players dropping guys right now is because the keeper deadline is this Sunday, September 15, at 11:59 PM EDT. This is the last chance for you to drop players without a cap hit, and your last chance to trade players before the draft. You also need to be below the cap by this point - looks like everyone except Kyle and EJ have legal rosters however, so good on y'all. Let me know if you have any questions or would like to trade me a really good player on a cheap contract.
  zach e.d. at Sep 12, 2024 10:18 AM
• Grade the Trade
  
  HERRO BALL trades Bogdan Bogdanovic ($10) to LIFEGUARD KELLY for Jared McCain ($2)
  
  This is a pretty simple trade, one-for-one, lottery ticket for stable asset. I’ve already talked about Bogdan, who’s already been traded once this season. He produces, and should produce more with Dejounte in The Big Easy, but his ceiling is limited. $10 seems fair, more or less. Lifeguard Kelly has more than enough cap space to take on other people’s problem contracts, so any move that makes him better without meaningfully affecting his cap is going to look shrewd. In all likelihood, Jared McCain isn’t going to be anything worth rostering, and he’ll look back on this deal as a nothing-for-something coup.
  
  That doesn’t mean this was a bad deal for Herro Ball. On the contrary, he’s picking up a (near) lottery pick while saving $8; this move actually gets him a legal roster going into the draft, though I’m sure he’s looking for more than $4 in space. For all the talk about 2024 being an all-time weak draft, a heady point guard getting first-round draft capital for the 76ers is a great situation. There won’t be a lot of volume, but it’s a shallow team, and he could carve out enough of a role to make his value skyrocket in year one. Do I think this will happen? No. But it seems like a fine enough gamble when you’re shaving salary at the same time.
  
  GRADE FOR HERRO BALL – B
  GRADE FOR LIFEGUARD KELLY – B
  zach e.d. at Jul 16, 2024 1:01 PM
• Grade the Trade
  
  JONATHAN KUMINYA trades Tristan da Silva ($2) to LIFEGUARD KELLY for Dalton Knecht ($7)
  
  Wow, what a great deal for Lifeguard Kelly! He gives up the 17th overall pick for the 18th overall pick, moving down only one spot, and saves $5 in the process? That alone is a steal.
  Dalton Knecht plays small forward; his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, already have a small forward. You may have heard of him. His name is Lebron James. Only the greatest player of our generation. He’s pretty redundant for them, and at $7, just isn’t worth it. Plus, the Lakers SUCK.
  
  On the other end of the deal, the Orlando Magic got their 3-and-D stretch forward they so desperately needed. Spacing was a huge issue for them last year. De Silva will spread things out for them without sacrificing form their all-world defense. Fits like a glove!
  
  GRADE FOR JONATHAN KUMINYA – F (What an IDIOT!!!)
  GRADE FOR LIFEGUARD KELLY – A+ (What a GENIUS)
  zach e.d. at Jul 3, 2024 12:50 PM
• Grade the Trade
  
  COACH LAMONT CARR trades Karl-Anthony Towns ($54) to RICK FLAG for Kyrie Irving ($49) and T.J. McConnell ($4)
  
  First thing’s first, T.J. McConnell probably isn’t a keeper at $4. He is only really playable when Haliburton is out, and in such cases (12 games), T.J. put up 11/7/3 in 2024. That’s a pretty mid best-case scenario. He’s a backup with okay short-term upside no long-term upside, the type of guy you get for $1 at the end of an auction.
  
  This is really a KAT for Irving swap. The salaries are pretty equal. Both guys have reliability concerns, but Kyrie’s are more staggering. KAT puts up better numbers overall, I think, and is four years younger. At the end of the day, it depends on what you need, and Coach Lamont Carr just traded nothing for an elite center, so I guess getting guard help is nice.
  At the end of the day, KAT is more valuable now and has the potential to be a reasonable deal for the next four years, while Kyrie, at 32 years old with the mind of a 7-year-old on PCP, has virtually no chance of being a long-term keeper, so I have to give the edge to Flag.
  
  For the record, both Kyrie and KAT suck so hard, you guys.
  
  GRADE FOR RICK FLAG – B
  GRADE FOR COACH LAMONT CARR – C-
  zach e.d. at Jul 3, 2024 10:52 AM
• Grade the Trade
  
  COACH LAMONT CARR trades Daniel Gafford ($15) and Mo Wagner ($4) to DENIZ KILICLI, THE ISTANBULL for Jarrett Allen ($31) and Isaiah Hartenstein ($4)
  
  This one is actually pretty easy to evaluate. The only reason this is going to get multiple paragraphs is because I want to make fun of an idiot.
  
  Coach Lamont Carr had some offseason cap space and he did exactly what one should do in such a situation: he robbed a cap-logged team blind. Sure, Daniel Gaffe-ord is $16 cheaper than Jarrett Allen, but Jarrett Allen was top 10 in rebounds per game and chipped in 16.5 ppg, a block, and a killer shooting percentage. He’s one of the best centers in the league and on a reasonable contract. Plus he gets Isaiah Hartenstein. Let’s do a player comparison here.
  
  PLAYER A – 21 minutes per game, 11 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.7 spg, 2 blocks, 78% FG%
  PLAYER B – 25 minutes per game, 8 ppg, 8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 blocks, 64% FG%
  
  It’s close, but Player A is a little better. Only a little. Player A is Daniel Gafford as a Maverick, and Player B is Isaiah Hartenstein, who is $11 cheaper and just got paid to be his team’s only bona fide inside presence on a high-octane offense. And before you point out that said team also has Chet Holmgren, remember he’s a perimeter player on O. Plus, Gafford has a younger, sexier version of himself breathing down his neck in Dereck Lively, who might also just be better, too. I honestly think there’s a good, if not probable chance that Isaiah Hartenstein produces better numbers than Gafford this year, and for $11 less. And that’s before you remember that Coach Carr is getting Jarrett Allen in this deal as well!!!!!!
  
  Mo Wagner is in this trade too. The team just paid one of its backup centers $8+ million a year, already has Wendell Carter, and can play its new $84 million man (Jon Isaac) at the 5. There aren’t a lot of minutes for Manic Mo on this squad. Best case scenario is injuries plague the Magic and he gets 11 ppg and 4 rpg for your team on the bench. Otherwise, we’re talking about a rich man’s Thanasis.
  
  Bonus Negative Points for the fact that Jarrett Allen is one of Jim’s favorite players and he just traded him away. Only good thing I can say about his side of the trade is he saved $16.
  
  GRADE FOR DENIZ KILICLI, THE ISTANBULL – D
  GRADE FOR COACH LAMONT CARR - A
  zach e.d. at Jul 3, 2024 10:39 AM
• GtT Part 2
  
  RICK FLAG trades Terrence Shannon ($2) and Keegan Murray ($9) to CHASE BUDINGER’S BUDDIES for Onyeka Okongwu ($11)
  
  At first glance, I did not like this trade for Rick Flag’s side. I remembered as the 4th overall pick with a ton of promise in a high-octane offense. There’s still upside there, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in Sac-Town, so his usage will likely be low, and his stats are average across the board. There’s a chance he turns into something; in such a case, Chase Budinger’s Buddies will be happy they made the trade. Though unlikely to transpire, his ceiling is probably higher than that of Okongwu. It’s a rebuilding move.
  
  Terrence Shannon is older than I am. I don’t think there’s anything there. I could be wrong. He looks like an 8th man at best. Those guys are end-of-bench $1 guys. Whatever. He’s a flyer.
  
  I would like this trade for CBB a lot more if he wasn’t giving up a guy with a ton of upside in his own right. Okongwu is the sort of rim-running center all NBA teams covet. If he can get a starting role in Atlanta or otherwise, he’s going to give Rick Flag a Nic Claxton/Clint Capela sort of impact. 12/10 on 60+% shooting, plus a few blocks, seems likely to happen at some point in his career. That’s the sort of guy Rick Flag gave up in Rudy Gobert, which makes that Part 1 trade look better in terms of his team’s big picture. Oh, and Okongwu is younger than Terrence Shannon, but who's counting?
  
  Brendan gave up a little upside to get more upside. A/K/A, Brendan trade-raped Pavio a bit here. Welcome to the league, Pavio, continuing Chase Budinger’s Buddies’ legacy of mediocracy. Maybe you should change your team name.
  
  GRADE FOR RICK FLAG – A-
  GRADE FOR Chase Budinger’s Buddies – C
  zach e.d. at Jul 1, 2024 6:04 PM
• GtT Part 1
  
  RICK FLAG trades Rudy Gobert ($37) and Zaccharie Risacher ($4) to HERRO BALL for Jaren Jackson Jr. ($44)
  
  Last season, I traded Jaren Jackson Jr. for Rudy Gobert, among other things, so I am partial to that side of the deal already. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a specialty player that gives you elite production with his defensive stats and points but puts you in a huge hole in rebounds and FG%. Not a lot of high-price big men put up less than 6 rpg and shoot less than 45% from the field, but I trust that Rick Flag knows what he’s doing. He’s a born leader. On the other hand, Rudy Gobert gives you exactly what you’re looking for in a center. Blocks, boards, and a preposterous FG%. I like plugging a guy like that into my lineup. But at the end of the day, JJJ is young and probably a good deal for a few more years. Young asset on a good contract? You do those deals when you can. Let’s see if Brendan can build a JJJ-centered team into a winner. I never could.
  
  Herro Ball gets the number 1 pick in Zaccharie Risacher. That’s the nicest thing you can say about Zaccharie Risacher. That he was the number one pick. He’s a 3-and-D guy that might not be able to shoot 3s, or play defense, and certainly won’t be a big contributor in the stats we care about. Kudos for Rick Flag for turning Zaccharie into anything. At least Atlanta is going to give him a long-ass leash and enough looks in their efforts to justify this pick over the next four or so years.
  
  Rudy Gobert is who matters. Guy is a beast. He’s old, but Herro Ball has the best training staff in the league; they got Zion AND AD through the playoffs. I view Rudy as an upgrade for this year, but 32 is really old for a 7-foot fella, so I wouldn’t count on anything beyond this year. As a move towards a repeat, I like getting a prototypical center that gives you everything you need out of that position, and reliably too. Bobby will go into every matchup with a solid leg-up in blocks, boards, and FG%. It hurts to give up a blue chipper like JJJ, but like I said, the guy is tough to build around.
  
  Overall, I’d say it’s a bit of a lateral move for both teams, with Rick Flag leveraging a little present for the future, and Herro Ball sacrificing some long-term upside for short-term stability.
  
  GRADE FOR RICK FLAG – B-
  GRADE FOR HERRO BALL – B
  zach e.d. at Jul 1, 2024 5:50 PM
• Excited for the write-up on this blockbuster
  Deniz Kilicli, The Istanbull at Jun 28, 2024 11:54 PM
• GRADE THE TRADE
  Fellas, I’m gonna start grading these trades. It’s as simple as that. Let’s get started with the first inaugural Grade the Trade.
  
  TEAM STEAM trades Bogdan Bogdanovic ($10), Terry Rozier ($25), and Trayce Jackson-Davis ($4) to HERRO BALL for Jamal Murray ($42) and Jaden Ivey ($14).
  
  Team Steam, in theory, gets the best player in this deal in Jamal Murray. He’s also the most expensive player in the deal, and has only played more than 60 games once in the past five seasons.
  
  Thought experiment, who would you rather have?
  
  PLAYER A – 21 ppg, 4 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1 spg, and 48% FG in 59 games, or
  PLAYER B – 20 ppg, 4 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1 spg, and 44% FG in 61 games
  
  The answer, obviously, is Player A, who is Jamal Murray, but it’s pretty damn close. Is that worth the extra $17 in salary? Maybe, since Terry’s production dipped in Miami, but it’s pretty damn close. Let’s call that portion of the trade a wash, though I think Herro Ball won out there.
  
  That leaves Bogdan and Trayce for Jaden Ivey. Jaden is the most expensive player and the best asset in this portion of the deal. He fills up the stat sheet. But how much longer is he going to get this sort of usage as a non-shooting guard? These types of players don’t usually stay in prominent roles once their rookie luster wears off. He’ll be good now, but I’m not sure he has the upside Team Steam is buying here. Bogdan is whatever. He’s a nice bench guy. He has better numbers than Ivey but none of the upside. At $4, Trayce Jackson Davis could be the thing these guys remember this trade for. Dropped 8 ppg on 70% shooting as a rookie while chipping in 5 boards and a block per game. I like him as a backup forward this year with the potential to grow into something like what Clint Capela has been. Was giving up a cheap asset like TJD worth modest, pricier upgrades from Terry Rozier and Bogdan? I don’t think so, but I’m dumb, so whatever.
  
  GRADE FOR TEAM STEAM – C
  GRADE FOR HERRO BALL – C+
  zach e.d. at Jun 28, 2024 12:56 PM
• Welcome, Mike!
  Rick Flag at Jun 3, 2024 6:57 PM
• Correct.
  zach e.d. at Jun 3, 2024 6:09 PM
• Good season everyone! So the next date deadline is getting under the salary cap by 9/15 right?
  
  Also, I truly appreciate everyone's interest, but I will save you all some time: Ja Morant is not for sale this offseason
  Sir, This is a Wemby's! at Jun 3, 2024 6:07 PM
• The offseason has officially begun! Send out some trade offers, make some cuts, and get under the salary cap!
  
  I'd also like to extend a warm welcome to Mike Pavio, who will be replacing Gus in the league. May the odds be ever in your favor.
  zach e.d. at Jun 3, 2024 2:13 PM
• I hope everyone is enjoying the playoffs. I wanted to remind everyone that it's arbitration month - you have until the end of May to arbitrate people. By now, everyone should know the rules. Looks like a few of us already have done their duties. Brendan, Dave Kent, Jason, Matt, Kyle, EJ, and Gus still need to do it.
  
  Another note: it looks like Gus can't manage a fake basketball team and be a father at the same time. It's rough out there, no doubt. If anyone knows anyone who might be interested in our league, let me know.
  
  Thanks everyone,
  Commish
  zach e.d. at May 15, 2024 10:47 AM
• Congrats to Bobby on winning the whole thing. His training staff deserves a raise for keeping Zion and AD healthy all year.
  
  We need to pay Bobby for his victory. Please venmo me $30 at @haughtyscotty.
  
  Arbitration begins in May. In the meantime, enjoy your time off.
  zach e.d. at Apr 4, 2024 2:48 PM
• THE TRADE DEADLINE HAS NOT PASSED.
  
  I am sorry about the confusion. The website reported the wrong deadline in error.
  
  https://community.ottoneu.com/t/basketball-trade-deadline-incorrect/13904
  zach e.d. at Feb 1, 2024 10:40 AM
• Today is the trade deadline!!
  
  Make those trades if you're rebuilding or stocking up for the playoffs. Today is your last chance!!
  
  -Adam Silver
  zach e.d. at Jan 31, 2024 11:51 AM
• Go to the user dashboard - https://ottoneu.fangraphs.com/userdashboard
  
  From there, you should see your team. In the far right column, there is a link that says "Extend Now". That's where you pay.
  zach e.d. at Oct 27, 2023 10:12 AM
• Where do I go to pay?
  Mo Money Mo Bamba at Oct 26, 2023 7:50 PM
• Hey all, the new payment system is in place, please re-up for this year by 10/31 so you don't lose your squad!
  
  Same as last year, you're also on the hook for an additional $30, which will be dispersed to the winner of the league. I'll collect that towards the end of the season.
  
  I sent this in an email but I wanted to make sure it was available on the league page as well.
  zach e.d. at Oct 24, 2023 1:47 PM
• From the guy who runs Ottoneu:
  
  With the NBA schedule out and the season starting on October 24th 2023, I think it is reasonable to push the keeper deadline and renewal deadline back to September 15th, 2023. This should make things a bit easier on those of you who also play Ottoneu Fantasy Football and makes this part of the calendar a little less hectic for everyone.
  
  In order to avoid any surprise position eligibility changes mid-season, we will be locking position eligibility for players at midnight ET of the keeper deadline. Positions will not be gained or dropped past that date for the upcoming season. We will keep an eye on the differences between what Ottoneu locks on September 15 and what the data provider shows for a player throughout the whole season, and it will inform some feedback towards our data provider and also allow people to plan for future position eligibility, which again will lock on the keeper deadline next season.
  zach e.d. at Aug 28, 2023 3:03 PM
• From the guy who runs Ottoneu:
  
  With the NBA schedule out and the season starting on October 24th 2023, I think it is reasonable to push the keeper deadline and renewal deadline back to September 15th, 2023. This should make things a bit easier on those of you who also play Ottoneu Fantasy Football and makes this part of the calendar a little less hectic for everyone.
  
  In order to avoid any surprise position eligibility changes mid-season, we will be locking position eligibility for players at midnight ET of the keeper deadline. Positions will not be gained or dropped past that date for the upcoming season. We will keep an eye on the differences between what Ottoneu locks on September 15 and what the data provider shows for a player throughout the whole season, and it will inform some feedback towards our data provider and also allow people to plan for future position eligibility, which again will lock on the keeper deadline next season.
  zach e.d. at Aug 28, 2023 3:03 PM
• If you click on "Schedule" it says this week is Feb 13-19. And then on Feb 20 we have a different opponent. So looks like we are loading up our lineups these next few days
  Moron Mountain at Feb 13, 2023 9:38 AM
• Hey, quick sanity question for this week of games: is this week only the next 7 days, or does this matchup week include the games next week after the all star break as well? I want to know if I should be just starting everyone possible these next four days, or if I should save starts for the following week as well. Thanks!
  Sir, This is a Wemby's! at Feb 13, 2023 8:40 AM
• Please change it, 2 days is super annoying.
  Deniz Kilicli, The Istanbull at Oct 14, 2022 10:06 AM
• Does anyone oppose this? I'm inclined to make a unilateral move and just change it. I see no reason why we need to wait two days, it's not like there are that many good players out there. Let me know if you don't want it changed before the season starts.
  zach e.d. at Oct 14, 2022 8:38 AM
• Can we switch to 24 hour waivers before the season officially starts?
  Mental Health Fast Break at Oct 14, 2022 12:55 AM
• We had another conflict. I am going to move it to Monday (10/10) @ 9PM. Please text me at 781-910-4092 if this doesn't work. I am hopeful it will, since I never ever have plans on Mondays. Shouldn't take longer than two hours.
  zach e.d. at Oct 6, 2022 2:13 PM
• Hi gang,
  
  We had an objection to the placeholder date. I moved it up a day to Tuesday (10/11) before opening week, @ 8 PM EST. If this happens to work for everyone I'll keep it as is, but if/when I get at least one objection I'll figure something new out.
  
  Scott
  zach e.d. at Sep 29, 2022 4:18 PM
• Hi gang,
  
  I've put a placeholder draft date of 10/12, the Wednesday before opening week, @ 8 PM EST. If this happens to work for everyone I'll keep it as is, but if/when I get at least one objection I'll send out a poll with some other options and we'll go with whatever works for the majority.
  
  Scott
  zach e.d. at Sep 5, 2022 1:01 PM
• Hi,
  
  Just a reminder, the keeper deadline is this Wednesday, 8/31 (tomorrow). Be sure to make your final cuts by then as rosters will lock until the draft. This also serves as the pre-draft trade deadline, so there is still some time to wheel and deal.
  
  Another equally if not more important reminder, make sure to pay for the upcoming season this week! If you do not, your team will become available for anyone to claim on August 1st. Looks like this still applies to just about everyone in the league, I'll keep a close eye on this (as well as final cuts) and reach out directly to certain offenders tomorrow. If you could save me the trouble that would be greatly appreciated.
  zach e.d. at Aug 30, 2022 2:28 PM
• Buddy Hield Finals MVP's trade block has been updated!
  Rick Flag at Jul 8, 2022 1:46 PM
• Buddy Hield Finals MVP's trade block has been updated!
  Rick Flag at Jul 7, 2022 6:06 PM
• Tomorrow is the NBA Draft! Our first as a league. I, for one, am very excited.
  zach e.d. at Jun 22, 2022 6:03 PM
• Mental Health Fast Break's trade block has been updated!
  Mental Health Fast Break at Jun 14, 2022 10:42 PM
• Letters to a Young Athlete's trade block has been updated!
  zach e.d. at Jun 7, 2022 12:46 PM
• Lifeguard Kelly's trade block has been updated!
  Moron Mountain at Jun 7, 2022 12:41 PM
• Buddy Hield Finals MVP's trade block has been updated!
  Rick Flag at Jun 7, 2022 10:19 AM
• Hey everyone!
  
  Arbitration is now over and the offseason has officially begun! That essentially means two things:
  
  - you can cut anyone between now and September with no salary cap penalty. that means you are totally free of any contract you offload in the offseason.
  - you can make trades again! i.e., if you can't afford a guy but don't want to cut him, see if someone else will take them off your hands.
  
  That's all I have for right now. I've never been this excited for the NBA draft. Can't wait to see where all these prospects end up.
  zach e.d. at Jun 7, 2022 10:11 AM
• Today is the Arbitration Deadline. Some of you still need to do it. I will be reaching out to some of you individually, but I don't have contact info for Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am and Mo Money Mo Bamba, so this is your reminder that your arbitration needs to be completed. As usually, shoot me a message with any questions you may have.
  zach e.d. at May 31, 2022 4:35 PM
• Shooters Shoot
  zach e.d. at May 9, 2022 5:08 PM
• I have someone who might be interested. Which team would he inherit?
  Mo Money Mo Bamba at May 9, 2022 5:07 PM
• What it do Ball Don't Lie 2?
  
  The offseason has officially begun with what is called "Arbitration". It's where each team has a certain amount of money to allocate to the salaries of players on other teams. If someone has a guy on too good of a contract, you can help drive their contract upwards. The Arbitration tab is the first one on the left on the League's homepage, next to Schedule. Here are the rules for Arbitration, which ends on May 31, 2022:
  
  - Arbitration allows teams to add dollars to players on other teams in their league
  - Every team has a $25 allocation budget to utilize as they see fit
  - Every team must give every other team in their league at least $1 and no more than $3 in additional salary
  - No player can be allocated more than $3 of additional salary by another team ($33 league max)
  
  As always, if you have any questions, please reach out. I am happy to help.
  
  Also, if anyone knows someone who might be interested in joining the league, let me know. One of the current managers has expressed interest in bowing out.
  zach e.d. at May 9, 2022 1:51 PM
• Appreciate the kind words Commissioner Birdman. Looking forward to three-peating next season.
  Moron Mountain at Apr 13, 2022 10:09 AM
• The only person who has not paid is Brennan, the original commissioner of Ball Don't Lie 1.
  
  *Bugs Bunny voice* "Ironic, ain't it?" *Bites into carrot*
  zach e.d. at Apr 13, 2022 8:41 AM