Here are the guidelines, or ABCs, of participating in Mock GM®First Off, What Is This?
This is the first fantasy basketball game that enforces the rules of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Participants can chose to either take over an NBA team as a General Manager (GM) or create an NBA sports management firm (Agent) for the purpose of managing the relationship between NBA players and the teams they play for. During the first half of the summer, GMs trade players and draft picks, decide team options, create draft boards and position themselves for the free agency period. The first half ends with the NBA Draft where GMs select college players for the up and coming season. The second half of the summer is the free agency period where Agents and GMs interact to negotiate contracts for players who are free agents, players who have been released, players looking for extensions from their rookie contract, etc. By October when other fantasy games are just starting, you would have already assembled your fantasy teams for Head-to-Head (GMs) or Rotisserie (Agents) competition for the upcoming NBA Regular season. Top
What Are Agents? What Are GMs?
Unlike other Fantasy Basketball games on the Internet, PASPN recognizes that an active NBA player will have two constant figures that play a role in the development of their NBA Careers. The first constant is a GM or General Manager who is in charge of putting a team of players together for an NBA franchise. The second constant is an Agent who is responsible for the overall well-being of an NBA Player while playing for an NBA team. Mock GM® Fantasy Basketball attempts to capture this interaction between Agents and Gms by allowing users to join a league as one or the other creating an interactive virtual NBA World where two different point-of-views (with different objectives) come together to decide the fate of an NBA Player.Top
The Role of an Agent vs. The Role of a GM
The role of a GM is to take over an existing NBA team and make them competitive for the up and coming NBA season. Just like a Real NBA GM, the majority of their work is conducted in the offseason months of the NBA (June - September) where they must make decisions on existing players, scout for college talent as well as players available in the free agent market. GMs are rated on how well they put together a team and how well they manage their teams money situation as it relates to the rules and regulations of the NBA Salary Cap and Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The role of an Agent is almost the exact opposite. They are not concerned about competition or wins and losses. Their job is to find the best situation for their clients while making the most money for them and of course their Sports Agency. They could care less about the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement. In fact they look to challenge the limits of the CBA by seeing how much a GM is willing to spend for the services of their clients. The majority of an Agents work is done during the free agency period where they work with GMs in contract negotiations on behalf of their free agent clients. Agents also play a role in negotiating player buyouts for clients under contract looking to part ways with their current NBA Organization. Agents can also initiate trades for clients and depending on the players contract terms may be involved in the approval process of a trade. Top
Which role is right for me?
You are a GM if you are the type of NBA Fan that loves to come up with trades on message boards and knows deep down that you can do a much better job than half the existing NBA GMs, but never had an avenue where you could actually test your GM savvy. If you know you have what it takes to be an NBA GM and can commit the time needed to accomplish the daunting task of a Fantasy Offseason and Fantasy Regular season and can turn a lump of coal into gold, then being a GM is the right role for you.
If you are the type of NBA Fan that would love to play fantasy basketball without the day-to-day tasks of being a manager, then you are a Agent. Agents have a more laid back role since they are called upon only when there's contract negotiations involved. Once all their players are signed and have an NBA home, the Agent just sits back, check in a few times a week and watches their money pile up from player contingency fees. Top
Are there set objectives to being a GM or an Agent?
The beauty of this game is that you build your organization your way. If you want a young team built via the draft then so be it. If you want a sports agency with only players from Indiana then do you! This is the only game that allows you to take over your favorite NBA team, decide the direction the team head, and test your results during the regular season. Whether you decide a youth movement, a win-now movement, it's up to you. There is no wrong way to building a winning team as we have seen in the NBA. Top
Okay, I love the concept so how can I be a GM Or Agent?
Any registered member of PASPN is eligible participate in Mock GM®. When you join a league you decide whether or not you play as a GM or as an Agent. When the time comes to pick teams or players (in the case of the agent), the game will direct you to the page where you make your choices. Picking teams and players happens on a first-come, first-serve basis. There will be radio buttons next to the teams or players that are available. You MUST manually select the team or player(s) you want. Once clicked, the game will refresh indicating whether or not you succeeded in becoming the GM of that team you picked or player(s) you wished to represent as an Agent. Chances are you will succeed, but there have been cases when another league member may have beaten you to a team or player so it's not guaranteed that clicking the button will get you the team or player you want. Top
YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO PICK A TEAM OR REPRESENT A PLAYER! Not being registered and a league member at the time your league starts could jeopardize your chances of getting the team or player(s) you want. Top
Okay I'm now a member of a league and my league is about to start. What happens after I pick a team? (GMs)
Once you pick a team you have the power to control who stays on the team and who gets traded. With complete control over your players and your draft picks (both current and future), you make the calls to build your ultimate team the way you envisioned it. Top
What happens after I pick a player to represent? (Agents)
Once you pick players to represent, depending on their situation, you have the power to control which teams they sign with. You can also set salary requirements, exercise contract clauses depending on the player's contract terms, force a trade by initiating a trade, and approve trades if your player has a no trade clause in their contract (NTC) Top
How many teams or players can one member control?
Each member can control only one team per league. Agents can represent up to 30 players at one time per league with some loop holes if your league is a dynasty keeper league Top
Can I be a GM and Agent like before?
The game provisions do not allow this. There will be more than enough members participating in this year's game than ever before. Your transaction signature is your I.P. Address and if it has been determined that a transaction involving two entities has just one I.P. Address, it will be scrutinized. Top
As An Agent, How many Free Agents (FA,UFA,PO,QO) can I represent?
All in all, Agents can represent a combination of free agent, players under contract, players with trade rights, drafted players up to 30 in their Sports Agency with some loop holes if your league is a dynasty keeper league. Top
What Players and Draft Picks do Mock GM® teams start off with when I start my league? (GM)
Team rosters are based on the end of the current NBA season. Draft picks are based on the teams draft positions as of the results of the NBA Draft Lottery. Teams can have at most 7 draft picks. A complete list of rosters along with salaries can be found on each team page. A listing of the top draft entries can also be found in the PASPN College Draft Room. If a prospect you are interested is not listed in our database, chances are they do not have a shot at the NBA and will not appear in the game until a real NBA team picks them up. PASPN keeps a list of the top 100 draft prospect for that year and will guarantee the top 60 players chosen in the actual NBA Draft will be available to draft. Top
When is the College NBA Draft held?
The PASPN NBA College Draft is held about 10 days after a league begins trading. Prior to the draft, GMs will be expected to maintain and update a draft list of players they would like to pick. GMs will be notified by email to make their draft selection. GMs will have 9 hours* from the last pick in the first round to make their pick and 6 hours* from the last pick in the second round. If a GM has not picked within their allotted time, The commissioner picks the best player available from the GMs draft list. If a player is not available from a GMs draft list, the commissioner picks the best player available from the actual NBA draft not already drafted. Top
How are Team Options (GM)/Player Options (Agent) handled?
Team Options (TO) are ultimately decided by the GMs. It is up to the players Agent to sway the GM into either picking up their clients' team option or letting them become a free agent. GMs must decide team options before their leagues NBA Draft usually 10 days after the league starts trading. If a team option isn't decided before then, the players pre-determined assignment is issued. Top
The Agents ultimately decide Player Options (PO). Once an agent has been assigned to a player with a player option, it is up to the GMs communication with that Agent as to whether or not the Agent exercises the player option or not. Deadlines for options are before the leagues free agent signing period begins. If a player option isn't decided before the allotted time period, the players pre-determined assignment is issued. Top
How are Qualifying Offers (QO)/Free Agent Offers (FA,UFA,DRFT,TR) different?
A GM with a player who has a status of (QO) is allowed first refusal of any free agent offers from any other NBA team that is higher than the GMs offer. GMs have 12* hours to match an offer before an Agent is allowed to accept an offer. In free agent offers, There is no grace period for the agent. The Sports Agency must receive a minimum number of bids before he can accept any offer. A courtesy email will be sent to the GM who has the free agents bird rights, but there is no grace period for the GM like with the Qualifying offer. Draft picks have a standard rookie contract. Trade Right (TR) players have a similiar contract that they must sign. Undrafted players (UND) players have a standard two year contract . Top
Negotiating and Proposing Are Two Different Things!
How do I negotiate Trades/FA Signings/Buyout with GMs and Agents?
You negotiate trades with other GMs via your league message board, chat rooms, AOLIM, email, text messaging, in other words whatever means of communication there is available at the time. It's more fun to interact on your leagues message board, that way other GMs can present counter-offers and see what's going on throughout the league, but we understand why you would use other private means. AOLIM is probably the fasted way to communicate, but also the most dangerous and will not be credible for settling an disputes in any fashion. Top
Once I have negotiated a Trade/FA Signing/Buyout what next? (PROPOSING A TRADE/OFFER/BUYOUT)
A GM involved in trade talks with other GMs officially submits a trade proposal through the PASPNs Trade system. The trade checker will check the validity of the trade based on the rules of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as well as the teams current situation and if it is accepted, the GM who proposed the trade will have the option to submit the trade to the other GM's involved in the trade proposal. The other GMs will be able to view the proposal and either accept or reject the trade. The GM that created the proposal can accept, reject, withdraw, bring back,or Nix the offer. All parties involved in the trade must agree for the trade to go through. The trade will go through after the last person approves and the Trade Check takes one last look at each teams money situation.
The same goes with Free Agent signings or a Buyout. Either the GM or Agent proposes an offer that the Offer Proposal system verifies. Both parties will receive notification that an offer is on the table and can either accept or refuse that offer. All rules will be enforced. If a player has a QO or is restricted player, the GM who has the players QO right will have the opportunity to match or refuse the offer.
Player buyouts are based on a team's current budget and how much they are willing to spend to pay out the remainder of a players contract. GMs have the option of buying out the remainder of a players contract or paying out some while leaving the difference on their teams' salary cap. If a player has future options in their contract, those options are automatically exercised in favor of the player and the GM will have to pay those options out. Top
What is the Can B Traded Date?
When a player is traded, they are not eligible to be traded again for another 30 hours. However, there is a 14 hour grace period immediately after the trade executes in which you can trade that player to simulate sign-and-trades or continue a trade. After the 14 hours grace period has past and the player is not traded, the GM cannot trade the player for another 16 hours.
For free agent signings, the grace period is 12 hours after the free agent signing occurs before the free agent cannot be traded for another 5 days Top
Do draft picks (PCK) have trade value?
Traded draft picks have a value of $0 before the draft and do not count against the cap. It is only after the draft that draft picks take on their value and count against the cap. Once the draft is complete drafted players cannot be traded until they are officially signed. Top
When does free agency begin?This date depends on the how long the draft takes place. When a leagues draft ends, free agency starts the day after. Top
How many players am I allowed to have on my roster at one time? (GM)
When the regular season starts, no more than 15 players will be allowed on a GMs roster and of the 15 only 12 at a time will be eligible for your rotation in Head-to-Head competition. You can have as many as the cap will allow between now and then. If you have more than 12 players on your roster when the season starts, you can assign your players to either the Development League (DL) or Injured List (IL). (For more on this please refer to What combination of players can be in my lineup during my matchup? (GMs) and Development League (DL) and Injured List (IL) Player Assignments (GMs) sections)
Top
How about picking up un-drafted (UND) players?
Un-drafted players can be claimed by GMs on a first-claim basis. Rookies are entitled to the league minimum salary. Once signed, they cannot be traded for another 5 days.
Top
Can I release any player on my team?
A team may release any player on its roster. However, if they do, their players' entire salary plus the remaining years counts against the cap and that team losses that players bird rights. The Buyout allows teams and agents the ability to work something out to avoid GMs from carrying cap penalties. Top
Is there a luxury tax?
Yes there is a luxury tax, and the tax is collected from every team over the salary cap before the start of the free agency period. There is a salary cap threshold and any team over that threshold will pay a tax for every dollar over the cap. Top
What is announced on the Message board?
Every league-wide transaction is announced and posted on the message board. From player trades to buy outs if any, to players being renounced, to salary requirements set by an agent. There will be a list generated of players available, players, who have been renounced, retired, suspended, etc as trades and negotiations continue. Top
Can a league exist without agents? Can a league exist without GMs?
The quick and dirty answer is NO. Think about the Real NBA-- players will always have Agents, teams will always have GMs. It's a foundation in the NBA as it should be in Mock GM®. All you need is at least one Agent to negotiate offers and buyouts. The more Agents, the better the game. Can this game exist with just agents? Theoretically yes, but with no player movement and teams looking for player services, life would be a bit boring. Top
What type of leagues are there?
Members can create and join either a private league or a public league. Private leagues are not visible to the public and require members to know the league password in order to join. Public leagues are public and can be found in the PASPN league directory. They do not require passwords, but may have a membership level requirement in order to join that league or the league creator may require you to be part of their PASPN friends network. Top
Why can't I join some public leagues? What are membership levels?
In an effort to maintain some form of integrity in our public leagues, some public leagues will require a member to have achieved a certain membership status in order to participate in it. The membership status prevents users from cheating by registering under two or more names in order to claim two spots in one league whether it is two GM spots, two Agent spots, or a GM and an Agent spot. This form of cheating compromises the integrity of a league and wastes the efforts the other users participating in the league fairly. PASPN members earn membership status based on how long they've been a member of PASPN and their track record as a GM or Agent based on their trade negotiation rating and their contract negotiation rating Top
I know I can play this game with the elite. Is there anything I can do if my membership status is not high enough to join elite public leagues?
We understand that the membership status requirement may keep some members from participating in an elite public league which is why members who contribute to PASPN will automatically be eligible to participate in the elite public leagues. Top
What's the difference between donating and upgrading to one of the Mock GM® Platinum Packages?
Donating is only required if you want to improve your membership status and be eligible to join elite public leagues that require a higher membership level. Once you are a member of a league and want to upgrade your Mock GM® Experience, you can choose from one of our Mock GM® Platinum Packages. Upgrading to Mock GM® Platinum will automatically make you a contributor, thus allowing you to join the any elite public leagues. Top
What happens after the offseason? How is a winner determined?
After the offseason month comes the Mock GM® Regular season where GMs compete in an 18-week regular season. GMs play 9 home games and 9 away games which include 8 division games (4 division rivals twice), 4 conference games (non-divisional opponents) and 6 out-of-conference games. 8 teams from each conference will make the playoffs and compete for their league championship.
Agents on the other hand compete with each other to see who's client portfolio produces the most fantasy points during the 18-week season. Their points are determined by their clients utilization on their respective GMs Team. In other words, if your client isn't in a GMs rotation during an NBA game, the Agent isn't going to get any credit. Essentially, Agents do not have to do anything but make sure the GMs who have their clients play their clients when they are suppose to play. In addition agents are measured by the contract worth of their clients, and how much they made in agency commissions from player signings and buyouts Top
What is the game week and what day of the week do GM matchups start and finish?
GM Head-to-Head game weeks begin on Tuesdays and commence thru Monday nights games. Top
How are fantasy points determined?
PASPN uses their version of the NBA Player Efficiency Rating (FBPTS) as a players fantasy points. The FBPTS stat takes into account the players overall performance (PTS, REB, AST, STL, PF, BLKS, TO, FGPCT, FTPCT, TPPCT) in an NBA game into one number. Both GMs and Agents use this number when measuring player performance in competition. In addition, this stat is used in correlation with a players salary to determine overall player worth, team performance, team profits/losses and other GM and Agent metrics. Top
How do I set up my lineup? (GMs)
GMs can set their lineups by logging onto their team page and clicking the Declare Rotation button (available during regular season & playoff mode only) Top
What combination of players can be in my lineup during my matchup? (GMs)
Throughout head-to-head competition during the Mock GM® week, GMs will have the opportunity to declare an 8-man rotation. The 8-man rotation will consist of a Center (C), Power Forward (PF), Small Forward (SF), Shooting Guard (SG), Point Guard (PG), Sixth Man (6th) and two Flex players (Flx1) (Flx2). Depending on the players position, players will be eligible for particular spots. The Sixth Man (6th), Flex 1 (Flx1) and Flex 2 (Flx2) positions can be filled with any active player on a GMs roster as long as the player is under contract. The other positions must be played by players who are assigned that position For instance, players who have a position of "C" are eligible for the Center position, however a player who is a "F|C" can play Center, or Power Forward ONLY. a player who is a "G|F" can play Shooting Guard and Small Forward ONLY. Point Guards can only be played by players who are assigned "G"
Players are eligible for slots every day up to the time the player is scheduled to play their game during that day. After tip-off, The player will not be eligible to be assigned to any slot in the 8-man rotation until their next NBA game. Two players cannot start at the same position.Top
How often can I change my lineup? Can I set my lineups in advance? (GMs)
Once the NBA regular season schedule is released, GMs can set their lineups as far advanced as they please and as often as they would like up to the start time of their players game. Upgrading to Mock GM® Platinum allows the GM to declare a DEFAULT ROTATION that will pre-set the GMs lineup every day allowing for the teams best players to be available in case a GM forgets to check their lineup. This guarantees that you won't go a day without having your best players in a rotation spot. Top
How are winners determined after a game week matchup?
After Monday night games, the GM with the most fantasy points in their matchup is the winner.
For Agents, There will be a ranking each week to see who the top Agents were for the week. Top
Development League (DL) and Injured List (IL) Player Assignments (GMs)
During the Regular Season, GMs can have up to 12 men active on their rosters. If they have more than 12 men under contract, they must assign players to the Developmental League ie D-League (DL) or Injured list (IL List). Both player assignments allow GMs to keep extra players under contract throughout the regular season. Only certain players are eligible for the D-league. Every player is eligible for the IL List. You can assign as many eligible players (up to three (3) times each) to the D-League (DL). Players that are eligible for the D-league are those who have 6-years or less of NBA experience. With regards to the IL List, up to three (3) players can be assigned to the IL List (IL) per team at one time. Players assigned to the IL List must remain on the IL list for at least 10 days before being eligible for the active roster. NOTE: If you have more than 12 players on your active roster, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DECLARE A ROTATION OR UPDATE YOUR DEFAULT LINEUP. The system will force you to assign players to the IL/DL List until this provision is met. Though you Mock GM® allows you to have as many players on your roster during the offseason for scouting/prospect purposes, this number is should be to be brought down to a manageble 12 (at worse 15) players in order to be a full participant in Mock GM® Regular season competition.
NOTE: Agents will not get points during the week for clients on the DL/IL List. This affects the Agencies Client Portfilio Utilization %
Top
Agent Regular Season Scoring Dependency on GMs
The beauty of being an Agent in Mock GM® is that the majority of your work is done in the offseason. However during the regular season, it is up to the GMs who have your clients to put your clients into their respective rotation lineups in order for your Sports Agency to get points during the week. This is why it is imperative to assess your GMs during negotiations-- not only are you looking for the best contracts offers, you are also looking which GMs are active and dedicated to the full life-cycle of Mock GM® in the long run when it comes to managing their team and your clients.
Top
|