Post by London on Apr 1, 2013 15:43:18 GMT -6
LONDON (AP) - With the ABCA Legends Creation Draft around the corner one does wonder what implications it will have on the future of the league. There will be storylines and feuds set for years based on the outcome of this draft. These are the ones I am going to be watching the closest.
1| Whoever gets Wilt gets the ring.
The first year's championship goes through Wilt Chamberlain.
There might not be enough height/talent to keep up with what he'll be able to bring to a team. He will be the first dominant bigman and if GlobalABCA was any indication he'll keep his team in contention his whole career.
The interesting thing will be watching when this Wilt retires. In Global he decided to hang it up at 32. He told the Crusaders that, "yo, it's been real, but I'm out" while they were contending. A real blow to their longterm plans. How will this Chamberlain handle early success?
2| There will be a lot of trades during the draft.
This is a league full of wheelers and dealers, many of whom have been retired for three years. I doubt the #1 pick get dealt but after that I could see someone sliding out of any other position in the draft. Will future firsts be on the table in discussions? How bold are teams already in their ability that they will trade their future right now?
Virtually every GM in the league makes a move during the Creation Draft or immediately after. Some will draft for need, some for value, but rosters will ultimately have strengths and weaknesses that will hopefully balance each other out.
I have a feeling that there could be a number of strategies to use in order to start a franchise off on the right foot. There is nothing wrong with win-now or rebuilding, as long as you are committed to it and use your current situation to your advantage.
3| The American Conference will start out weak, confused
Well, that's because they'll draft 16-30 in a top heavy draft.
Just kidding, I have no clue what the draft class will look like from a talent standpoint but I do think those lame American GMs will be the junior conference.
You've seen their logos right..
4| Age will cause some players to slide in the draft
How valuable would a 32 year old PG be to you if you just picked 23rd and took a talented prospect? Well, probably not very. You might be more inclined to build through the draft and not spend a pick on a guy who might not help you in 2-3 years.
But the team that got a more developed player earlier in the draft might not take him in round two but might not even take him in the early third but could get back into the late-3rd early-4th to get a good value player who will severely help their odds at a deep playoff run.
If you have a pick with a veteran like that available consider shopping that pick or maybe take him with the intention of getting more for him as the season starts than you would for the pick. Some teams might be reluctant to deal a 1st right now but may feel more open to the ideal after a success preseason/start to the season.
5| Year one will be intense and unique
Since we're all figure out the game, the players, and each other this first year will be a challenge that'll be different from the rest of the seasons we run through.
Some will have played FBPB3, some won't. Some will know who these players are, some don't. Some have been in leagues over the last three years, some didn't. We'll all have varying strengths and weaknesses and the same will be said of our teams. No super teams, no salary cap hells, everything should be fairly balanced. Each trade will ripple throughout the league. Moving a quality Power Forward from a bottom feeder to a bubble team may create a new contender.
I don't know - I'm pretty excited for the new situations and strategies that will come with a new league. I'm curious how many people will come back with new skills and how many will be just as I remember them. I think we'll have new powers but overall I think this will be a league of ebbs and flows for each team. I don't think we'll be seeing 20-year playoff streaks.
I do think we'll see dynasties and probably one fairly quickly but it'll depend on if the competitive spirit that made ABCA, RetroABCA, and GlobalABCA is still there in it's members. Based off the last week of activity I would say the desire for the league is there for sure.
And I think we all came to win.
1| Whoever gets Wilt gets the ring.
The first year's championship goes through Wilt Chamberlain.
There might not be enough height/talent to keep up with what he'll be able to bring to a team. He will be the first dominant bigman and if GlobalABCA was any indication he'll keep his team in contention his whole career.
The interesting thing will be watching when this Wilt retires. In Global he decided to hang it up at 32. He told the Crusaders that, "yo, it's been real, but I'm out" while they were contending. A real blow to their longterm plans. How will this Chamberlain handle early success?
2| There will be a lot of trades during the draft.
This is a league full of wheelers and dealers, many of whom have been retired for three years. I doubt the #1 pick get dealt but after that I could see someone sliding out of any other position in the draft. Will future firsts be on the table in discussions? How bold are teams already in their ability that they will trade their future right now?
Virtually every GM in the league makes a move during the Creation Draft or immediately after. Some will draft for need, some for value, but rosters will ultimately have strengths and weaknesses that will hopefully balance each other out.
I have a feeling that there could be a number of strategies to use in order to start a franchise off on the right foot. There is nothing wrong with win-now or rebuilding, as long as you are committed to it and use your current situation to your advantage.
3| The American Conference will start out weak, confused
Well, that's because they'll draft 16-30 in a top heavy draft.
Just kidding, I have no clue what the draft class will look like from a talent standpoint but I do think those lame American GMs will be the junior conference.
You've seen their logos right..
4| Age will cause some players to slide in the draft
How valuable would a 32 year old PG be to you if you just picked 23rd and took a talented prospect? Well, probably not very. You might be more inclined to build through the draft and not spend a pick on a guy who might not help you in 2-3 years.
But the team that got a more developed player earlier in the draft might not take him in round two but might not even take him in the early third but could get back into the late-3rd early-4th to get a good value player who will severely help their odds at a deep playoff run.
If you have a pick with a veteran like that available consider shopping that pick or maybe take him with the intention of getting more for him as the season starts than you would for the pick. Some teams might be reluctant to deal a 1st right now but may feel more open to the ideal after a success preseason/start to the season.
5| Year one will be intense and unique
Since we're all figure out the game, the players, and each other this first year will be a challenge that'll be different from the rest of the seasons we run through.
Some will have played FBPB3, some won't. Some will know who these players are, some don't. Some have been in leagues over the last three years, some didn't. We'll all have varying strengths and weaknesses and the same will be said of our teams. No super teams, no salary cap hells, everything should be fairly balanced. Each trade will ripple throughout the league. Moving a quality Power Forward from a bottom feeder to a bubble team may create a new contender.
I don't know - I'm pretty excited for the new situations and strategies that will come with a new league. I'm curious how many people will come back with new skills and how many will be just as I remember them. I think we'll have new powers but overall I think this will be a league of ebbs and flows for each team. I don't think we'll be seeing 20-year playoff streaks.
I do think we'll see dynasties and probably one fairly quickly but it'll depend on if the competitive spirit that made ABCA, RetroABCA, and GlobalABCA is still there in it's members. Based off the last week of activity I would say the desire for the league is there for sure.
And I think we all came to win.
