Fantasy sports leagues typically use either an auction or a draft to allocate players at the start of the season. Drafts are usually faster and simpler, but especially for the NBA right now, where two players stand out far above the rest, they mean that the draft order determines who can own LeBron James or Kevin Durant. If you get a low draft pick, you may never even get a chance to own your favorite player.
Auctions, where each owner has the same salary cap, puts all owners on a level playing field, giving each a chance to buy whomever they want. I strongly prefer auctions, but they do take longer than drafts. My long-time NBA league, the Ezra Stiles Rotisserie Association, is now in its 25th year, and this time we tried an experiment of a hybrid draft/auction.
We selected 80 players to bid on before the draft, and then after those 80 players were sold we switched to a straight round draft to fill out our rosters, with owners who had more money left getting higher picks in each round. This resulted in a faster draft than doing a full auction, but a slower one than a straight draft. But since the list of 80 players included all the top names, everyone still got a fair at Durant, LeBron or whoever they might want in the draft.
The league uses a $30 salary cap to fill a starting roster of 20 players (4 each at each position), and also a 5 person bench. We score 6 categories: points, rebounds, assists, FG%, FT%, and the sum of steals and blocks.
I generated the list by first computing some projected stats for NBA players, then computing a RotoValue based on those stats. I’ll do a separate post on those projections, but an updated version of them are visible here. I tweaked the list a bit, aiming to get the top 80 players in the league, and shuffled it, but biased so that better players would tend to be near the top.
Here was the list of 80 players we sold at auction, in auction order:
Player | Position | Team | Price | Owner |
Dwyane Wade | SG | Heat | $4.80 | Geoff |
Chris Bosh | C | Heat | $3.40 | Geoff |
Chris Paul | PG | Clippers | $6.40 | Chris |
David Lee | PF | Warriors | $3.40 | Erik |
Dwight Howard | C | Lakers | $4.80 | Geoff |
Kevin Durant | SF | Thunder | $8.70 | Tim |
Danny Granger | SF | Pacers | $2.70 | Chris |
Luol Deng | SF | Bulls | $2.50 | Lorin |
Kevin Love | PF | Timberwolves | $3.50 | A.J. |
Monta Ellis | SG | Bucks | $2.90 | Jeff |
Dirk Nowitzki | PF | Mavericks | $1.80 | Joe |
Kyrie Irving | PG | Cavaliers | $4.70 | Chris |
Mike Conley | PG | Grizzlies | $3.00 | Lorin |
Roy Hibbert | C | Pacers | $3.50 | Erik |
Pau Gasol | PF | Lakers | $4.40 | Jeff |
LeBron James | PF | Heat | $10.20 | Tim |
Tyreke Evans | SF | Kings | $3.40 | Joe |
Michael Beasley | SF | Suns | $1.60 | Lorin |
Brandon Jennings | PG | Bucks | $2.60 | A.J. |
Emeka Okafor | C | Wizards | $0.50 | Joe |
Deron Williams | PG | Nets | $4.80 | Joe |
Rodney Stuckey | SG | Pistons | $1.40 | Jeff |
Stephen Curry | PG | Warriors | $3.20 | Joe |
Landry Fields | SG | Raptors | $0.40 | Geoff |
Rajon Rondo | PG | Celtics | $4.10 | Jeff |
Wesley Matthews | SG | Trailblazers | $1.20 | Chris |
Gerald Wallace | SF | Nets | $2.30 | Geoff |
Raymond Felton | PG | Knicks | $1.90 | Lorin |
Ty Lawson | PG | Nuggets | $4.70 | Chris |
David West | PF | Pacers | $2.00 | Jeff |
Marcin Gortat | C | Suns | $3.70 | Erik |
Serge Ibaka | PF | Thunder | $3.80 | Jeff |
Paul George | SG | Pacers | $2.10 | A.J. |
Kevin Martin | SG | Rockets | $1.40 | Joe |
DeMarcus Cousins | C | Kings | $4.30 | Tim |
Jrue Holiday | PG | 76ers | $2.80 | Jeff |
Andre Iguodala | SG | Nuggets | $3.20 | Geoff |
John Wall | PG | Wizards | $3.20 | A.J. |
Darren Collison | PG | Mavericks | $1.70 | Joe |
Gordon Hayward | SG | Jazz | $1.90 | Joe |
Russell Westbrook | PG | Thunder | $5.70 | Geoff |
Ryan Anderson | SF | Hornets | $1.30 | Joe |
LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | Trailblazers | $4.50 | Chris |
Ramon Sessions | PG | Bobcats | $0.40 | Geoff |
Paul Millsap | PF | Jazz | $3.60 | Erik |
Blake Griffin | PF | Clippers | $3.90 | Joe |
Marc Gasol | C | Grizzlies | $4.00 | Erik |
Josh Smith | PF | Hawks | $4.90 | A.J. |
Amare Stoudemire | PF | Knicks | $2.90 | Lorin |
Kobe Bryant | SG | Lakers | $4.00 | Joe |
Zach Randolph | PF | Grizzlies | $2.30 | Lorin |
Joakim Noah | C | Bulls | $2.30 | A.J. |
Shawn Marion | SF | Mavericks | $1.00 | Chris |
Luis Scola | PF | Suns | $2.00 | Lorin |
JaVale McGee | C | Nuggets | $1.60 | A.J. |
Greg Monroe | C | Pistons | $3.70 | Jeff |
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | SF | Bobcats | $0.70 | A.J. |
Al Jefferson | C | Jazz | $3.80 | Lorin |
Joe Johnson | SG | Nets | $2.20 | Joe |
Rudy Gay | SF | Grizzlies | $3.40 | Tim |
Carmelo Anthony | SF | Knicks | $3.40 | Geoff |
Samuel Dalembert | C | Bucks | $1.00 | Lorin |
O.J. Mayo | SG | Mavericks | $0.60 | A.J. |
Dion Waiters | SG | Cavaliers | $0.30 | Chris |
Tony Parker | PG | Spurs | $2.40 | Erik |
Al Horford | C | Hawks | $3.30 | Lorin |
Kevin Garnett | C | Celtics | $2.30 | Erik |
Nicolas Batum | SF | Trailblazers | $1.90 | Chris |
Jeff Teague | PG | Hawks | $1.70 | A.J. |
Carlos Boozer | PF | Bulls | $2.10 | Lorin |
James Harden | SG | Thunder | $2.20 | Jeff |
Andrei Kirilenko | SF | Timberwolves | $1.40 | Lorin |
Andrew Bynum | C | 76ers | $2.20 | A.J. |
Tim Duncan | PF | Spurs | $1.20 | Erik |
Steve Nash | PG | Lakers | $1.30 | Erik |
Thaddeus Young | SF | 76ers | $1.40 | Tim |
Paul Pierce | SF | Celtics | $1.30 | Erik |
Anthony Davis | PF | Hornets | $1.20 | Erik |
Tyson Chandler | C | Knicks | $1.10 | Chris |
Bradley Beal | SG | Wizards | $0.20 | Geoff |
Each owner had $30 to spend on a total of 25 players, with a minimum bid of $0.10 (even for the players selected in the draft phase). So owners had $27.50 to allocate to extra bids. The list was randomized, with a bias so that better players tended to appear closer to the front.
While the 8 teams purchased a total of 80 players at auction, teams did vary in the number of players they bought. Tim won both LeBron James and Kevin Durant, the two highest priced players by far, but only got 3 other players, leaving him 20 to select in the draft phase. Joe and Lorin each bought 12 players.
After the auction phase, the draft order was set in order of decreasing remaining cash, so not spending as much at the auction meant having a better pick in each draft round. If two teams tied in cash remaining, the one needing fewer players got the earlier pick, and if that was tied also, we flipped a coin.
Here’s how the draft phase went:
Player | Position | Team | Owner |
---|---|---|---|
Brook Lopez | C | Nets | Jeff |
Goran Dragic | PG | Suns | A.J. |
Kyle Lowry | PG | Raptors | Lorin |
Eric Gordon | SG | Hornets | Joe |
Manu Ginobili | SG | Spurs | Erik |
Jeremy Lin | PG | Rockets | Tim |
Kris Humphries | PF | Nets | Geoff |
Ersan Ilyasova | PF | Bucks | Chris |
Damian Lillard | PG | Trailblazers | Jeff |
Kenneth Faried | PF | Nuggets | A.J. |
Nikola Pekovic | C | Timberwolves | Lorin |
Danilo Gallinari | SF | Nuggets | Joe |
DeAndre Jordan | C | Clippers | Erik |
Greivis Vasquez | PG | Hornets | Tim |
Elton Brand | PF | Mavericks | Geoff |
Arron Afflalo | SG | Magic | Chris |
Andrea Bargnani | PF | Raptors | Jeff |
Kawhi Leonard | SF | Spurs | A.J. |
Anderson Varejao | C | Cavaliers | Lorin |
Chris Kaman | C | Mavericks | Joe |
DeMar DeRozan | SF | Raptors | Erik |
Ricky Rubio | PG | Timberwolves | Tim |
Andrew Bogut | C | Warriors | Geoff |
Nene Hilario | C | Wizards | Chris |
Mo Williams | PG | Jazz | Jeff |
Glen Davis | PF | Magic | A.J. |
Klay Thompson | SG | Warriors | Lorin |
Louis Williams | SG | Hawks | Joe |
Andre Miller | PG | Nuggets | Erik |
Evan Turner | SG | 76ers | Tim |
Isaiah Thomas | PG | Kings | Geoff |
Marcus Thornton | SG | Kings | Chris |
Jared Dudley | SG | Suns | Jeff |
Omer Asik | C | Rockets | A.J. |
George Hill | PG | Pacers | Lorin |
Derrick Favors | PF | Jazz | Joe |
Jameer Nelson | PG | Magic | Erik |
Kemba Walker | PG | Bobcats | Tim |
Tristan Thompson | PF | Cavaliers | Geoff |
Jonas Valanciunas | C | Raptors | Chris |
J.J. Hickson | C | Trailblazers | Jeff |
Brandon Roy | SG | Timberwolves | A.J. |
Jason Terry | SG | Celtics | Lorin |
Brandon Knight | PG | Pistons | Joe |
Gerald Henderson | SG | Bobcats | Erik |
Brandon Bass | PF | Celtics | Tim |
Jason Thompson | PF | Kings | Geoff |
Spencer Hawes | PF | 76ers | Chris |
Dorell Wright | SF | 76ers | Jeff |
Courtney Lee | SG | Celtics | A.J. |
Tony Allen | SG | Grizzlies | Lorin |
Gustavo Ayon | C | Magic | Joe |
Trevor Ariza | SF | Wizards | Erik |
Tiago Splitter | C | Spurs | Tim |
Chandler Parsons | SF | Rockets | Geoff |
Jeff Green | PF | Celtics | Chris |
Byron Mullens | PF | Bobcats | Jeff |
Carl Landry | SF | Warriors | A.J. |
J.R. Smith | SG | Knicks | Lorin |
Marvin Williams | SF | Jazz | Joe |
Hedo Turkoglu | SF | Magic | Erik |
Kevin Seraphin | PF | Wizards | Tim |
Alonzo Gee | SF | Cavaliers | Geoff |
Mario Chalmers | PG | Heat | Chris |
Derrick Rose | PG | Bulls | Jeff |
Devin Harris | PG | Hawks | A.J. |
Tayshaun Prince | SF | Pistons | Lorin |
Andray Blatche | PF | Nets | Joe |
Danny Green | SG | Spurs | Erik |
Robin Lopez | C | Hornets | Tim |
Kirk Hinrich | PG | Bulls | Geoff |
Zaza Pachulia | C | Hawks | Chris |
Harrison Barnes | SF | Warriors | Jeff |
DeJuan Blair | C | Spurs | A.J. |
Jan Vesely | PF | Wizards | Lorin |
Kendrick Perkins | C | Thunder | Joe |
Richard Hamilton | SG | Bulls | Erik |
Amir Johnson | PF | Raptors | Tim |
Bismack Biyombo | C | Bobcats | Geoff |
Thomas Robinson | PF | Kings | Chris |
Kosta Koufos | C | Nuggets | Jeff |
Chase Budinger | SF | Timberwolves | A.J. |
Brandon Rush | SG | Warriors | Lorin |
Derrick Williams | PF | Timberwolves | Joe |
James Johnson | SF | Kings | Erik |
Wilson Chandler | SG | Nuggets | Tim |
Caron Butler | SF | Clippers | Geoff |
Jarrett Jack | PG | Warriors | Chris |
Carlos Delfino | SF | Rockets | Jeff |
Trevor Booker | PF | Wizards | A.J. |
Luke Ridnour | PG | Timberwolves | Lorin |
Patrick Patterson | PF | Rockets | Joe |
Jose Calderon | PG | Raptors | Erik |
Gerald Green | SF | Pacers | Tim |
Jason Richardson | SG | 76ers | Geoff |
Tobias Harris | SF | Bucks | Chris |
Kyle Korver | SF | Hawks | Jeff |
Marshon Brooks | SG | Nets | A.J. |
Mike Dunleavy | SG | Bucks | Lorin |
Lamar Odom | SF | Clippers | Joe |
Al-Farouq Aminu | SF | Hornets | Erik |
Drew Gooden | C | Bucks | Tim |
Boris Diaw | C | Spurs | Geoff |
Chauncey Billups | SG | Clippers | Chris |
Nikola Vucevic | C | Magic | Jeff |
Royce White | PF | Rockets | Joe |
Jared Sullinger | PF | Celtics | Erik |
Markieff Morris | PF | Suns | Tim |
Jason Maxiell | PF | Pistons | Geoff |
Ed Davis | PF | Raptors | Chris |
Terrence Jones | SF | Rockets | Jeff |
Ben Gordon | SG | Bobcats | Tim |
J.J. Barea | PG | Timberwolves | Geoff |
Nate Robinson | PG | Bulls | Chris |
Linas Kleiza | SF | Raptors | Jeff |
Jordan Crawford | SG | Wizards | Tim |
Ray Allen | SG | Heat | Tim |
D.J. Augustin | PG | Pacers | Tim |
Ekpe Udoh | PF | Bucks | Tim |
Jerryd Bayless | PG | Grizzlies | Tim |
This is a rather deep league, as we draft 200 NBA players, ensuring that almost every NBA starter and 6th man is owned.
Doing a hybrid sped things up quite a bit, as even the draft phase moved along rather nicely. We got the benefit of bidding for the best players, while going faster than a full auction. While I still am partial to a full auction, this was a good compromise to balance the fairness and excitement of an auction for top talent with the speed of a draft.
In the end, my extreme stars and scrubs strategy was successful. Some of my value picks delivered and I was very fortunate in my free agent pickup. Like Macklamore, shopping in the thrift store was a happy experience. I was also fortunate in my team health. Durant played 81 games and LeBron 76. Had either missed significant time, I would have been in deep trouble.
Stars and scrubs is a high risk, high reward strategy, but it is a lot of fun when conditions develop favorably and you can continually upgrade the back end of your roster as the season unfolds. That does not always happen.
An understatement to say the strategy was successful, Tim!
Your team not only won, but it had the highest point total in the 25+ year history of the league:
http://www.rotovalue.com/cgi-bin/Standings?year=2013&league=2
http://fillmore.homelinux.net/nba/index.html
This is probably a variant of the quip, keep all your eggs in one basket, but watch that basket!