LEAGUE RULES

I. GENERAL RULES

Welcome to Fantasy GM League. While I will try to maintain a highly competitive atmosphere, I wouldn’t consider myself a strict commissioner. That being said, here is a short (non-exhaustive) list of things that will get you banned:
1. Having multiple accounts.
2. Acting in collusion with another player.
3. Making serious threats to another member.
4. Being Inactive for Significant Amount of time without Explanation.

II. LEAGUE SETTINGS

This is a 12-team salary keeper league with weekly head-to-head scoring. The scored categories include FG%, FTM, PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK, and TOs, and the playoffs run from week 21 to week 23 between 6 teams. Your team is allotted 12 roster spots, with 6 starting positions (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, and one Utility) along with 6 bench spots. While you have the option of using all 12 of your roster spots, you are only required to roster 10 players at all times. Trade vetoes are decided by league vote, and there is no waiver period for picking up free agents. However, you are limited to 2 free agent pickups per week, and you must post your previous and current salary cap after each add/drop. The 2-pickup limit will not apply until the Monday of the first week of games for the season. There is no trade/free agent deadline. However, if after failing to make the playoffs, you drop your entire team, or act in any other clearly unsportsmanlike manner, I will lock your team and hold a league vote to decide whether to boot you from the league. (5 votes will get you kicked out)

III. SALARY CAP

Your starting salary cap is $80 million ($75 million if you used your Mortgage Exception last season). You have until October 27th to meet this requirement. If at any time you exceed the salary cap or break the rules, your team will be frozen from making roster changes (you can still add/drop players, but you won’t be able to adjust your roster). You can find player salaries here - http://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/players.html. The default minimum contract for a player is $1,000,000 for the purposes of this league. So if the website doesn’t lists a player’s salary or list a player’s salary at less than $1,000,000, then treat that player’s salary as 1,000,000 instead.

IV. CAP EXCEPTIONS

There are 9 "cap exceptions" that can help you meet the salary cap. If you meet certain requirements, you can exceed your cap by the specified amount. However, you can only use each cap exception one time, and to activate it, you have to post a message saying which exception you're using. The exceptions are:

1. Mortgage Exception – By giving up $5 million cap space for next season, you may reduce the cost of one player's salary by $5 million. This exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $10 million or more. (If you drop a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will go back to its original amount, but you can trade him without losing this effect. Regardless of whether you drop or trade this player, you will still have to forfeit $5 million in cap space next season)

2. Journeyman Exception – You may reduce the cost of one player's salary to zero, but you won't be able to keep that player for next season. This exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $5 million or less. (If you later drop or trade a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will go back to its original amount. Regardless of whether you trade or drop this player, once you’ve used this exception on that player, you cannot designate him as a keeper if you later reacquire the player)

3. Larry Bird Exception – You may designate one player on your team with your Bird Exception any time during the season. If you keep this player for 3 straight seasons without ever dropping or trading him, you can reduce his salary by $5 million at the start of his 3rd season with your team. Each team can only have one player with the "Bird" designation, and once you drop or trade that player, you won't get to designate another player until next season.

4. Retool Exception – All active teams will receive an addition $5 million in salary cap space automatically after week 10 (rivalry week). Being “active” means consistently making efforts to set your lineup every week. Although, missing a day or two here or there is fine.

5. Injury Exception – Once per season, if one of your players gets injured and records 20 consecutive DNPs or lands on IR due to injury while he is on your roster, you may either (1) pick up a player with a salary under $5 million off the free agent pool for free; or (2) take back one of the Exceptions you’ve used on this designated injured player, meaning you can use the Exception on someone else, and all current and future effects of the Exception will be negated. (If you later drop or trade a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will go back to its original amount)

6. Development Exception - You may designate one rookie that you drafted with the Development Exception. Instead of paying his actual salary, you may "fix" that rookie's salary at $5 million for players taken outside the top 5 picks of his NBA draft class, or $10 million for players drafted with one of the top 5 picks in his NBA draft class. In doing so, this player's salary will be fixed at that price for as long as you keep him. You must make your selection before week 10. "Rookie" means all players eligible for the Rookie of the Year award. (If you later drop or trade a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will go back to its original amount)

7. Trade Exception - You may designated one traded player with a Trade Exception, and reduce his salary by $5 million. Multiple trades do not stack. You cannot trade back players you've traded away with this Exception. Lastly, this exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $10 million or more. (If you later drop a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will go back to its original amount)

8. Veteran's Exception - After Week 10, you may pick up one player over the age of 30 off waivers and reduce his salary by $5 million. This exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $10 million or more. (Note this exception only applies to one player you pick up after week 10, it does not apply to players already on your team. Also, if you trade a player with the Veteran's Exception, the exception will not carry over with the trade to the new team, and you can use the Veteran's Exception again. But if you drop a player with the Veteran's Exception, that player both loses the reduction in salary, and you cannot use the Veteran's Exception again this season)

9. Rebuild Exception - In exchange for keeping no players, you can increase your max cap by $5 million. (Using the rebuild exception will also wipe away any debt left over from using the Mortgage Exception the previous season)

V. KEEPERS AND DRAFT

At the end of the season, you get to choose 5 keepers (1 PG, 1 SG, 1 SF, 1 PF, and 1 Center). Next season, you will draft in the reverse order of how you finished this season.

VI. RIVALRY WEEK

Week 10 is Rivalry Week. You may choose your Rivalry Week opponent at any time before the start of the season (but you don't have to). Prior to Rivalry Week, teams may choose to make a wager. If two opposing teams agree, each of those team must select 3 players to "protect." The winner of that week then can force the opposing team to trade one of their unprotected players for one of the winner's players. In other words, if you win Rivalry Week, you get to steal one of your opponent's players (outside their top 3). However, this is all optional.

VII. TRADING PICKS AND CAP SPACE

In this league, you are allowed to trade draft picks as well as your excess cap space. We are only drafting 7 players every season, meaning the only useable draft picks are picks 1-7. You can also trade cap space in this league, in $1 million increments, up to $5 million total for the season. To trade cap space, one side needs to first post a message, then th other side needs to confirm that cap space is being traded before offerance and acceptance of the actual trade. Also, you can’t trade cap space if it will put you over cap.