What can I do to avoid wasting the number 1 pick? I was a replacement owner of a team destroyed by the previous owner and was unable to reset the budget. Coming into the season there was 0 in College and 0 in HS. There is now 4 million in HS. Is there any hope I do not screw up the first pick?

I would say to take an unsignable guy and take the comp pick, but that only puts you at 8/8 for next season which isn't much better. Tough situation.

Just take the guy from those ranked 1 to 3, or 5, whatever, that your numbers tell you is best. Having 8 mil next year isn't going to help you. How many top 3 picks have you seen that won't make it?

You have the #1 pick with 4 in HS, which is better than 0. So option #1 is just take the #1 HS guy on your board. Option #2 is what strikeout said - put a guy with mother as his consultant as your #1 pick. You'll get a comp pick next year with 8 mil in your HS budget. But he'll be 4 slots behind. So IMO I would just take Option #1 and roll the dice. Sucks either way, but the amateur draft usually does suck, anyway.

Just take the best guy that you can see. He might not be as good as your scouts say he is but he still might be the best player in the draft. You will get someone good just no guarantees, which there never are anyway.

Take the impossible to sign guy. Don't waste your pick taking someone that won't be worth it. Reset to default next year at 10's.

Can you reset it if you're a replacement owner? I don't think you can.

No, you can't.

If you are in it for the long haul I would punt that pick for the next two/three seasons. Just keep drafting guys that will not sign. Even when I am picking in the 4-6 range. I put the guys I think are worthy of that spot and then a guy that will not sign. And I roll the dice on a player next season.

Wow. As an owner who likes to build through the draft, I would never have even thought of what to do with 0/0. I'd be tempted to roll with mr_gone's idea, do it till you get to 12 million at least.

You'll have to gamble on your comp picks with the 8/8 as you can't get a comp pick for a comp pick. I'm not sure what I just said makes any sense.

What you mean is next season he'll have the #2 pick as a Type D, and his natural pick. That #2 is a player he'll have to take because the comp doesn't roll over. But at least with 8 mil he'll see more players. That one will be a total shot in the dark.

Yep, thanks for articulating.

This is exactly why there needs to be more flexibility with the budgets. No real ML team would be stuck in a situation that costs them a future stud draft pick. With your first full season you should be able to set your budget to whatever you want. After that then add some restrictions. But still not as bad as 4 one way or the other.

NVM, forgot you were a replacement owner.