I don’t know if this idea is any good, but it just came to me and I wonder how it would work.

1. Each owner would sign up as an actual NBA franchise

2. Each franchise starts with its actual roster from its actual first season

3. Your franchise progresses from one season to the next. For example, if you pick the Suns, your first season will be the 1968-69 Suns. Your first draft will be the 1969 Draft. If you pick the Bulls, your first season will be the 1966-67 Bulls. Your first draft will be the 1967 Draft. These two seasons and drafts will occur simultaneously.

4. Drafts will happen after each season for each timeline. You can take anyone who had minutes in your next season who is not on another team. For example, after the Bulls’ 66-67 season, they can draft anyone who has minutes in 67-68 who is not on another squad in any season. If the Warriors have Wilt, for example, the Bulls could not draft Wilt in 1967. If Wilt is for some reason not on a roster by our first draft, you can draft Wilt in 1967. Players do not have to be rookies to be drafted, but they can’t be on a roster at the time of the draft.

5. Trades will be through time. If the Sixers are in 62-63 and the Bulls are in 66-67, the Sixers can trade Chet Walker to the Bulls, BUT the Bulls get 66-67 Chet. If Chet goes from the Bulls to the Sixers, the Sixers get 62-63 Chet, etc.

6. Territorial keeper: If you want, you may substitute your first round pick for a pick that goes at the beginning of any draft. With this pick, you can take any player who played his first season for your franchise in real life. For example, if the Warriors get to 09-10 and Steph Curry is not a keeper, they can move to the front of the line to draft him in lieu of their first round pick. If a franchise has traded their first round pick, they forfeit the right to any territorial picks.

7. I suspect that we will not be using precursor franchises. The Philadelphia 76ers would start with their roster in their first year as the Sixers, not the Syracuse Nationals. I’ll keep a list of first seasons for each franchise. Don’t sign up for a team just yet. We’ll probably need a draft of franchises if enough people are interested. Two exceptions: OKC Thunder will start as the Sonics. New Orleans Pelicans will start as the Charlotte Hornets.

8. Trades will not be possible if a player does not have minutes during your franchise’s season.

That’s what I have so far. If you’re interested or have any questions, you can sign up or ask questions. We’ll figure out team sign ups once we have enough interest.

Sign ups:
1. bds9992
2. quaker128
3. buffalo_rob
4. Petroff
5. dBKC

Interesting idea. Still trying to fully wrap my head around it. When you say no precursor franchises how would that impact more recent moves like the OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans?

Posted by Sephy13 on 10/30/2020 2:22:00 PM (view original):
Interesting idea. Still trying to fully wrap my head around it. When you say no precursor franchises how would that impact more recent moves like the OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans?

I think those might be the two exceptions. Can’t have two franchises start off so strong.

Pelicans would start as the original Charlotte Hornets. Thunder would start as the Sonics. Bobcats might have to be banned

The more the I consider it, the harder I think it will be to keep it fair across 24 teams. The Bobcats were definitely a huge outlier, but I think the 80s and 90s expansion teams will be tricky too.

Posted by Sephy13 on 10/30/2020 4:05:00 PM (view original):
The more the I consider it, the harder I think it will be to keep it fair across 24 teams. The Bobcats were definitely a huge outlier, but I think the 80s and 90s expansion teams will be tricky too.

That’s why we’re not starting with precursor franchises.

ultimately, I think taking all of the talent from the 60’s and forward will mean there’s enough for everyone. Players will fall through the crack, and the older franchises will eventually benefit tremendously from territorial picks.

Let me work up a projected start date for each franchise. That’ll tell me if this can work

So, the first seasons for each teams - in their current cities with their current names - would be:

Atlanta Hawks - 1968-69
Boston Celtics - 1959-60. I know they started earlier but no one should have to do ten seasons in the 50's. Whoever gets this team gets ten years of Russell, guaranteed.
Brooklyn Nets - 1976-77 (first year in NBA)
Chicago Bulls - 1966-67
Cleveland Cavaliers - 1970-71
Dallas Mavericks - 1980-81
Denver Nuggets - 1967-68
Detroit Pistons - 1959-60
Golden State Warriors - 1971-72
Houston Rockets - 1971-72
Indiana Pacers - 1976-77
LA Clippers - 1984-85
LA Lakers - 1960-61
Memphis Grizzlies - 1995-96
Miami Heat - 1988-89
Milwaukee Bucks - 1968-69
Minnesota Timberwolves - 1989-90
New Orleans Pelicans - 1988-89 (as the Hornets)
New York Knicks - 1959-60
OKC Thunder - 1967-68
Orlando Magic - 1989-90
Philadelphia 76ers - 1959-60
Phoenix Suns - 1968-69
Portland Trail Blazers - 1970-71
Sacramento Kings - 1985-86
San Antonio Spurs - 1976-77
Toronto Raptors - 1995-96
Utah Jazz - 1979-80
Washington Wizards - 1997-98

So, right off the bat, there are:

11 teams that start off in the 60's
6 teams that start off in the 70's
6 teams that start off in the 80's
5 teams that start off in the 90's

Bobcats/new Hornets would be banned.

The logic is that while the 60's teams would start off slow, they would benefit from all of the possible territorial options.

There's enough competition in each decade to make it competitive every year.

I'm interested. You can add me to the list.

you can add me to the list.

the 70-71 Buffalo Braves became the 78-79 San Diego Clippers, which became the 84 L.A. Clippers

the 70's Braves had players like McAdoo, Randy Smith, Tiny Archibald, Garfield Heard, Ernie D, & Moses Malone.

I'll get in

Interested. I’ll wrap my head around it closer to tip-off

If I sign up with 1960-1961 Los Angeles Lakers would need to draft 2 players from the 1960-1961 season?

Posted by poppapomp on 11/8/2020 1:39:00 PM (view original):
If I sign up with 1960-1961 Los Angeles Lakers would need to draft 2 players from the 1960-1961 season?

so every team is 2 or 1 player short except the 90's teams
will need a plan for initial draft

interesting. how are franchises determined? do we draft the one we want?

Posted by poppapomp on 11/8/2020 1:39:00 PM (view original):
If I sign up with 1960-1961 Los Angeles Lakers would need to draft 2 players from the 1960-1961 season?

You’d start with the 60-61 Lakers completely intact.

Your Season 2 would be 61-62. You can keep or cut players just as you would in any progressive. In the draft for Season 2, you could draft anyone with minutes in 61-62 who is not a keeper on any other team. Player does not have to be a rookie but can be.