Mock FA Draft

The highly anticipated Free Agent Draft is upon us once again. We have gathered our panel of experts to give us a preview of what we might expect tomorrow.


1)Wicked - Raja Bell
Wicked snatch up the jewel of this year's FA draft. A player who can step in and contribute at the SG position.

2)Storm - Vladmir Radmanovic
Storm solidify their SF position and hope that VR can flourish in his new surroundings.

3)Storm - Sarunas Jasikevicus
A top 3 FA pick for the 2nd consecutive year.

4)Storm - Erick Dampier
The self-proclaimed 2nd best center in the NBA.

5)Rebels - Michael Jordan
No upgrades are available among the players left on the board, but they can't pass up the opportunity to acquire a new player. Having once owned every player currently playing in the NBA the Rebels count on another comeback.

6)Amazons - Pass
7)Wildcats - Pass
8)Spoilers - Pass
9)Storm - Pass
10)Ducks - Pass
11)Waves - Pass
12)Legends - Pass
13)Legends - Pass
14)Bandits - Pass
15)Wicked - Pass
16)Singularity - Pass
17)Hilltoppers - Pass
18)Dust Devils - Pass
19)Waves - Pass

20)Gangstez - Earl Watson
The Gangstez are surprised they made a pick also...but they have roster space, so what the hell.

21)Rage - Pass
22)JAM - Pass
23)Rush - Pass
24)Singularity - Pass

Country vs Fantasy Allegiance

It would have been wonderful to have had a few of my players selected to compete in the WCOB. That is mainly because that would have indicated that the talent on my squad is reaching All-Star level. Unfortunately we are not there yet, but fingers crossed for 2008.

Watching the competition I couldn't help but wonder how fantasy owners felt watching their players play for various countries. I pretty much live in a pro basketball wasteland where there are no real team allegences. I am free to root for my players no matter who they play against. Many people criticize fantasy sports saying it ruins sports fans by making them root against their home teams to advance their fantasy teams. I now follow my individual players closer than I follow any team and really considering them "my guys" no matter who they play for.

I wonder if fantasy owners' allegiance to their players extends beyond the fantasy season. If the US had beaten Greece would Pablo have been happy to see Paul or Bosh go down early in the 1st with an ankle sprain in a game against Spain? I know there would have been some unhappy people if Lebron, Wade, Carmelo, etc. had gotten hurt even if it meant a gold for the US. A World Championship would be great, but is fantasy success now more meaningful? I know I was guilty of calcing fpg of players when I heard the stat lines from some of these WCOB games. It can be a very fine line.

That being said...any one who has a player from the "Redeem Team" who would like to avoid the injury risk and patriotic conflict associated with international play I have several players to offer in exchange who will definitely not be competing in 2008....

Wizapins History

Charlotte Observer - September 2, 2006

In 2003 the FBF brought basketball back to the Charlotte region to fill the void left in the North Carolinians hearts after ruthless owner Geroge Shinn moved the beloved Hornets to New Orleans.

Despite early success, the Charlotte fans were slow to embrace their new team. The fanbase felt uneasy about this new owner fearing that he may also leave the area for greener pastures when the opportunity presented itself.

Fearing a that history would repeat, the citizens of North Carolina banded together and were determined to create the first state owned franchise. Because of its firm religious ties the state could not raise the money needed by traditional means such as lottery and were forced to use non-traditional methods such as extortion, fraud and bake sales to raise the money to purchase the franchise. In 2004, the dream was realized when North Carolina was awarded a second FBF franchise.

In an effort not to invade the market of the Charlotte franchise, the Wizapins decided to call Central North Carolina home in hopes of duplicating the success of local college basketball powerhouses UNC and Duke.

Talent was thin in Year 1 as the team could only afford players who would play for ben-gay or other talented, but unknown prospects. The fledgling franchise won only 7 of 38 contests in the 04-05 season, but the fans flocked to the stadium due to the teams creative " 6th Man for a day" and "Bring Latrell to Work" promotions.

Following year 1 the fanbase was upbeat about their prospects for their future. Young talent like J.R. Smith, Trevor Ariza and Chris Wilcox showed flashes of potential and old timers like Latrell Sprewell and Joe Smith seemed healthy enough to not die during the off-season. To top it off the young franchise won the draft lottery and was awarded the number one overall pick in the Rookie draft.

Front office personnel were enamored with center Andrew Bogut, however the NC fans were clamoring for local product Chris Paul. Not wanting to create controversy the team decided to take the cowards way out and trade the pick. In the deal they got C/PF (Despite what Sportsline.com or realgm says) Carlos Boozer and a mid first round pick.

In a second shocking move the front office then dealt J.R. Smith and the mid-first for Allen Iverson and the #8 overall pick. It appeared that the second year franchise was determined to make a serious push to reward their fans and put a competetive product on the floor in 2005. But the excitement was short lived. In an expletive laced news conference in which AI mentioned practice 16 times Iverson made it clear that he was not the man to build a franchise around. In a hasty move the front office packaged him, Trevor Ariza, and the #8 for the unproven Shaun Livingston.

With that bold stupid move it was clear that management had absolutely no direction. To make matters worse Carlos Boozer spent the entire 2005/06 FBF season on the DL with a miriad of boo-boos and tweaks. Attendance waned and the Wizapins finished the season with just 1 victory.

The franchise in Charlotte was thriving with the addition of the one-minute-Wiz AI. Fans and State officials began questioning if it had been wise to form a second team. Rumors of contraction began to swirl and the fans couldn't have been more indifferent. But suddenly during the summer of 2006 the landscape of North Carolina Basketball changed. Just as feared Charlotte's owner was able to secure a lucrative deal to move the Charlotte franchise to Connecticut and suddenly the Wizapin were the only show in town.

Only time will tell if the Wiz will be winners, but at least they are here to stay.