Pre-Draft Rankings

Now that we've got the draft order set, let's jump into some pre-draft rankings. Below are the top 30 prospects as compiled by Matthew Dollinger at SI.com.

"I believe that the current class of NBA players is stronger than it's ever been," said Dollinger. "I belive the level of young talent in this league is extraordinary. It was hard to rank the top 30 and I made multiple cuts; however, I believe I put together a pretty good list. I went based on age, position and time in the league. For example, a player like Brook Lopez made my list because you can't teach size. He is a true center. But, I don't want to take anything away from the rest of the players. This is a very talented league top to bottom. Some teams are going to get some late round steals."

So without further adieu, Matt Dollinger's top 30 rankings:

TOP 5:

LeBron James

Kevin Durant

Dwight Howard

Derrick Rose

Dwyane Wade

5-10 Rajon Rondo

Russell Westbrook

Chris Paul

Deron Williams

Amar'e Stoudemire

11-15 Blake Griffin

John Wall

Carmelo Anthony

Kobe Bryant

Dirk Nowitzki

BOTTOM 15 Steph Curry

Kevin Love

LaMarcus Aldridge

Joakim Noah

Andrew Bynum

Monta Ellis

Pau Gasol

Eric Gordon

DeMarcus Cousins

Brook Lopez

Andrew Bogut

Josh Smith

Tyreke Evans

Andre Iguodala

Zach Randolph

Notable players that missed the Top 30:

Chris Bosh
Steve Nash
Al Horford


Be sure to stay tuned for more draft updates and player news as we prepare of the inagural NBA 'fantasy' Draft.

Draft Order Set

The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event held by the National Basketball Association (NBA) in which the teams who had missed the playoffs in the previous season, or teams who hold the draft rights of another team that missed the playoffs in the previous season, participate in a lottery process to determine the draft order in the NBA Draft.

In the current rules, 14 teams participate in the Draft Lottery. The lottery is weighted so that the team with the worst record, or the team that holds the draft rights of the team with the worst record, has the best chance to obtain a higher draft pick. The lottery process determines the first three picks of the draft. The rest of the first-round draft order is in reverse order of the win-loss record for the remaining teams, or the teams who originally held the lottery rights if they were traded. The lottery does not determine the draft order in the subsequent rounds of the draft.

However, seeing as how this season is different and all teams are starting from square one, we will be conducting the draft lottery a bit differently.

The NBA's newest television personality and future hall-of-famer Shaquille O'Neal will be joining us live on TNT to make selections. So without further adieu, let's turn it over to E.J., Kenny, Charles and Shaq in Atlanta.

E.J: "Thanks guys. Welcome to coverage of the 2011 NBA 'fantasy' Draft Lottery. Let's get you caught up on how we got here. Last week, the NBPA decertified, thus voiding all current NBA contracts. This resulted in all current players becoming free agents."

Charles: "You know Eee.Jjj. I don't think this is as turible as people are making it out to be. You see Ernie, sometimes you just don't want to be stuck in the snow in Milwaukee. There's no women there. The night's is longer it seems, and you just can't win. I like that players can move...uh..move around and start over."

Kenny: "Not me, I loved being able to play basketball. Now if you make me move to a new team, it makes me wonder if I'm going to like the coach. Am I going to know my teammates? What if I got put on a team with Charles back in the day, how would I feel? Pretty damn bad."

Charles: "You just mad that you don't have a lick of talent Kenny. You see Kenny, you might have a ring..."

Kenny: "I do have a ring. 2 of them, thank you..."

Charles: "There you go again Kenny, always interrupting. Can I finish?"

Kenny: "Sure, go ahead."

Charles: "So as I was saying before twiddle dumb interrupted me and made such a turrible comment; players that don't have a lick of talent like Kenny, they are just happy to be on a team. A lot of them now will wonder what their roles are and I think you might see some turrible basketball. We'll see what happens."

E.J. "Well either way, we are prepared for an exciting season of NBA basketball, that's for sure. Teams will be reconfigured, yes; but the rules are set up so that no one team can out bid their opponents. This might be the first time in league history that everything is completely fair. It's a new era of NBA basketball. Let's send it over to Craig Sager and Shaquille O'Neal and get this party started!!"

Craig: "Thanks Ernie. I'm here with our newest co-host, Shaquille O'Neal, the 4-time NBA Champion and former #1 overall draft pick...."

Shaq: (Inaudible) "I'd like to let you guys know that I am now know as the 'Big Show'. I am excited to be here. It's going to be a ride on the roller-coaster of basketball fun, so buckle up cause we are going for a ride baby!!!"

Craig: "Thanks Shaq....."

Shaq: "Big Show, Craig. Don't mess it up again or your new name will be no-head Sager."

Craig: "Thanks 'Big Show'. We are excited to have you here as well. You're going to be the guest selector for this years fantasy draft. Before we get started, lets get the audience caught up on what's going to happen. We have bought 30 crisp red apples. Each apple has a different team's logo etched into it and has been dropped into this aluminum bucket. Just like you do at the fair, 'Big Show' is going to bob for apples one at a time. Each time he pulls out an apple, that team will be slotted into the appropriate slot. We'll work backwards from 1st all the way to #30. Are you ready 'Big Show'?

Shaq: "Ye"

Craig: "The let's begin......"

Shaq (dipping his head into the bucket and emerging with an apple in his mouth) "Damn, the water is cold. Here's the first apple..."

Craig: "With the 1st overall pick in this year's draft, the Philadelphia 76ers!!"

Shaq: "Do I have to do that again?"

Craig: "Yes, bob for another one...."

(due to time constraints, let's fast forward through the picks....)



(Please note, the draft was randomly selected)

Rules and Regulation

Every league needs rules, right?

Although each team is allowed to make their own decisions, they are responsible for following this list of league mandated rules.

'Fantasy' Draft rules:

A 15 round 'fantasy' draft will be held prior to the beginning of the NBA 'fantasy' season. All 30 teams will be required to participate and build their rosters through a 15 round draft. All prospects will be pooled into free agency. Teams must select from the players listed in this free agency pool.

Draft order will be randomly selected by an NBA Alumni on live television (stay tuned for the draft lottery).

Once the team's have selected their players, they are subject to the following rules. below.

Each team must draft 15 players.
Each team must spend $50 Million on player salaries. Any team that fails to spend $50 Million will be subject to a fine. Further, no team can spend over the $50 Million cap.
Each team must sign their players to a 1 year contract.
Each team will be given the opportunity extend a maximum of 5 players' contracts. Of these 5 contracts, only 2 of them can be extended 2 years. The other 3 contracts can only be extended 1 year. (i.e. Team A can have three players signed on for 2 seasons and two players signed on for 3 seasons.)

Player's Salaries:
Players will be guaranteed contracts (per previous CBA rules)
Players will be guaranteed a minimum contract of $1.5 Million annually.
Players' contracts can not exceed $15 Million annually.

By following these rules, the league is ensuring competitive balance and economic security.

Teams are now required to make calculated decisions.

As John P. Kotter, the regarded Harvard Business professor once said:

"Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there."

Who is going to set themselves up to be successful for both the short and long terms?

Buckle up, it's going to be a fun ride!! 

The New Association

Over the past several months we’ve watched the NBA and NBPA negotiate the terms of their new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). With the possibility of the NBPA rejecting the league’s newest offer, decertification could be a realistic next move. 

While I do not believe the decertification would work, I am intrigued by the idea of it, especially after reading Ben Golliver’s post on CBSSports.com.

‘For months, player agents have been pushing for the decertification of the union, a cry that drew more support following Thursday's negotiating session, when it became clear that the NBA's current offer was not substantially better than its previous one, which was rejected by an NBPA group meeting on Tuesday. Stern said the threat of decertification is a strategic ploy that would jeopardize the 2011-2012 season.

"[it's a move] actually calculated to, one, [serve] as a tactic to improve their bargaining position and, two, as making it even more likely that there won't be a season," Stern said.

If the union did decertify, Stern predicted the move would backfire. 

"If the union is not in existence, then neither are 4 billion dollars worth of guaranteed contracts that are entered into under condition that there's a union, Stern said. "So if the agents insist on playing with fire, my guess is that they would get themselves burned.’

You read that correctly. Teams would wipe themselves clean of current contract obligations, thus creating the opportunity to completely re-configure rosters.

That means we can have a FANTASY DRAFT!!! 

Welcome to the 'NEW Basketball Association'