Issue #2:Injured ListI've emailed Yahoo! and
posted on a message board thread about how the new IL slot will work and am waiting to hear back.
Here are some things we know and some assumptions about the IL spot available in Yahoo! this year:
1. The IL spot is optional for leagues -- we can set up 0-5 IL spots. Right now it's set to "0"'
2. I'm assuming -- though waiting to hear officially -- that Yahoo! will only allow this spot to be used for injured players, not NA or overseas players (like Dario Saric, who isn't currently in the Yahoo! system unlike last year.
3. I'm assuming that use of the IL spot will affect your roster much like the DL for those of us who play fantasy baseball:
-- A player has to officially be injured* to be eligible for the IL slot on your roster.
-- When you move someone to the IL spot, you then have an empty roster spot to which you can add a FA.
-- Once the injured player is removed from the injured list*, you are barred from FA adds, waiver pick ups and trades until you move the now active player to a valid roster spot or drop him.
4. The issue I see is is with the (*) above. Since the NBA doesn't have an official DL like baseball, I'm assuming Yahoo! is going to just go by whether a player has the
INJ next to their name. If memory serves correct there will be times that a player is injured but doesn't have that
INJ and times when they DO have it but still play.
The point is there will be some subjectivity is who gets the
INJ designation IMO.
Here are at least 3 options:
1. No changes: 16 roster spots just like last year. Season-long injuries = tough decisions.
2. Add 1 Yahoo! IL spot: Use the built-in Yahoo! IL roster spot for injured players -- warts/loopholes and all.
Players like Dante Exum could be moved to this spot on Day 1 allowing LB17 to add a 17th player. Players like Russell Westbrook who a game with a fractured face (but only one game b/c he's Russell-freakin'-Westbrook) could go on the IL allowing Gainesville Celtics to add a 17th player and keep that player as long as I keep Westbrook on the IL.
3. Add 1 manual injured/inactive spot: We'd still need to work out the details... but this would be a manually managed roster spot (tracked by teams & the commish) where each team could (based on our discussion/decision) either (a) put an injured player on for the season (b) put an injured player on for some long stretch and/or (c) put a D-League (i.e. James Young last year) or overseas player (i.e. Dario Saric).
We didn't come to any conclusion or even language to vote on a/b/c in this option, so we'd need to hash that out.