League Constitution
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful
Article I — League Purpose
The purpose of this league is to create a competitive, fair, active, and long-term NBA fantasy basketball dynasty league.
Unlike a redraft league, managers are responsible not only for competing in the current season but also for building and managing their franchises for future seasons.
By participating in the league, every manager agrees to follow the rules outlined in this constitution and compete in good faith.
The Commissioner is responsible for administering the league, protecting competitive integrity, resolving disputes, and making decisions on situations not specifically addressed in this constitution.
Article II — League Structure
2.1 League Size
The league will consist of 10 teams/managers.
Each manager controls one dynasty franchise.
2.2 Dynasty Format
This league will operate as a Dynasty League.
Rosters will carry over from season to season.
Managers retain ownership of the players on their roster unless those players are:
- Traded
- Dropped
- Retired
- Otherwise removed according to league or platform rules
There will be no complete annual roster reset.
Managers are responsible for building their franchises through drafting, trades, waivers, free agency, and long-term roster management.
2.3 Weekly Matchups
The league will use a Head-to-Head (H2H) weekly matchup format.
Each team will compete against another team every matchup week according to the league schedule.
2.4 Regular Season
The fantasy basketball regular season will consist of 19 weeks.
The regular season will run from Week 1 through Week 19.
The fantasy playoffs will begin in Week 20.
Article III — Startup Draft
3.1 Initial Dynasty Startup Draft
The first season of the dynasty league will begin with a Startup Draft.
The Startup Draft is used to establish each franchise's initial dynasty roster.
After the Startup Draft, there will not be another full redraft unless the league is formally dissolved and restarted.
3.2 Startup Draft Date
The Startup Draft will take place approximately one to two weeks before the beginning of the NBA regular season, unless the Commissioner determines another date is better for the league.
The Commissioner will coordinate the exact date with league managers.
3.3 In-Person Draft
The Startup Draft is intended to be an in-person event.
Managers are strongly encouraged to attend in person.
3.4 Startup Draft Order
Draft position will be determined in person on draft day.
Managers attending the draft in person will receive priority when choosing their draft positions.
Managers drafting remotely will choose or be assigned from the remaining available draft positions.
Once all draft positions have been confirmed, the Startup Draft will follow a snake draft format.
The order will reverse after every round.
For example:
- Round 1: Picks 1 → 10
- Round 2: Picks 10 → 1
- Round 3: Picks 1 → 10
This process will continue until all roster positions have been filled.
3.5 Remote Drafting
A manager who cannot attend the Startup Draft in person may participate through the league's online draft platform.
A manager drafting remotely will forfeit their 6th-round Startup Draft pick.
When that manager's 6th-round selection arrives, the pick will be skipped.
This penalty applies to the Startup Draft only unless the Commissioner establishes otherwise.
3.6 No Auto-Drafting
Auto-drafting is not permitted.
Every manager is responsible for making their own draft selections.
If a manager's draft timer expires before making a selection, their turn may be skipped rather than automatically selected by the system.
The manager may make the missed selection when permitted by the Commissioner, provided doing so does not disrupt selections already made.
Article IV — Dynasty Rosters
4.1 Roster Format
Each franchise will have the following roster:
- PG: 2
- SG: 2
- SF: 2
- PF: 2
- C: 1
- UTIL: 3
- Bench: 5
- IR: 2
Each franchise will therefore have:
- 12 Starting Positions
- 5 Bench Positions
- 2 IR Positions
This equals 17 active roster spots plus 2 IR spots.
Player positional eligibility will follow the designations established by the league's official fantasy basketball platform.
4.2 Roster Retention
At the conclusion of each season, managers will retain their players for the following season.
Managers are not required to release players simply because the season has ended.
A player's real-life NBA contract status does not automatically affect fantasy ownership unless the league platform removes that player from eligibility.
4.3 Roster Responsibility
Managers are responsible for managing their roster within all league and platform limits.
Managers may rebuild, compete for a championship, acquire younger players, acquire veteran players, accumulate draft picks, or use any other legitimate dynasty strategy.
However, rebuilding does not give a manager permission to violate competitive integrity rules.
4.4 Mandatory Rookie Roster Requirement
Every franchise must have at least one rookie player on its roster every day during the fantasy season.
For purposes of this rule, a rookie is a player recognized as being in their rookie NBA season according to the league's official fantasy platform or, when necessary, the determination of the Commissioner.
The rookie may occupy a starting position, bench position, or eligible IR position.
It is each manager's responsibility to monitor their roster and make sure they satisfy the rookie requirement at all times.
Failing to have at least one eligible rookie on the roster will count as a Rookie Roster Violation.
Rookie Roster Violation Penalties
- 1st Violation: -100 fantasy points
- 2nd Violation: -120 fantasy points
- 3rd Violation: -140 fantasy points plus loss of next year's 2nd-round Rookie Draft pick
- 4th Violation: -160 fantasy points
- 5th Violation: -180 fantasy points plus loss of the following year's 1st-round Rookie Draft pick
For every violation after the fifth, the fantasy-point penalty will continue to increase by 20 points per violation.
The Commissioner may impose additional penalties for continued violations if necessary to protect the integrity of the league.
Draft-pick penalties are in addition to the applicable fantasy-point penalty.
If a manager has already traded away a draft pick that would otherwise be forfeited, the Commissioner may assign an equivalent or greater future draft-pick penalty.
The Commissioner will maintain the official record of rookie roster violations.
Article V — Starting Lineups
5.1 Active Lineups
Managers are responsible for setting and maintaining their own active lineups.
Managers are expected to maintain a competitive and reasonable lineup throughout the entire season, regardless of their position in the standings.
Intentionally starting inactive or injured players when healthy alternatives are available, intentionally leaving starting roster positions empty, or otherwise attempting to manipulate the standings is prohibited.
The Commissioner may consider circumstances including:
- Unexpected injuries
- Late scratches
- Postponed games
- Player suspensions
- Last-minute NBA lineup changes
- Other circumstances reasonably outside of the manager's control
5.2 Repeated Lineup Violations
Repeated violations may result in disciplinary action.
Depending on the number and severity of violations, the Commissioner may:
- Issue a warning
- Reverse an improper transaction
- Remove privileges
- Remove the manager from the league
- Prevent the manager from returning the following season
- Place the manager on the league's Banned List
A manager placed on the Banned List may not return unless reinstatement is approved by the Commissioner.
Article VI — Waivers & Free Agents
6.1 Waiver System
The league will use a Reverse Standings Waiver System.
The team in last place will receive the highest waiver priority, while the team in first place will receive the lowest waiver priority.
Waiver priority will adjust throughout the season according to the league standings and the settings of the official fantasy basketball platform.
6.2 Free Agents
Managers may add and drop available players according to league platform rules.
Once a player is dropped and successfully acquired by another franchise, the previous manager no longer holds any dynasty ownership rights to that player.
6.3 Waiver Manipulation
Managers may not coordinate waiver claims, player drops, or transactions for the purpose of unfairly benefiting another franchise.
Player sharing is strictly prohibited.
Article VII — Dynasty Trades
7.1 Player Trades
Managers may trade players with other franchises.
Trades do not have to be equal in immediate value.
Dynasty managers may legitimately value younger players, veteran players, current production, long-term potential, draft picks, and roster flexibility differently.
A trade will not be overturned simply because other managers believe one side received better value.
7.2 Draft Pick Trading
Managers may trade future Rookie Draft picks up to a maximum of three years into the future.
For example, during the 2026 season, managers may trade eligible draft picks from the 2027, 2028, and 2029 Rookie Drafts, but may not trade picks beyond that three-year window.
Future draft picks are official franchise assets and may be included in trades with players or other draft picks.
Managers are responsible for understanding the long-term consequences of trading future draft capital.
A manager may not trade a draft pick that they no longer own.
7.3 Trade Review
A trade may only be overturned when there is reasonable evidence of:
- Collusion
- Roster dumping
- Player sharing
- Secret agreements
- Outside compensation
- Agreements to return players later
- Transactions designed to unfairly manipulate the league
- A departing manager intentionally damaging their franchise before leaving
The Commissioner will have final authority to investigate questionable transactions.
7.4 Trade Deadline
The league trade deadline will be at the end of Fantasy Week 16.
All in-season trades must be accepted and completed before the Week 16 deadline.
After the deadline, no additional in-season trades may be completed until offseason trading officially reopens.
Article VIII — Rookie Draft
8.1 Annual Rookie Draft
Beginning after the league's first season, an annual Rookie Draft will be held before each new fantasy basketball season.
The Rookie Draft will primarily allow managers to acquire newly eligible NBA players.
8.2 Rookie Draft Date
The annual Rookie Draft will take place approximately one to two weeks before the opening games of the NBA regular season.
The Commissioner will coordinate the exact Rookie Draft date with league managers each year.
8.3 Rookie Draft Rounds
The annual Rookie Draft will consist of 2 rounds.
With 10 franchises, the Rookie Draft will contain a maximum of 20 selections, excluding any draft picks that have been forfeited as penalties.
8.4 Rookie Draft Lottery
The Rookie Draft order will be determined through a weighted lottery based on the previous season's finish.
All 10 franchises will participate in the lottery.
The lottery odds are:
- Each of the 3 teams that miss the playoffs: 16% chance
- Each of the 3 teams eliminated in the First Round: 11% chance
- Each of the 2 teams eliminated in the Semifinals: 7% chance
- Championship Runner-Up: 4% chance
- League Champion: 1% chance
The combined lottery odds equal 100%.
The purpose of the lottery is to reward teams that finish lower while still discouraging intentional losing and preserving uncertainty in the Rookie Draft order.
8.5 Rookie Draft Lottery Categories
Non-Playoff Teams — 16% Each. The three franchises that fail to qualify for the playoffs will each receive a 16% lottery chance.
First-Round Eliminations — 11% Each. The three franchises eliminated during Week 20 will each receive an 11% lottery chance.
Semifinal Eliminations — 7% Each. The two franchises eliminated during Week 21 will each receive a 7% lottery chance.
Championship Runner-Up — 4%. The franchise that loses the Dynasty Championship will receive a 4% lottery chance.
League Champion — 1%. The franchise that wins the Dynasty Championship will receive a 1% lottery chance.
8.6 Rookie Draft Format
The annual Rookie Draft will use a snake draft format.
The lottery will determine the draft order for Round 1.
After Round 1 is completed, the order will reverse for Round 2.
For example:
- Round 1: Picks 1 → 10
- Round 2: Picks 10 → 1
Therefore, the franchise awarded the #1 overall pick will select first in Round 1 and last in Round 2.
The franchise awarded the #10 pick will select last in Round 1 and first in Round 2.
Traded or forfeited draft picks will remain attached to their assigned draft position.
8.7 Ownership of Draft Picks
Once Rookie Draft positions are established, each franchise owns its assigned selections unless those selections have previously been traded.
Traded picks belong to the franchise that legally acquired them.
The lottery position follows the original franchise's result.
For example, if Franchise A traded its future first-round pick to Franchise B, Franchise A's season result will determine the lottery odds and eventual position of that pick, but Franchise B will own and use the selection.
Draft picks forfeited as a result of league penalties are removed from the franchise and may not be used or traded.
Article IX — Rebuilding & Tanking
9.1 Legitimate Rebuilding
Rebuilding is a legitimate dynasty strategy.
Managers may:
- Trade veterans for younger players
- Acquire future draft picks
- Take chances on developmental players
- Sacrifice short-term roster strength for long-term value
A rebuilding team is not required to make transactions solely to improve its immediate record.
9.2 Tanking
Managers may rebuild their roster, but intentional lineup tanking is prohibited.
Examples of prohibited tanking include:
- Benching clearly superior healthy players solely to lose
- Intentionally leaving active roster positions empty
- Starting players known to be inactive when reasonable alternatives exist
- Dropping valuable players solely to weaken the team
- Coordinating losses with another manager
- Manipulating matchups to influence another team's playoff position
The distinction between legitimate rebuilding and prohibited tanking will be determined by the Commissioner based on the circumstances.
Article X — Competitive Integrity
All managers are expected to compete honestly and maintain the integrity of the dynasty league.
The following conduct is prohibited:
- Collusion
- Intentional matchup fixing
- Illegal tanking
- Roster dumping
- Player sharing
- Coordinating waiver claims
- Secret future agreements
- Loaning players to another franchise
- Outside compensation for fantasy transactions
- Allowing another manager to secretly control your franchise
- Abandoning a team
- Intentionally damaging a franchise before leaving the league
- Deliberately violating the mandatory rookie roster requirement
Violations may result in penalties determined by the Commissioner.
Possible penalties include:
- Fantasy-point deductions
- Loss of waiver priority
- Loss of Rookie Draft picks
- Moving a draft pick backward
- Reversal of transactions
- Removal from playoff eligibility
- Removal from the league
- Suspension from future seasons
- Placement on the league's Banned List
Article XI — Regular Season
The dynasty regular season will consist of 19 fantasy weeks.
The regular season will begin in Week 1 and conclude at the end of Week 19.
League standings will be determined using the league's established Head-to-Head scoring system.
Regular-season tiebreakers will follow the official fantasy platform unless another method is established by the Commissioner before the season begins.
The final standings following Week 19 will determine playoff qualification and seeding.
Article XII — Playoffs
12.1 Playoff Qualification
Seven teams will qualify for the fantasy basketball playoffs.
The remaining three teams will be eliminated from championship contention.
The playoffs will begin in Week 20.
12.2 First-Round Bye
The team finishing 1st in the regular-season standings will receive a first-round playoff bye.
The remaining six playoff teams will compete during Week 20.
12.3 Playoff Round Length
Every playoff round will consist of one fantasy week.
There will be no two-week playoff matchups.
The playoff schedule will be:
- Week 20 — First Round
- Week 21 — Semifinals
- Week 22 — Dynasty Championship
The #1 seed will advance directly to Week 21.
12.4 Playoff Seeding
Teams will be seeded according to the final regular-season standings after Week 19.
Playoff tiebreakers will follow the official fantasy basketball platform unless otherwise established before the season.
12.5 Championship
The final two franchises will compete in the Dynasty League Championship during Week 22.
The winner will be recognized as the official league champion for that season.
Article XIII — Offseason
13.1 Dynasty League Continuation
The league does not end when the fantasy playoffs conclude.
Franchises, rosters, draft picks, and league records will carry into the following season.
13.2 Offseason Trading
Offseason trading will be: [TBD — Open Immediately / Open on a Specific Date]
Once offseason trading opens, managers may trade players and eligible draft picks according to league rules.
The three-year future draft pick limit remains in effect during the offseason.
13.3 Offseason Rosters
Managers remain responsible for their franchises during the offseason.
Roster deadlines, Rookie Draft preparation, roster cuts, and other offseason procedures will be communicated by the Commissioner.
Article XIV — Franchise Ownership & Replacement Managers
14.1 Manager Commitment
Joining a dynasty league represents a long-term commitment.
Managers should make a reasonable effort to remain active from season to season.
14.2 Leaving the League
A manager intending to leave the league should notify the Commissioner as early as reasonably possible.
A departing manager may not intentionally damage their roster before leaving.
This includes:
- Dropping valuable players
- Giving away players
- Making intentionally damaging trades
- Trading away assets for no legitimate dynasty return
14.3 Replacement Managers
If a manager leaves, the Commissioner will select a replacement manager to take control of the existing franchise.
The replacement manager will inherit the franchise's:
- Players
- Draft picks
- Roster
- Record/history
- Existing obligations
- Any applicable draft-pick penalties
The franchise will not automatically be reset when ownership changes.
The Commissioner may take reasonable action in exceptional circumstances when necessary to make an abandoned franchise viable and protect the league as a whole.
Article XV — Team Abandonment
Managers are expected to remain active throughout the entire season and offseason.
A manager may not stop maintaining their team simply because they are out of playoff contention or rebuilding.
If a manager abandons their franchise, the Commissioner may take reasonable action necessary to protect league integrity until a replacement manager is found.
Repeated abandonment or serious violations may result in the manager:
- Not being invited back
- Being permanently removed
- Being placed on the league's Banned List
Article XVI — Commissioner Authority
The Commissioner is responsible for administering and protecting the long-term health of the dynasty league.
Commissioner responsibilities include:
- Managing league settings
- Scheduling drafts
- Conducting the annual Rookie Draft Lottery
- Managing Rookie Draft order
- Recording traded draft picks when necessary
- Enforcing the three-year future draft pick trading limit
- Tracking Rookie Roster Violations
- Enforcing fantasy-point and draft-pick penalties
- Resolving disputes
- Investigating collusion
- Correcting administrative errors
- Protecting abandoned franchises
- Selecting replacement managers
- Removing managers who repeatedly violate league rules
- Maintaining the league's Banned List
The Commissioner may not use their authority to create an unfair advantage for themselves or another franchise.
When a situation is not specifically addressed by this constitution, the Commissioner will make a decision based on:
- Fairness
- Competitive integrity
- League precedent
- Long-term franchise stability
- The overall best interests of the dynasty league
Article XVII — Rule Changes
Dynasty leagues require long-term stability because decisions made today may affect franchises several seasons into the future.
Rules should generally not be changed during an active season unless a change is necessary to correct a serious problem or protect league integrity.
Major changes should generally take effect before the following season.
Any manager may propose a rule change or provide input regarding existing rules.
The Commissioner will take the opinions, concerns, and input of all league managers into consideration before making a decision.
After considering manager feedback, the Commissioner will make the final decision based on what is determined to be best for the league as a whole, with fairness, competitive balance, franchise stability, and the long-term success of the league as the primary considerations.
Article XVIII — Sportsmanship
Trash talk and competitive banter are part of fantasy basketball and are encouraged within reasonable limits.
League members are expected to treat one another with respect.
Personal attacks, harassment, threats, or behavior that seriously disrupts the league may result in disciplinary action.
The goal is simple: Build your franchise. Compete hard. Talk your trash. Respect the league.
Article XIX — Acceptance of Rules
Participation in the NBA Fantasy Basketball Dynasty League constitutes acceptance of this constitution.
Every manager is responsible for understanding the league rules.
Claiming that a manager was unaware of a rule will not automatically excuse a violation.
The Commissioner will make the current constitution available to all managers.
Continued participation in the league constitutes agreement to follow these rules.