FANTASY How an NBA dynasty league works on Fantasy Zone
Keep your roster for years and run it like a real NBA front office: trade deadline, buyout market, draft lottery, NBA Draft and free agency.
In a dynasty league you don't start again every October. You draft once, then keep your roster season after season - and the league follows the real NBA year, from the trade deadline to the lottery to draft night.
1. The regular season
Weekly head-to-head matchups, daily lineups and live scoring, same as any Fantasy Zone league. Trades are open until the trade deadline (the first Thursday in February unless your commissioner changes it).
2. The buyout market
After the deadline, the commissioner opens the buyout market. Got a vet who isn't playing, or a contract you'd rather move on from? Put him on the market. When the commissioner runs the claims, those players leave their old teams and everyone claims in worst-record-first order - just like NBA waivers. It's the last chance to add help before the fantasy playoffs.
3. Playoffs
The top teams play off for the title. The champion goes into the league's History, and the race for next season starts straight away.
4. The draft lottery
The teams that missed the playoffs go into the draft lottery, with the real NBA odds for the top four picks - the three worst teams each have a 14% chance at #1. Everyone else picks in reverse order, and the champion picks last. Yes, a seventh-seed can jump to #1.
5. The NBA Draft
Two rounds, from the incoming NBA Draft class - the college and international prospects heading to the league. It's 2 minutes a pick; if your time runs out, the best-ranked prospect is taken for you. Draft picks don't need a roster spot - you hold their rights, like the real thing - and our draft class is kept up to date with the latest big boards right through the college season.
6. Free agency and training camp
Trades reopen. Waive the players you don't want and sign free agents. Before the new season starts you need to be down to your roster limit - anyone still over has their lowest-scoring veterans waived automatically, so make the tough calls yourself.
7. A new season
The commissioner starts the new season: a new schedule, a new trade deadline, and your roster - rookies and all - carries straight over. Year two is when dynasty leagues get really good.
Tips
- Age matters. A 22-year-old on the rise is worth more to you than a 34-year-old having one last good year.
- Tanking is a strategy. Missing the playoffs gets you a lottery ticket - and the lottery can flip the whole league.
- Read the big boards. Draft night is only two rounds, so every pick counts.
- Use the buyout market. A contender can pick up a useful vet for nothing; a rebuilding team can clear space.
Want something lighter? Keeper leagues keep a few players each season (your commissioner sets how many), and redraft leagues start fresh every year. Start a league and choose Dynasty under League type.