The Sporting News' Ultimate Hoops Fantasy Basketball Game

Click to Play Ultimate Hoops!

Tuesday, Oct. 30, marks what might be the most anticipated opening of an NBA season since Michael Jordan made his comeback from his first retirement. But instead of coming back from an unsuccessful attempt at playing professional baseball, this time Jordan will make the jump from the front office of the Washington Wizards to the floor of the MCI Center.

By playing the Sporting News' Ultimate Hoops fantasy basketball game, you basketball junkies out there can turn the tables on Jordan and play general manager of your own team this season.

For a reasonable franchise fee of $11.95, you can pick your own teams, buy and sell players and make roster moves as you see fit. All the while
operating under an imaginary $50 million salary cap.

Here's the deal:

Each team consists of 10 players -- four guards, four forwards and two
centers.

After selecting your team, you can create your own division with friends,
family, or co-workers. Or you can choose to be put in an already existing
division.

Once the season starts, each franchise is allowed four roster moves per week. So, if you get stuck with a bad player or two, you can simply replace them.

The catch is that the prices of the players will be continuously fluctuating
throughout the season depending upon the demand. In essence, it's a
market-driven salary structure.

For example, if you initially select a rookie with a $1 million salary and he
starts scoring 20 points a game, other teams will move to acquire him and his price will go up.

You, on the other hand, could then sell him -- if you desired -- on the open
market and bankroll the profit. The extra money you make would affect your cap figure accordingly.

So, if your $1 million player ends up being worth $5 million, that gives you
an additional $4 million with which to upgrade your roster.

The Sporting News will award the highest scoring team out of all the
divisions a $5,000 grand prize, while each division winner will get a
one-year subscription to the publication. In addition, The Sporting News will also award one-year subscriptions to 23 weekly winners for the highest scoring team in each week of the NBA season.

There are also some additional features such as a daily update of player
market prices, the ability to trash-talk with your fellow owners using
intradivisional mail, and you'll also be able to participate in The Fan's
Voice, which might get your words into the magazine or posted online.

The scoring system is definitely geared toward the all-around players, not
just the scorers. And there also is a premium on good shooters, both from the field and the free throw line, as each player will be penalized a half-point for every missed field goal and a full point for every missed free throw.

Steals and blocks, on the other hand, are worth 2 1/2 points apiece.

Jordan, at $9 million, is sure to be a popular acquisition. But franchise
owners are free to stock their rosters with less-expensive and lesser-known players. That's what I'm going to do.

I'm looking at guys that are just under the top tier -- players such as
Michael Finley, Paul Pierce and Baron Davis. Young guys who can score,
rebound and steal the ball, and who are most likely going to play most of the season without blowing out an ACL.

But that's just me. As for whether or not I'm going to pony up the money for
Jordan, that's confidential.

Regardless, all of you armchair capologists out there better sharpen your
pencils and put new batteries in your calculators. You're about to find out
how little $50 million in play money can buy.

Want to take the Ultimate Hoops challenge? Click here.

You can e-mail Greg Lucas at: greg@mrfantasy.com