As evening approached on the last day of the Fantasy League’s winter meetings, few in attendance could have anticipated the drama set to unfold just hours before the midnight trade deadline. Shortly after the commissioner’s address at the closing banquet, word spread through the hall that the Writs had set a blockbuster trade in motion—and, before long, the league office confirmed that the Writs had acquired the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) from the Affirmed in return for two law firms: Nash, Spindler, Grimstad & McCracken and Herrling Clark.
The move would appear to transform the Writs—also-rans during the past three seasons—into a serious threat to dethrone the Gavels of the State Public Defenders Office, the league’s three-time defending champion. It is less clear what motivated the Affirmed to unload their top scorer, though it may be that the team-chemistry rumors of last summer merited more attention than they received at the time. In any event, if the Writs integrate WILL deftly into their lineup, without chafing their own leading scorer in 2017-18 (Habush, Habush & Rottier), the team should be a powerhouse as competition heats up in the months to come.
More immediately, both the Writs and the Affirmed have business to complete before submitting opening-day rosters to the league office. The Affirmed, by acquiring two law firms in exchange for WILL, must trim their lineup by one. With this ax poised to fall, firms that have contributed only a few points to the team in recent seasons must be apprehensive. Such a firm is unlikely to be claimed off waivers by any of the other teams and is almost certainly bound for the developmental league. On the other hand, the Writs, after parting with two firms, will need to add another to complete their roster. As the pickings will doubtless be meager on the waiver wire, they will probably sign a firm that is new to the league but has shown promise recently at the supreme court.
Fans will not have to wait long to find out, as the new rosters and initial scoring summary will be posted here soon.
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