Last week we discussed how to structure your trades when you transition to a retool. This article looks at the other side of the equation: how to structure your trades when looking to add to a contender.
Trading as a Contender
As a general rule, in trades when you are paying for contending assets, try to do so in the present. In last week’s article, we discussed trading for picks multiple years into the future because they have a better chance to be a high pick than in the coming season.
When you are on the other side of the equation, the opposite applies: you want to pay the price of a contending trade now. The logic is simple: you made the trade because you thought your picks will be later, which of course, is better than paying with an earlier pick. Plus, you understand, better than your league mates, that the future is uncertain. Giving picks well into the future is a major risk, especially when you depend on your pick to be late. The turnover at the top of positions can be abrupt, and the players you depend on can quickly go from dependable options to liabilities and take your dynasty team down with them.
So generally, if you are going to pay future picks for players, do it in the immediately following year’s draft. If you are making trades now, pay the price for a player in 2023 picks, and avoid trading away 2024 picks.
The Burn Factor
If you are not trading future picks deep into the future, you will need to trade either current picks or players to make your team better.
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