Hints about Trading

[Red Zone]

I borrowed this from USFL
for GMs new to the League or new to the game, it may be helpful

1. If you want to trade you need to be proactive and pursue the trade that you want.

2. You need to put together a deal and offer it...waiting for a deal to come your way usually isnt going to happen.

3. Just because someone says no doesnt mean its the end of the road...you may need to tweak your package and reoffer. Dont expect a counter.

4. Maybe dont be so secret about what youre valuing things at and invite competition.

[Red Zone]

This is also borrowed from USFL
Some things for all GMs to think about as they enter the Trade Market

Trading
Trading in FOF multi-player leagues is complicated with many factors that should be taken into account. You are dealing with another human being and his desire to get the better of the deal is substantially higher than the games AI. You need to be just as competitive and informed about what he may be trying to accomplish.
This post/write-up is intended to give potential traders a few things to consider along the way. This is meant to be helpful and is NOT a reflection of any one specific trade in any League.
The following set of bullet points are not in any particular order; some have greater relevance than others.

1. If your team is not currently a 10 win per season team; DO NOT trade your future first round picks away; unless you are getting a young, sure-thing, stud QB/RB/WR/DE/CB. Remember the terms YOUNG, SURE-THING, and STUD are subjective. Some guidelines:
   1. YOUNG=26 yr old or less with maximum 5 years experience.
   2. SURE-THING=Not a creeper but, a clear 70+ future rated player. Keep in mind that a player who shows potential/progress (i.e. 'creeper') but, is a 'developmental project' is NOT a SURE-THING. Ask a few other GM's their opinion. Do not buy wholesale into FOFC or other published findings regarding player development either. For every player these experts seem to accurately predict future ratings; there are plenty of players where the predicted value is highly inaccurate. Use change tracker to inform yourself. Again, ask other GM's for their opinion.
   3. STUD=A player at one of the positions mentioned above that will consistently produce for you on the field. Ratings tell a big story in the game but, performance on the field can provide better insight. Keep in mind, a decently rated player could be a system player and of little use to your team. (See #4 below.)
   
   
2. Ask 'WHY' your trading partner is willing to part ways with the player you are about to acquire. What will he gain from the trade? What will he lose? He could be trading a player that will never see the field on his team and therefore not even matter to him.
3. Take note of their cap situation and the impact to yours the trade will have. Does the player have a high base salary? Is the player a holdout? If the trade helps another GM out of a bind your doing him a favor! Keep that in mind!
4. Carefully review the game logs where the player was active and take note of how the GM was using the player. (For example, a QB that excelled on a team with a stud RB & offensive line along with a heavy '3rd and long running attack' type of offense; you may need to have the same setup & surrounding talent in order to see that same QB have similar success on your team.)
5. Take note of the net effect of the trade on both teams. If draft picks are part of the deal; is your trading partner counting on your teams lack of success to bolster his roster.
6. Be Careful trading within your own division. You will be facing the players you dealt or the players that were picked with your picks...twice every season!
7. Watch how perennial winning teams do things. Do they trade future first round picks away when they are rebuilding? Do they trade future 1st round draft picks when they are on the cusp of consecutive winning seasons? Imitation is one of the highest forms of flattery.