The Truth About Trades...

Meet Hery Diaz. GM of the Sesame Street Gang (and hypothetical owner of the Miami Heat).

A few weeks ago, Mr. Diaz-Riley wrote a fantastic piece on the importance of trading in a fourteen week season of fantasy football. Siquel and Ebert gave it a “two spell checks” up! I hyphen Pat Riley to Hery Diaz’s name because of the similarities they share. If Hery could wear Italian suits, he would…if he could slick his hair (which he’s probably tried) he would…and if he could get away with telling you half the truth, he would…

Trades are designed to enhance your team. Correct. However here’s what Hery Diaz-Riley didn’t tell you in his “truth about trades”…

Now, in honor of October’s Hispanic month, allow me to paint him in the most stereotypical way possible, a baseball illustration. Hery is known as what’s called a “slugger.” When Mr. Diaz-Riley goes up to the plate (for a trade) it’s either going to be a homerun or a strikeout. He’s not interested in a single or double, only a homerun. If I had to guess he’s probably proposed (at least) 15 trades by now (with only 3 or so actually being “successful”). That’s a 0.2era… (Now if you look in the footnotes and check the Miami Heat’s season before the infamous “decision” it’s about the same percentage-wise, terrible.)  

How do you, a-perceived-fool-of-a-GM, fit into this equation? When Mr. Diaz-Riley seeks to make a trade with your team (and let’s say you’re having a “Cleveland Cavaliers” type year). Mr. Diaz-Riley ONLY wants your LeBron James. (I told you he’s slick) He’ll offer you an overload of everything (in other words) welcome to “rebuilding year.” Don’t you hate when your favorite team is constantly in rebuilding mode? Who wants to be a fan of that? (This is why Justin has convinced us all he was never a Cleveland Cavaliers fan…)

Now to be honest, I have no idea who I drafted in the fifth, sixth or seventh round…but I do know who I took number one. No one accidentally drafts Aaron Rodgers, Ray Rice, or Calvin Johnson. Of all players in your draft, these are the ones you did the MOST research on: this is the player who is in all your commercials, who is on the cover of your cereal boxes, who is the one that takes all the pictures with the children (and sign Dan’s hats) after the game. This player is the face your franchise.  

GM loan sharks ALWAYS want the player that sells your tickets. You shouldn’t fall in love with your players. This is true. However you don’t throw the very best player on your team out the window after (we JUST finished week four!?) They’re usually never the problem for your team; it’s that RB2 or Flex, etc.

Trade studs for studs, backups for backups and waivers for waivers. The best way to enhance your team and your team’s overall success is by performing trades that tinker your roster. You went from an eight ranked positional player to a sixth ranked receiver. Or you improved by trading a backup running back (for bye purposes) for another back up running back with similar value.

Stop trying to build the Miami Heat.

If Mr. Diaz-Riley is only trying to get a homerun off you, walk him…