••GT••Guide to Trading••Updated

[2020]

Section 1
Introduction

First it is important to know what you want out of a trade. Are you aiming to get rid of a player you dislike? Are you trying to aqcuire a young prospect? Is your goal to pick up a Superstar? These are the questions you need to answer before this guide will be of any help. However there are essentially 2 types of trades.


Section 2
2 types of trades



-Type 1 - Trading away a player -
This is a much easier trade to pull off simply because you are not particular about what your getting in return. No player should be off the table in return for whoever you want to get rid of. It is crucial to keep an open mind to all players and to let go of biases against them. Here we are looking for value.

------Making a good decision---
In evaluating many possible deals it is important to judge players on your own scale. You should look at talent, potential, leadership, chemistry, and the usefulness on your team, roll them together and then judge the value of any one player. Many times it is easy to judge a player based on just the overall ratings. You need to keep in mind that a great shooting guard does not help you if you already have a great shooting guard.


-Type 2 - Trading for a player -

This is a much harder type of deal to organize successfully. The primary reason is that you are only dealing with 1 team. Here is an example.

--I am managing the Charlotte Bobcats and I want to deal for Amare Stoudemire (91 ovr.) However I do not have a 91 rated player to trade for him. What do I do? It is not useful to package my PG or my PF for Stoudemire because the Suns have Steve Nash and Shawn Marion. My next best option is my SF Gerald Wallace (83 ovr.) However he is not enough alone. I figure that the Suns will not agree unless they will get a replacement for Stoudemire, PLUS something else. I try to dangle Brezec (69) to them but it is not enough. What now? I'll package two players for a center around 74-84. My first two thoughts are Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, both on teams with needs that I can fill. New Orleans has a whole at SF and PF, New York has problems at the same positions. I figure New York will be a better place to go because their PF and SF are worse than New Orleans'. I make this deal: SF Adam Morrison (74) and PF Emeka Okafor, (82) for C Curry (77) , SG Crawford (75) , and PF David Lee 66. This was a great deal for me. In Crawford get a replacement for SG Wallace, who is on his way to the Suns. In David Lee i get a adept replacement for Okafor and a Lee's shooting skills will be a good compliment to Stoudemire. Now I package Wallace(83) and Curry(77) for Stoudemire and PF James Jones (67). My new roster: PG Felton (74), SG Crawford (75), SF Eric Williams (68), PF Sean May (69)/ Derek Lee (66), C Amare Stoudemire (91).

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Key Point - Failure does not lose you anything in trading. So try again.

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Section 3
Understanding the salary cap

-The salary cap is really quite simple when in the trading context. The salaries traded must be within 25% of each other. However, if a team is 10 million under the cap any money needed from that can count into this 25% difference. For example:
---Team A -$11.2 mil--------------------------Team B +$20 mil------
---Player One, 15.5 Million<===for====> Player Two, 4.3 Million------

However the team owning Player two is 20 million under the salary cap, so 11.2 million of that is factored into the deal.

At the end of the day

----Team A $0---------------------------------------Team B +$8.8 mil
----Player Two, 4.3 Million--------------------------Player One 15.5 Million

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Key Point - The salary cap is the biggest inhibitor of many trades, beware.

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Section 4
Building A Good Team

---Talent Models
There are 6 different types of successful talent distrubutions among teams.

Model 1- Star PG, Star C, Example: '61 Celtics,
Model 2- Star SF, Star SG, Example: '96 Bulls
Model 3- Star PG, Supporting Cast, Example: '87 Lakers
Model 4- Good All-around, 2004-present Pistons
Model 5- Star SG, Star C, Example 2000-2003 Lakers
Model 6- Star SF, Star PF, Star C, '86 Celtics

---Attribute Models
There are3 different types of successful attribute models for a team.

Model 1- Fast Break, '80s' Lakers
Model 2- Defense, '89 Pistons
Model 3- Passing, '60's Celtics, Present day Suns

Model 1 requires fast wingmen and a good rebounder down low

Model 2 requires 5 very good defensive players

Model 3 requires a excellent Point Guard

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Key Point - Build a team, don't just get the highest rated players.

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Section 5
Trading Young Players


It is still unknown whether or not the AI reads players ages into the value of a player, however the human mind does. In trading for/with young players it is essential you keep in mind two things.

One, the player still needs to be evaluated on talent, not every 22 year old can be developed into His Airness.

Two, a successful prospect will eventually ask for a big contract. Be Prepared!

It is easier to trade for the player picked first after the draft, than the first pick before the draft.

Scorers can be very successful at a young age (see Lebron, Wade). However Point Guards usually take 2-3 years to develop(CP3 is an exception). Jameer Nelson, Luke Ridnour, and TJ Ford are good examples of this. Be Patient!

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Key Points: Be patient with young players, but judge actual results, don't be trapped in the thought, "He will become . . ."

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Section 6
Trading Big Contracts


Big contracts are often unwanted, especially when attached to a sub-par player. To get rid of a large contract be prepared to get low value in return. Go to teams with extra cap space to unload. Philly, Orlando, and Charlotte are the best places to start.


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Key Point- Certain teams have a lot of cap room, use it for them!

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Section 7
Trading For Super Stars

--Identifying your needs--
When trading for a superstar it is important to keep in mind that a Ovr. 90 player is unhelpful if you have a Ovr. 92 player at the same position. First, ask yourself why you are trading for the super star. Does the one 90 rating help you more than two 75 ratings? In most cases this answer is "No." However, on a team like the Suns, a two 75 ratings are a lot less helpful than the 90, because every starter is over 78 Ovr.

--Putting a deal out on the table
Many deals for superstars begin with a straight up 1:1 deal. Example:

---===Us===--------------------------===Them===------
Richard Jefferson 87<=======>Dwight Howard 86

Seemingly fair, this deal will rarely get accepted. The CPU trader will only make a deal if it is heavily in their favor in one of the three areas of evaluation: Value, Salary, Need.

--Value
Straight up ratings
--Salary
Money in the deal, disregarding salary caps
--Need
Weaknesses on the CPU's team.

Either ratings need to be in CPU's favor, Salary, or the CPU needs your player more than the need theirs. A smart trader can often take advantage of the latter situation.

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Key Point - If you can answer the question "Why is the CPU interested?" than you can probably make a deal

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Advanced Mechanics

••CSV••

I introduce a new term, CSV, Current Starter Value.
For example: a 80 Ovr. PG to Washington has 0 CSV because it upgrades the starting PG (Gilbert Arenas 91) by 0 Ovr. rating points. However a 92 PG to Washington has 1 CSV because it upgrades the starting PG position by 1 Ovr. rating point.


So, back to task. Trading a 80 C and a 70 SF to the Celtics for, say, Paul Pierce 89 Orv., is much more effective than trading a 80 SF and a 70 C. Why? Because while the Celtics have a 75 SF, but their best C is only 66. So they are gaining 14 CSV (14 at center, 0 at SF) in the first deal, and only gaining 9 CSV (5 at SF, 4 at C) in the second. The Celtics are more likely to accept the First Deal.

••The Vulture - Trading draft picks••

One of my favorite strategies.
You have a .500 team in the beginning of February. Your best player is aging, (picture Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Shaq, JKidd) and the upcoming draft is strong. What do you do to get out of the middle of the league and return to greatness?

--Step 1
Trade your best 30+ year olds to the worst teams in the league for their draft picks and prospects. Get as many as you can.

--Step 2
As a result of trading away your veterans you will start losing more, therefore your draft stock increasing.

--Step 3
Watch the lottery come. You'll love it.

This strategy has worked wonders for me. My best case of success was when I had 4 first round draft picks, 1,2,3,9. Next year I won the Championship.

Section 9
What makes a good Trade

This is the most important thing in the entire guide.

••If you are happy with the deal, no matter what the salary, ratings, or values were, it is a good deal for YOU.••

The value is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

[Elbeen]

won't someone sticky this i think it's a great guide but maybe not detailed enough

[TomCat]

Go to teams with extra cap space to unload. Philly, Orlando, Portland and Charlotte are the best places to start.

Portland are -10mil over the cap limit, thought i would let you know. playing on the PS2, when you start a new dynasty mode, the Blazers are -10mil over the limit.

[Stella-Artois]

what aload of cobblers

[2020]

edited, thanks scoop

[deihatein]

i want this to be sticky

[TomCat]

if a moderator looks at this topic, and thinks that it should be, then they will sticky it. you dont really need to ask

[deihatein]

hehe thx for saying that. Just requesting

[Elbeen]

Section 4
Building A Good Team

---Talent Models
There are 6 different types of successful talent distrubutions among teams.

Model 1- Star PG, Star C, Example: '61 Celtics,
Model 2- Star SF, Star SG, Example: '96 Bulls
Model 3- Star PG, Supporting Cast, Example: '87 Lakers
Model 4- Good All-around, 2004-present Pistons
Model 5- Star SG, Star C, Example 2000-2003 Lakers
Model 6- Star SF, Star PF, Star C, '86 Celtics

can't wade and shaq be like model 5?

so when will you finish this

[2020]

yes. and right now

[Elbeen]

ok, finish it now man, hehehe

[2020]

finiished

[Clock]

Well, I'm playing the Wizards and I just can't trade for draft picks. I've tried everything. Everything.
I'm using the latest version of Andrew's roster update. It's currently january, and no big moves have been made in the league.

The worst teams are:

-Memphis
-Atlanta
-Toronto
-Milwaukee
-New York
-Portland
-Sacramento

Maybe you can help me?

Thanks...

[2020]

hmmm. . .

Antonio Daniels + ur 1st rounder ==> Atlanta 1st rounder

Jamison==>Milwuakee 1st rounder + joe smith

[Clock]

Won't go. Atlanta got no free spots and Joe Smith doesn't play for the Bucks anymore...

I made 3 changes in my roster:

D.Stevenson for M.Webster
J.Hayes and D.Songaila for U.Haslem and E.Barron
E.Thomas for M.Jaric

Hope there is something to do...

Thanks anyway

[2020]

antonio daniels 1st rounder <===> atlant 1st + pg R. Ivey

[Clock]

I decided to stop trying to get a top pick, since I'm most likely to get a good spot in the draft next year. Between 16th to 20th... I already have two young stars in Gilbert and Butler, plus Webster is developing very nice. Hopefully I will get my hands on R. Hibbert or A. Harford in the draft.

Anyway thanks for your help Nice guide

[TomCat]

S.R.N.O, good work on getting webster, he develops really well. and i mean REALLY WELL!!

[Clock]

I got him because of you.

You said somewhere that you trained him for five years and made him 88 overall or something like that. That really made me to get my hand over him...

[TomCat]

lol yeah, just train the hell out of him!! it is worth it. try and get 2 assistants at the same time. make sure you work on 100% offence because it doesnt take many years until he becomes superstar shooter outside scorer and playmaker

[Clock]

I have 3 of them. I'm gonna make him a hell of a player!

[Elbeen]

3 of who?

[Clock]

3 asisstants.
scoop (can I call you scoop? ) called them trainers...

[TomCat]

yes you can call me scoop. woops, i did call them trainers. i am used to calling them that, even though i shouldnt. i will edit my post so that people wont get confused

[Elbeen]

i think this should be a sticky as it can help many people or NLSCers as scoop calls them.