Pre-Draft Trades

With rumors swirling before the draft date, owners scrambled to adjust their keeper rosters. Despite hopes of some big names being shuffled around, and one or two really high caliber players being on the trading block, in the end, the biggest name moved was Pogiboys' forward Caron Butler. Butler, a third round selection last year has been exchanged for Half Man Half Asian's third round pick this year.

Alvin must be disappointed that one of the cornerstones of his franchise just one year ago was close to the keeper chopping block. Butler did average 15 PTS, 5.4 REB, and 1.8 STL after his mid-season trade to the Mavericks but his potential as a franchise guy is clearly over. From Oliver's end, he gets an upgrade over Rip Hamilton and adds a still strong STLs guy.

Earlier in the week, the Sour Snails and Nande Reburonsan also made a move, albeit with no actual players trading places permanently. Trieu's team was too deep and he'd been looking to hold onto more than six keepers so paid Mikey a 1st, 2nd, and 6th round pick in this year's draft in order to receive a 3rd, 5th, and F Danilo Gallinari back. A savvy move like this allows the Snails to keep their rising star without having to risk the chance of not getting him back in the 2011 draft. Nande will also be in the enviable position of having quite a few early round picks in order to increase the depth of his own roster. We are predicting more trades of this type in the future as they seem to benefit teams both short and long on keeper talent.

The official start of the 2011 draft is right around the corner!