Actually, Ted, I've never really prepared for a draft before. And I don't do anywhere near the preparation that Skander does - or even that Caleb does. At most, I have a list of players who I think will slip - folks that have included folks like Shane Battier and Caron Butler - or an idea of who will get big numbers just because they're a starter this year when they didn't start last year.
In my first year, I didn't know where I was picking until 10 minutes before draft time. In my second year, same thing. In year 3, I knew where I was picking, wanted Brad Miller and Rashard Lewis in 3/4 (getting Michael Finley and Rashard Lewis, because Finley was just too tempting for me to pass up, him being my previous MVP and all) - and ended up with incredible picks in 8-9-10 that really vaulted my team up the ladder. And last year, I went in knowing that I wanted Pau Gasol and Rashard Lewis in 3/4, and got them both, only to end up hurting myself by picking up Jamal Crawford (because he was the best available) despite the fact I didn't want him and Bobby Simmons (because he was the best available) despite the fact that I didn't want him.
And, as for this vaunted "trade" reputation I have, keep in mind that only one deal have I ever offered that anyone accepted: I offered Corey Maggette for Andre Miller. All the deals that have people up at arms weren't instigated by me. I was offered Stockton, Eddie Jones, Brad Miller and Anthony Mason for Antonio Davis, Courtney Alexander, Jamaal Tinsley, and Vin Baker (although, the final deal didn't involve Baker and Mason, because I was really, really high on Vin Baker <laughing>). I was offered Steve Nash and Michael Finley (injured at the time) for Stephon Marbury and Jalen Rose. I was offered Corey Maggette for Jamal Mashburn. I was offered Rip Hamilton and Shareef Abdur-Rahim for Gerald Wallace and Jeff Foster. Now, you tell me, if someone offers you a steal, do you not accept? You should have hoped that people had taken some of my offers instead of making their own.
Most of the time, I'm in the mix for the playoffs, so unless a trade definitely HELPS what I want to do, I refuse it. I'm not one who takes big risks when I'm where I want to be....after all, what's the point?
Plus, when you start off with Duncan and Nash, you're already starting from a great starting point.
Truth of the matter is that I'm not that good of a trader. I just listed above every deal I've ever made, and only one was one that I instigated, and most people would argue that the guy getting Maggette got the better of the deal. Of course, I got the better of the deal, because Miller sewed up assists for me, plus gave me the steals I needed to win the championship against Ziggy.
Don't worry about the deals that are accepted that I offer; worry about the deals offered to me where I can't hit the "accept" button fast enough!
