In a previous article I mentioned how it was important for owners to keep their sights on what is important. That is, winning it all, at all costs, basketball you can. A win one year is worth more than 10 second places or 20 strong finishes... the championship defines your success. It's also what pays the most if you are in a league with a pot. Often 2nd place gets something as well so I won't discount 2nd's value entirely, but have no doubt; first place is where it's at. In that same article I mentioned that it was important for owners to keep that in mind instead basketball always prospecting on youth. What I should have mentioned was the old adage "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushes". I'm going to share a very painful story with you all in the hopes that it will keep some of you from making the same mistakes I made this year as they relate to that saying.
At one of the websites where I play fantasy sports users are able to sign players to multi-year deals. One season I had Gilbert Arenas. Our league contracts are for up to three years. I had Gilbert signed to a three year deal and it was only year two at the time. So not only did I have him on my team this year, but he was under contract for next year as well. The fact that I had him for next year made him quite valuable... both to me and to other owners who had expiring contracts they could trade.
I got some pretty good offers. For example, in mid February I could have gotten Josh Smith (a bad contract money wise, but expiring so who cares - I had the capspace still available) and Biedrins (also expiring) for Agent Zero and Marcus Williams of the New Jersey Nets. For both teams it made sense. The other team was out of the playoffs and was prepping for next year. I was definitely in the playoffs and just had to decide who I wanted to take. An iffy Arenas or the healthy duo of Biedrins and Josh Smith. For some reason, I also had in the back of my mind that next year was also relevant. Did I take the deal? No. I thought Arenas would pack more punch and rationalized it by telling myself "he'll be back in a few more weeks. Plus... I want him for next year." WRONG!
Well, Arenas came back last night. It was only a month after he was supposed to. It was during game 5 of a 5 game playoff series in our league. The last night of the last game even... the series was tied 2-2. I was playing by far the best team in the league (who has won the entire league the last two years) and I had a chance to upset him and put myself in position to win it all. I won the first two games, but he had come back. My opponent won game 3 convincingly and then won game 4. I lost game 5 as well, but I had a chance if I had players playing instead of sitting around injured.
Had Agent Zero come back a week earlier, I would have looked like a genius for hanging on to him. He would have almost assuredly tipped the scale in my favor. Had I made the trade, I would have looked like a genius. Josh Smith and Biedrins would have made up for several nights that I was undermanned while Gilbert was ticked off at the wizards staff for not clearing him to play. In both cases it would have been over in game 4 instead of even making it to a game 5. Not making the trade was really about the only way to lose this year. And that's what I did.
So what happened? Why didn't I pull the trigger on the trade? Honestly, I expected Arenas to be as good as two birds when he came back and I gambled on that. Instead, I ended up with nothing because he never came back at all - well too late to be worthwhile anyway. I cost my team a championship this year by not keeping in mind that a guaranteed REALLY GOOD player is probably a better bet than an iffy GREAT player.
There are exceptions, but basketball playing with fire when playoff time rolls around and you make these types of gambles. You don't have to be perfect to give advice - sometimes you can be fresh off of a mistake and be working to clean it up while at the same time giving advice to others not to make the same mistake. So, if you have a good shot of winning it all and just need that little extra, I would suggest stocking your team up with healthy players that will play and if need be sacrificing the teams future to do so. I wish I had.
The good news - I'll be in great shape next year. That's the great thing about fantasy sports. Just like real sports, there's always next year. But I'd rather have a championship this year and rebuild next year than to keep coming up short year after year. It's nice to have a great core coming back, but nicer to have a big fat championship ring (fantasy ring of course). The core I have coming back will be something special - maybe the best in the league - especially since I'll still have good ole' Gilbert Arenas. Thank goodness. I don't know what I would do without him... Oh, that's right... I'd be gloating all summer and most of the fall about how I didn't even need my superstar to take the championship home.
About the Author:
Josh Ahlstrom is the creator of SignAndTrade.com, a fantasy sports community and game hosting website.
SignAndTrade.com offers customizable fantasy sports leagues fit for those serious about their fantasy sports, but user friendly and intuitive enough for novice fantasy GMs. Besides fantasy sports games SignAndTrade.com includes a messageboard where uses can discuss anything and everything related to fantasy sports. SignAndTrade.com also has a blog where you will find fresh information and opinions relating to basketball, football, and more. We hope that information sharing and a spirit of community involvement will abound. Please feel free to check out more of our fantasy sports games and information as well as our consolidated nba player information by using the supplied links or at the following URL.
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