Pre-Draft Trades: 2017

Sure we complained about a lack of movement before, but this off-season exploded with eight big trades before keepers declaration! Sure, there was a huge confusing mix-up, one make-up trade, and general confusion all around, but we do have the largest (by volume) trade in the books for CTDB, and let's hope this leads to more trades during the season. Or dare we say it, the draft?!

There were so many trades we're just going to throw up an image and then analyze by team:

Chunky Monkeys - Trade ID#14, 16
Evan started things off by shopping Julio "Not 25 years old" Jones around and had quite a few nibbles before he decided to turn Jones and a 2018 RD5 into Jordan Howard, Tyreek Hill, and a 2018 RD4. With a weak (very weak) keeper roster, the 7-6 Monkeys made the playoffs last season but weren't really a threat. Now it's rebuild time! Of course, most rebuilds don't include trading Mark Ingram to Buffy for a Greg Olsen, a thirty-one year old tight end, but Evan has his mysterious ways. Anyway, let's see if our three time champs can win another title soon -- if Monkeys don't win this year or the next, they're facing their longest title drought since 2006.

Fat Jubas - #17, 19
Our defending champs, and also three-time title winners, are hoping to become the first repeat champs in league history. Eric moved his 2017 RD1, 2017 RD2, and 2018 RD2 to hoover up Jordy Nelson and Isaiah Crowell. Those two will team up with David Johnson and Mike Evans to power Jubas to the title game yet again, maybe.

Battle Angels - #15, 20
Vu's team lost the conference finals to eventual champs Jubas by only 0.4 points last year. Despite that devastating setback, the 2008 champs feel it's time again for another title chase. Completing the rebuild he started last year off the heels of the 2016 draft, Vu grabbed Travis Kelce as his new TE, picked up a 2017 RD2 to recoup value from last season's trade, and then got a compensatory RD2 pick as well for a commish confusion/error (see below). Win, win, win!

Athena Nike - #18
With a huge three way trade, Frank moves into the #1 overall draft pick two years in a row. Last year, Ezekiel Elliot worked out great for him, and Frank is hoping this year's top selection will do the same. Let's just say that we already know who that pick will be, as part of the trade involves Athena Nike selecting a specific player. Frank moves from 2017 1.4 to 1.1 for the cost of Jimmy Graham, Kevin White, both of his 2017 RD2 picks (2.3, 2.4), and his 2017 RD4 (4.4). Sounds like a lot doesn't it? But then next year Nike will receive a 2018 RD2 from Dirty Birds, plus 2018 RD2 and 2018 RD3 from Fobsters. With franchise star Elliot sitting six weeks on a suspension, Athena Nike is clearly already playing for next year.

Fobsters - #18, 20
Upset with his aging keeper core, Jimmy was ready to blow things up in a big way. In the end, he'll move from 2017's 1.2 slot to 1.4, receive Sammy Watkins and Kevin White for his youth movement, and then get five of the first fourteen picks in the 2017 draft -- 1.4, 1.10, 2.1, 2.3, and 2.4. That is a monster rebuild strategy, the likes that CTDB has never seen before! Of course, Jimmy had to send out Dez Bryant and Jordy Nelson -- along with 2018 RD2 and RD3 -- but if Fobsters can draft well, this trade will set him up for a glorious future.

Dirty Birds - #15, 17, 20, 21
Mostly content with his roster a week ago, Jon moved into major trade motion after losing out in the Julio Jones sweepstakes. First, he picked up TY Hilton for the price of Travis Kelce and a 2017 RD2 -- and another 2017 RD2, which will be explained later. He also got a 2017 RD3 back from Battle Angels. He also shipped out Isaiah Crowell for a RD2 -- which will be conveyed to Battle Angels due to the previously mentioned error.

And then there was the big three way trade, which ultimately moved Birds down one slot from 1.1 to 1.2, and then netted them Dez Bryant and Jimmy Graham -- later shipped out for a weak RD6 to Gang Green. Overall, Dirty Birds moved the 2017 1.1 pick, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, Isaiah Crowell, two 2017 RD2's, and a 2017 RD13 to move down one slot in the draft, grab a 2017 RD3, Dez Bryant, and a 2017 RD6. Um, sounds like a win?

What was the controversy?!
Due to a combination of miscommunication and clerical error, and ESPN's stupid non-snaking settings, trade #15 between Battle Angels and Dirty Birds was reported incorrectly. The 2.6 pick from last year that was going from Battle Angels to Athena Nike was mistakenly reported as the 2.3 pick, which was subsequently traded to Fobsters in the three way. #mistake

What this meant was that the three way -- and all trades afterwards -- were faced with being overturned, and while many opinions and options were offered, ultimately it was up to the affected parties to work it out. Long story short: Fobsters demanded reparations for his move down from 2.3 to 2.6, threatening many laughable things, while Battle Angels (whose trade was legit, and would have stood) decided to be the bigger man and stay at 2.6 -- and take a 2017 RD2.10 from Jon as compensation.

While there was no admission of sole guilt by any party, especially Jon, despite him paying the iron price, we can assign a bit of fault here. So, let's go:

• ESPN: For not having the ability to set up a non-snaking keeper draft. Thus leading to the confusion.
• The commissioners: For not catching the mistakes until too late, and not informing the wider CTDB league about the ESPN non-snaking issue.
• Battle Angels: Forgetting about their 2016 trade that had a 2017 RD2 already gone, and then getting confused about the numbering due to ESPN's wacky ways.
• Dirty Birds: Not reporting the trade correctly, and not clarifying that the 2.3 should really have been a 2.6. And for creating chaos.
• Fobsters: For demanding a 2018 RD1 and Todd Gurley from Dirty Birds as compensation for moving down three slots...
• Athena Nike: Trying to find logic in an illogical (Trump)world. And for also demanding compensation for time wasted negotiating a three way trade that might be verified.
• Chunky Monkeys: For giving Jammers Antonio Brown and Julio Jones duo to go along with the rest of Lei's amazing roster. RIP 2017 title hopes for anyone else!
• Jimmy: For the poop he / his son left on my carpet. And for being a d!ck.

See you all at the draft!