I agree with you, if we are to win a championship then one or more of the core players are gonna need to be traded, but without proper backups to step in in case trades of cores are made for a position other than their own, we are sunk. So, trade the core 3 for another 3, and so on, but the 2 is covered. Can't afford to get a 2 for one of our cores, and it could be we couldn't get anything decent at the 2 for, say Williams. Without Songaila signed we only have adequate BACKUP at the 4, so can't use Skinner or Thomas for a 2. So with the 2 shored up Petrie can concentrate on the 4 with trades and MLE (can you package trade(s) and the MLE together for a player?). But, I'm inclined to believe that the core is NOT going to be together when season starts, just a hunch. I hope I'm right. Because without a major trade we are not going to vie for a championship, imo. So, if one or more of the core is not traded, then developing the young guys is our only hope for a future when contracts expire, is my idea too.