Fantasy Basketball: Our resolution is to be more active in the trade market — Here's how you can too in the New Year

There's something about the turn of the year that makes us all pause and think about how to make positive changes in our lives. It could be the calendar flip, but it translates to fantasy basketball, too. Or perhaps I'm just in way too many leagues. Either way, seeing "Week 11" in your fantasy basketball league and realizing, wait — we're nearly halfway through this thing can be shocking. —

The New Year brings reflection with some sense of urgency. And after assessing my squads across multiple leagues, I've found a resolution worth committing to: Being more active in the trade market.

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Trade smarter, not harder

If your fantasy team is stuck in neutral or sinking toward the bottom of the standings, the waiver wire alone won't save you. It's time to think bigger.

Assess the field. Which teams are overloaded in assists but weak in big-man stats like boards or blocks? Where do you have leverage? Roster imbalance across the league is inevitable — use it to your advantage.

And don't guess. It's not perfect, but utilize Yahoo's trade market under the research tab to help formulate some trade ideas. The Yahoo Fantasy Trade Market provides a real-time snapshot of trade values and top movers. It's a scouting report for deal-making, and it helps you gauge what it might take to pull off that swing trade. You have to sift through some noise, but it's a decent baseline to get going.

Trading is strategy (and fun)

There’s always that balance with trades — figuring out the right time to move on from a player who's been playing well, or whether it’s worth taking a shot on someone who's underperforming. Selling high can feel uncomfortable, but sometimes it’s what sets your team up for the long haul. And buying low? It could change your season, or not work out at all.

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That’s just part of the game and timing is everything. Shooters shoot!

Just don’t be that manager sending B.S. offers. No one wants to open a trade proposal full of bench guys for their best players. Keep it fair and reasonable. We’re all grown, we’re all busy. Respect people’s time and if you want to deal, make a competitive offer. Show the other manager you understand their needs, too.

Remember, it's a negotiation, not a heist. The back-and-forth should be part of the fun - not an instant dismissal.

Midseason moves matter

The season is about 40% complete. The contenders are separating from the pretenders and we're approaching the moment where every move counts. Got off to a slow start? There's still time to fix it. Made a bad draft pick? Trade out of that business. This is the part of the season where you can still reshape your roster for a playoff push.

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If you're sitting 8th or 9th in your league — or even lower — one or two savvy trades could flip the script.

If you're on top? Stay proactive. If you've built a comfortable margin, start thinking about how the playoff schedule will look. Depth, balance and planning ahead win championships.

Resolution Recap

This year, I'm resolving to trade more — and trade better. Use your resources. Know your leverage. Don't be afraid to take risks. Oh and have fun. Now go make a move!