The DNA of a Dynasty Draft Trade w/ Nick Kostos
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

In the midst of a start-up draft in our newly formed Sirius XM Experts/Hosts League – a 14-team dynasty format with IDPs – coming into pick 3.03, we’d set our sights on very sick original RosterWatch favorite- second-year stud Cordarrelle Patterson.

Until of course – on the verge of celebration as pick 3.02 rolled around and he was still on the board – the owner of 3.02, a swindling Greek man himself, Nick Kostos, clairvoyantly (or maybe just naturally, considering he tries to trade every pick- something we can really appreciate) pitched us a deal to move up one spot. Little did Kostos know he’d run into a formidable foe whose own Grecian blood courses through his veins like swindly snake oil.

As we tried to secure Patterson, Kostos very adeptly attempted to create the most valuable trade market he could, in a way only a man with the art of the swindle written in to his genetic code could. Something from nothing, a real form of business alchemy.

In what amounted to Greek on Greek Dynasty Football Crime, here is what ensued:

Kostos – “Interest in moving up to 3.02?”

Me- “Not really- if so it would be for something very small maybe swapping spots in some late rounds to bump you up a bit”

Me- “What are you looking for in return?”

Kostos- “I have people that want to trade up for Cordarrelle and Ball — I’m gonna pull the trigger on one of the deals. If you want either guy, let’s do something. Would you do 3.02 and 7.02 for 3.03 and your 6th?” (Translation- let me blow some smoke up this guys ass, and see what I can fleece him for)

Me- “What do you want? We are comfortable with Harvin but willing to do something if it makes sense” (Translation- let’s make sure this guy knows we aren’t desperate here)

Me- “Oh sorry – I just saw 3.02 and 7.02 for 3.03 and 6.12- is that correct? Let me check with my co-owners real quick and see if they’ll do it- one minute please”

Kostos- “I have an owner who very much wants Cordarrelle and is going to sweeten his offer” (Translation- let me apply a pressure tactic to regain some leverage)

Me- “Ok we’ll do it- send the trade” (Translation- this is a solid deal, let’s just do it before he changes his mind)

Kostos- “Would you do it for 8.13 instead of 7.02?” (Translation- Indian Giver, now that I know what they’ll do it for, let me pull the plug and see if I can up the ante)

Me- “can’t move back two full rounds- but here are some other arrangements we would be willing to make to upgrade the deal for you:
what we could do is give you our 4 for your 5 OR do the 6 for your 7 and maybe do that again once more super late OR do our 8 for your 9 plus our 10 for your 11”

Kostos- “let’s do this: 3.02 and 6.13 for 3.03 and 5.03 and we have a deal” (Translation- fine I’ll try to increase the swindle this way)

Me- “What if we do our 4 for your 5 plus our 6 for your 7?”

Kostos- “3.02 and 6.13 for 3.03 and 5.03 — let’s make it happen and Cordarrelle is yours” (Translation- I’m going to pressure these guys with a hype job)

Me- “Nick – let me call my co-owners real quick on this- in case they won’t go for it to move up only 1 spot- would you be willing to do this:

Your 3.02, 5.02, 7.02, 10.13 for
Our 3.03, 4.12, 6.12, 9.03”

Kostos- That doesn’t really do a ton for me, just moving up the one spot. The deal I offered benefits both of us. You get your guy and I make a nice jump. Let’s do that.

Me- “Checkin with co-owners now—- what do you mean by moving up one spot doesn’t do it for you? The alternate offer would bump you up several spots in multiple rounds:

4 spots from Round 5 to Round 4 +
4 spots from Round 7 to Round 6 +
24 spots from late Round 10 to early Round 9”

Kostos- “I like the deal I offered. I would go in another direction with the pick otherwise. I want a player I am sure I can get if I trade down. Let’s stick with my offer.”

Me- “Last question – what if we did the same I just sent you but instead of the RD9/10 swap – we do a round 7/8 swap?

So- we bump you from your 5 to our 4, your 7 to our 6, and we swap you our early 7.03 for your late 8.13 and give you the huge bump there”

Kostos- “Let’s do the one I offered and call it a deal and you get your guy and I get mine. Everyone wins. And you end up with Peyton Calvin and Patterson” (Translation- Hype this thing big for an insta-call)

Me- Talked to the guys- they aren’t willing to move back 24 spots right in the meat of this draft (5.03 all the way to 6.13) to move up 1 spot here.

We’ll just stand pat and take Percy Harvin- who is very similar to Patterson anyways. If you want to re-think either of the previous counters I sent you we would do those- they are our best offers (Translation- Kiss my swindling mediterranean ass, Kostos – we call your bluff)

Kostos- “Offer me the last one you sent and I’ll accept” (Translation- Well crap, this asshole’s on to me, better just get what I can)

Kostos- “I want to leave office soon, can you send this over so i can accept before I get home and we can move this along” (Translation- I’ll apply the oldest pressure strategy in the book, time constraints)

Me- “Nick- guys saying they have to think about that one- still quite a move back in meat of mid rounds. Said if it’s time sensitive- without getting to analyze it any further- this is the deal they are willing to do- you can thank the RosterWatch Trashman for this one-

4 spots from Round 5 to Round 4 +
4 spots from Round 7 to Round 6 +
24 spots from late Round 10 to early Round 9

So- 3.03/3.02 + 4.12/5.02 + 6.12/7.02 + 9.03/10.13” (Translation- we are the ones who do the swindling around here – get used to it)

Kostos- “Dude you are killing me here. who is running your team? you said you would do those deals.” (Translation- Shit, this guy’s got me by the Kalamata Olives!)

Me- “Sorry have 2 co-owners – my cohosts- Alex and The Trashman. I floated the other one in an attempt to brainstorm with you – so I had some things to go back to them with all at once so I didn’t have to call them 10 times- apologize.

Happy to discuss what you are asking for further and see if they will budge but it won’t be until after work this evening” (Translation- I’m going to put you on tilt and use your time constrains against you and swindle you down further)

Kostos- “We can do the one you offered. send it over” (Translation- I waive the blue and white striped flag with the cross on it)

Me- “Sending now” (Translation- we got him – play it cool)

Deal Done- we draft Cordarrelle

Me- “From one greek man to another- I say nice doing business my man and tikanis”

Kostos- “hahaha. i’m sure we’ll do business again. i’ll get who i want, too. didn’t want cordarrelle”

Me- “Nice work man- good deal for you then for sure” “Dying to see who you take”

Kostos- “I’m taking Crabtree”

.. and the 50-round monster draft continues.