LOOKING BACK: Trades made prior to Season 49

 GRADING THE S49 TRADES

(We picked (or the cube of chance did) Season 49 randomly.) 

SAN JOSE AND MILWAUKEE

San Jose gets center Sabado Gigante from Milwaukee

Milwaukee gets center Lothario Fartlek from San Jose

The trade paid immediate dividends for the Fighting Amigos, as Gigante scored 18.0 points per game that season and teamed with Jesse Shershot to bring a championship to San Jose. Unfortunately, he then retired and though they continue to make the playoffs, the Amigos haven't quite reached the promised land again.

Meanwhile, Fartlek has put in four fine years for the Greyhounds, including an All-MBA campaign, 3 blocked shots titles, three playoff appearances and a spot in the Finals this last campaign.

Verdict: a PUSH

CHARLESTON AND PHILADELPHIA

Charleston gets guard Stankpig Pigglesworth from Philadelphia.

Philadelphia gets Charleston's fourth pick in the Season 49 draft, which turns out to be guard Junior Dabas.

Both middle of the road guards.

Verdict: a PUSH

CHARLESTON AND LOS ANGELES

Charleston gets forward Sheetrock Hudson , forward Caster Gobbler and forward Popple Tittynope

Los Angeles gets center Quick Tink, forward Christ Almighty and Charleston's 2nd pick in the Season 49 draft, which turns out to be forward Turk Attaturk.

Tink turned out to be the MBA's MVP in Season 50 and Attaturk was a starter on The Big One's championship season that same year. They repeated as champs in Season 51 with Almighty replacing Attaturk at forward when Attaturk went free agent. Tink and Almighty have since retired.

Hudson, meanwhile, made All-MBA in Season 49 for the Mountaineers, who finished in first place in the East with an 8-2 record. He's been a stalwart on the team for four seasons, leading them in rebounding every season and will be back in Season 53.

Verdict: ADVANTAGE Los Angeles (you can't argue against two titles)

SACRAMENTO AND MILWAUKEE

Sacramento gets forward Wardy Joubert and center Taco Toosdae

Milwaukee gets forward James Payne and the third pick in the Season 50 draft, which turned out to be center Dead Dreadmore

Sacramento got a good-rebounding, bad shooting starting forward in Joubert and used Toosdae for one season, then traded him to Philadelphia for stopgap guard Junior Dabas, backup center Firenze and Philly's second pick in the Season 51 draft, a prime pick which unfortunately for the River Dogs, turned out to be forward Hi-Ho Bootwhip, who was immediately cut.

Milwaukee got a solid backup forward in "Cherry Challenge" Payne, but cut Dreadmore

Verdict: a PUSH... although Sacramento got a starter, Joubert's contributions were for a couple of bad R-Dogs teams. Meanwhile, Payne was on playoff squads for the Greyhounds before retiring after last season. Joubert is also gone.

CHARLESTON AND SEATTLE

Charleston gets guard Don Barzini and the first pick in the Season 50 draft, which turns out to be guard Splash Gordon

Seattle gets forward Charlest Broccoli

The Mountaineers enjoyed a first-place finish in Season 49 with Barzini running the point, then paired him with Gordon for a 5-5 Season 50. Barzini was hurt most of Season 51, then retired, while Gordon continues to be a mainstay who has been on three 5-5 Charleston teams.

Broccoli put in three more good seasons with Seattle before going free agent and landing in San Jose last season.

Verdict: SLIGHT ADVANTAGE Charleston...both teams made the playoffs in Season 49 but not since then. The Mountaineers still have Gordon to show for the trade.

OKLAHOMA CITY AND LOS ANGELES

Oklahoma City gets center Juji Mufu

Los Angeles gets center Twinkles Spatula and the second pick in the Season 50 draft, which turns out to be guard Flufferton Springs

Mufu played one decent season as a starter for OKC, then left via free agency.

Spatula was a one-season backup for L.A. and also left for free agency. The gem was getting Springs in the Season 50 draft, who became Rookie of the Year and an All-MBA guard while shooting over 60 percent for three seasons. He teamed with Great Gruncle Terry and Quick Tink to bring back-to-back titles in Seasons 50 and 51 to L.A. He's currently a free agent in the Season 53 draft.

Verdict: GIANT ADVANTAGE Los Angeles