The Trading Deadline
The reason the trade deadline is so important is because as the deadline approaches, there is a high amount of trading and interest in other players. Depending on how the teams are faring, they can get a better picture on what their team needs. For an example, a team that is contending for the playoffs may look to trade some future stars for a player that will impact today. Teams that will not make the playoffs, however, can downgrade players to take on bad contracts for potential players or draft picks. Small market teams can evaluate their financial situation and look to create cap space to sign free agents or simply shed some large contracts so the owners can take in more money.
Each sport has a designated date in which teams are not allowed to trade anymore. The Major League Baseball trade deadline is July 31st. Because this is located after the All-Star Break, teams are allowed to evaluate whether they will make the playoffs or not. The MLB waiver deadline, however, is August 31st. Because a player must clear waivers in order to switch teams, there is rarely any movement in regards to trading after this date.
The National Basketball Association does not have an exact date like the Major League Baseball does. The trade deadline for the NBA is usually the second to last Thursday in February. The trade deadline also ends in the afternoon. This comes about two months before the National Basketball Association's playoffs begin.
The National Football League's trading deadline is the Tuesday that follows sixth week of the regular season. This normally will end up landing in the middle of October. The NFL trade deadline is not as active, as it is a rarity that a star player is traded this far into the season. Of the players that are dealt, a high percentage of them are wide receivers or defensive players that can easily adapt to a new team and understand the new playbook quickly.
Finally, the National Hockey League's trading deadline is in the beginning or middle of March. The majority of the "buzz" in the hockey season occurs in the playoffs and during the trade deadline. The trade deadline comes with around one month left in the hockey season.
Wikipedia, Trade Deadline
Published by R.A. Riter
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