Dynasty Status

Dynasty Status
The most important aspect of being a GM is to assess the status of your team and build your team accordingly.

1. Rebuilding

Roster: Weak and/or young
Targeting: Draft Picks, Young players with potential.

Your roster is weak and/or young. You cannot trade the players on your roster for enough talent to reach Contending status, and your team does not have the talent to lure in big-name free agents, so you might as well rebuild by acquiring draft picks and young players with potential.  It's time to build a new dynasty and you're the captain of the ship!

2. Building

Roster: Average strength.
Targeting: Free Agents and talented youth through key trades and drafting.

Your roster may contain one or two players at, or near, All Star level calibre who have at least a few good years of playing time ahead of them. It would be best if you kept these players so you can lure free agents and reach contention level.  Always keep a look out for any key trades that could turn your team into a dynasty.

3. Contending

Roster: Strong.
Targeting: Free Agents and key trades.

Your roster has the ability to make it past the first round of the Playoffs. The key players on your team are already in place. You may not have much cap space by this stage and will need to sign key supporting players using your MLE.  Your dynasty must prove it's worth during these years.

4. Re-Tooling

Roster: Old and declining.
Targeting: Key trades to jettison veterans and enter rebuilding status.

The potential of your roster to achieve great things has passed. The declining talent on your team no longer attracts free agents and it's time to either re-tool. Do you opt to trade your declining talent to contenders? Or do you allow them to leave their legacy and let them retire with your team? Either way your dynasty is at an end and it's time to look forward to the rebuilding phase.