It is brutal, and even if I stay up, I might be in a worse situation next season, if a nightmare scenario of a relegated team as good as Orlando and a promoted team as good as Lionspride. I know it's going to be a long time before I can think about contending here, but I do have reason for optimism. I hated paying a million for a 32 year old small forward, but it needed done. For years I've tried training them myself, an effort best described as EPIC FAIL, and now I'm glad to pay somebodhy else top dollar for their trouble. It probably looked crazy when I spent another million on a a 23 year old back up shooting guard, but he's done better than expected and has improved a lot. I'd probably make a profit on him right now, even with the hefty agent fees. Whatever happens in the playoffs, he'll take the starting job next season and I'll be able to buy another big man.
I do not like using the transfer system in this game. I'm guessing its easier if you've got the premium membership. I looked at a couple of random team's history, and my total expenditures are about a fifth of the rest of the league, I'm guessing. I get 23 year olds because it means I don't have to go shopping for ten seasons. That's why I shave my head once a year -- because I hate sitting in a barber's chair. But to compete up here I'm going to have to learn to tolerate it (using the transfer list, I mean, not getting a haircut).