Before the official start of free agency on March 18, we have to get through smokescreen season. General managers put on their best poker face, agents attempt to ramp up market interest in clients, and teams play coy about players on the trade block to maintain leverage.
Now, it's up to us to sort through reports, separating what's fabricated for personal or team gain and the rumors that hold some truth.
In all cases, it's important to trace the speculation back to the original source and break down the facts. Like a detective, you can spot inconsistencies from previous reports, leading to healthy skepticism.