I think alot of teams don't trade. I do very few trades until my teams are well developed, then trade to get the finishing pieces. I tend to develop a base of players through the rookie draft.
The drafts are essential to building good teams. The rookie draft to get prospects in the pipe, then the free agent draft to fine tune your needs for the upcoming season, or to grab prospects that someone else has cut to make 27.
Teams that fail to submit draft list are not going to improve...that is bad practice. I see the drafts as about the most fun time in the whole process...this is where you build your teams for long term success.
I noted that one team, without a draft list, selected Jose Acevedo as a first round free agent pick...I can't understand how he would be worth a first round pick.