I am just about to complete my first HBD season and I am contemplating adding a team in a second world.

I am not fully confident in the evaluation process of lower level talent.  There are a number of teams open and it looks like I have several strategy options available to me. 

I have to make a choice between several teams.  These are a few of the options...

(2) teams MIGHT compete this season

Another team that has 2 picks in the first 12 picks of the upcoming amateur draft, and and has the bulk of its 73m salary commitment falling off over the next 2 seasons

A final team has only 30m committed this upcoming season

My concerns are starting with the starting budgets of college, HS, and IFA this season and needing 3 seasons to get them bumped up (including medical).

Is there any cursory opinions/thoughts that can be deduced from any of this?

Thanks

Low payroll teams are the easiest to "build in my image".    You can decide to chase FA in your first season and set a base with them.   Or you can lay back, pick up cheap labor at the end of FA and be reasonably competitive while building a talent pipeline in your minors along with increasing your scouting. 

Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	6	$36.0M	75-87 (.463)	4	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	7	$81.0M	89-73 (.549)	3	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	8	$78.9M	91-71 (.562)	2	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	9	$100.4M	101-61 (.623)	2	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	10	$112.7M	109-53 (.673)	1	X
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	11	$111.3M	107-55 (.660)	1	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	12	$123.0M	101-61 (.623)	1	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	13	$127.5M	113-49 (.698)	1	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	14	$118.8M	112-50 (.691)	1	-
Hamilton	KC Swing Kings	15	$125.8M	90-72 (.556)	2	-
Totals/Averages	KC Swing Kings	-	$101.5M	988-632 (.610)	1	1

Team had NO BL talent, 10m in payroll and the 2nd pick.    I snagged most of my first BL team off the WW and won 75 game while keeping my payroll low. 

Those early draft picks aren't going to help you very much stuck with only 14 in scouting. As Mike said, low payroll gives you the most flexibility. But imo you should choose a league you like, then find a team in that league.

Yeah, that might be a better way to choose a team.