Rarely, unless it's a player who needs to waive a no-trade clause. Wouldn't a no trade clause discussion not happen until after a trade is completed? It would seem weird to tell a player "we might trade you to X team, would you approve a trade" before a deal is struck. In general I think it's not wise to put the trade thoughts in a players head until it happens, except in 1 year deal situations where it's just obvious a guy is going to be traded...but those never come with no trade clauses. No, because there would be no point in the exercise of exchanging names and settling on a return if the player isn't willing to go to that team in the first place. Player has to waive the no-trade to a team first, then the negotiations take place. Sometimes a player asks for extras (guaranteeing option years, etc.) in order to waive a no-trade, which affects what, if anything, the receiving team is willing to give up.