Kurt Tippett's move to Sydney remained stalled as his former club Adelaide snared Richmond ruckman Angus Graham in the AFL trade period on Friday.

The Crows were expected to trade Tippett to Sydney in return for the Swans' pick 22 at the national draft and fringe ruckman Jesse White.

But the deal remained in limbo as the Crows instead signed Richmond ruck Graham.

Adelaide, given Tippett's decision to leave the club, entered the trade period seeking a ready-made support ruckman for their first-choice tapman Sam Jacobs.

White was expected to fill the void, but Adelaide gave Richmond their draft pick No.40 in return for the similarly-styled Graham and the Tigers' pick No.50.

Tippett's future might not be decided until the end of the trading period next Friday, Adelaide's list manager David Noble said.

"Nothing will be signed off today," Noble told Adelaide radio station 5AA.

"What we are working towards is the best God-damn deal we can get for our club."

Tippett has forced Adelaide to negotiate solely with Sydney, steadfast in wanting to join the reigning premiers and refusing to deal with other clubs.

And if a deal can't be reached with the Swans, Adelaide risk losing Tippett for nothing in the pre-season draft given the ruckman-forward could price himself out of the reach of clubs with picks before Sydney.

But Noble said the Crows were "exploring all options" for Tippett, believed to be asking a salary of more than $800,000.

"We have got a guy who has decided that he doesn't want to partake in our footy club, and he has gone - that is a win," Noble said of Tippett.

But Noble said the Graham deal "possibly" impacted on the Tippett trade, declining to elaborate.

Richmond's general manager of football Craig Cameron said letting Graham go strengthened the Tigers' hand in the draft.

The Tigers hold four picks in the initial two rounds of the draft numbers nine, 29, 31 and 40.

"By gaining selection 40 in the draft, we are in a strong position to add some young talent to our list," Cameron said in a statement.

Richmond also secured ex-Crow Chris Knights and former Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin as free agents.