Tank Tank Or Tank Tank Tank?

yeah, it's pretty sobering. the odds are against you. hinkie's plan was to just take a million shots at it until he got a lebron, but because of the lotto system, you're not even guaranteed that. better to just try to win.

our picks have actually been pretty good, relatively speaking, and fans are still pissed about it. life of a lotto team.

 

No doubt the draft is a crapshoot, especially these days where teams are emphasizing potential/upside. You're just as likely to draft Hezonja as you are a stud in the Top 5.

That said, the draft is still the best route to adding premiere talent.

Of the 25 people who made the NBA All-Star Team this year, 18 were Top 15 picks with 10 in the Top 5. The outliers were Lowry at #24, Butler at #30 and 2nd rounders in Gasol, Draymond, DJ, Thomas and Millsap.

17 of the 25 are still on their original teams (if you include Lebron). 6 were traded where the team that traded the eventual star got a package that included at least 1 1st round pick (or the rights to the just drafted #1 pick in the case of Love/Wiggins). The only players who switched as a free agent were Millsap and Durant - and the former didn't become an All-Star until after that.

Point being, yeah it's no fun being a perennial lottery team but utilizing draft picks - whether it's using those picks to draft studs or using them in trades for studs - is still the best way to rebuild.

 

Love this. You're a good solider. Join the tank. I see you're putting on the helmet...

 

I just feel fortunate we even kept both #2 picks in 2015-16.

 

Karl Anthony towns is pretty eye popping, so is embiid when healthy

 

Just for fun I ran the tankathon lottery simulator 10 times and Phucking Philly jumped 4 spots to #1 like 6 times. WTF?!!?!

 

Rigged I tell ya!!!!

 

I really believe markelle fultz is a game changer, if we are lucky enough to be in a position to get him, I'd keep him over DAR. If you watch D wade in college and then this kid, you can see the comparisons... Except this kid actually has a jumper! He's a surefire star, that's the star we need to turn things around. So I really hope this is the year we get the number one pick

 

Ryan has spoken highly of your input in the past. Sounds good. At least he's not flinging the ball like a righty tennis backhand from below left side of his chin.

 

The Sixers waited on Embiid due to injuries, waited on Saric due to him playing abroad and now again on Simmons due to an injury. So that's not really a waiting for them to develop situation. Simmons looked like he was ready to beast from day one if he was healthy. That said, I agree with you that - as much as I like Ball - my preference is to use that Top 3 pick as a trade asset.

 

no obvious superstar in the draft this year, imo. fultz is the closest, and even that's a tough sell. but josh jackson and lonzo ball as surefire top-3 picks? just don't think people will look back on this draft with the same excitement with which they've forward to it.


regarding eddie's analysis above, the take home for me is still don't tank. i feel like we're having two separate arguments:

1. is the draft a good way to build a team/find a star?
2. does that mean you should tank for the highest pick possible?

i'm not sure anyone says no to #1. but i say no to #2 for sure. significantly less than half of this year's allstars came from the top 5 in the draft. so, should you draft? of course. does it seem worth it to draft high at all costs? i think not.

 

Yup. That's generally been my go-to trade idea for Paul George.
Maybe toss in an added element of us including the expiring deal of Black and also getting back Thaddeus Young.

 

Where does that get us though? We'd be capped out and competing for a low playoff seed unless either Ingram/Russell make huge strides to be a credible #2 on a potential contender. I'd be worried as hell he opts out after 2018 to bolt elsewhere.