Post#689 » by BostonCouchGM » Thu Mar 2, 2023 4:21 am 
            
            
            The Spurs finished 10th, 11th, and 11th with White and his advanced stats getting major minutes and starts his last three seasons there. They knew what they had and knew it wasn't enough. The definitely not tanking Spurs proceeded to sign and trade away DeRozan, didn't keep Mills, then despite White's amazing advanced stats they took PG Josh Primo, the youngest player in the draft, to eventually replace White. 
All the while they fielded offers for White who they wanted to move on from. No deal ended up happening and they entered last season knowing White and Dejounte wouldn't be around long-term and open to offers. They found a sucker in us and a sweetheart deal they couldn't pass up so traded White mid-season and then they traded Dejounte in the offseason for another huge package and ushered in the shameless tanking. They were definitely tanking in all but name before those moves though.  
Anyone with talent, getting minutes and touches, especially on bad teams, is going to put up numbers. White is a very smart player, albeit limited athletically, so his advanced stats are going to look good. But those great advanced stats don't mean he's great. They're telling a story that is simply not true. If he was great the Spurs, who most consider one of the best run organizations in sports, wouldn't have wanted him gone for the past couple of seasons despite him entering his prime and with all those advanced stats.