MagicMatic wrote:
That’s the million dollar question. Even if AG and Isaacs value is “increased from winning”, whatever metric that means, teams aren’t giving away elite scorers willingly. The flawed logic is that “winning solves all and going in a different direction won’t provide better results”. Completely untrue.
Its not flawed logic...its the ideology of the best developmental franchises in the NBA: Spurs, Utah, Boston, Milwaukee, Denver, Toronto, Miami etc. Those teams ALWAYS try to construct rosters that will compete for a playoff spot. Sometimes injuries or unexpected events create losing seasons, but they immediately adjust in 1-2 seasons at most. They never do long term bottom out (tank).
Instead they use a gradual brick by brick methodology where they build up the value of ALL their assets in a winning context and then flip up (often using consolidation trades) or that context develops its own stars (often from non high lottery picks). Because of this philosophy, players and agents respect the franchise allowing them to consistently acquire quality free agents. In other words, those organizations use all three levers of improvement in tandem: draft/development + trade + free agency.
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Milwaukee G Antetokuonmpo...15th pick...drafted by MIL and developed in playoff context in 4 of his 5 years
K Middelton...39th pick...acquired via trade (at 22) developed in playoff context 4 of his 6 years
E Bledsoe...18th pick...acquired via trade at his peak prime (28)
+ Brogdon (36th), Lopez (10th), Snell (20th), Caughnaton (41st), Mirotic (23d), Hill (26th)
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TorontoK Leonard...15th pick...acquired via trade at end of prime ascent (27)
P Siakim...27th pick...drafted by TOR and developed in a playoff context entire career
K Lowry...24th pick...acquired via trade in second year of his prime ascent (26)
+ Gasol (48th), Ibaka (24th), Green (46th), VanVleet (undrafted), Powell (46th), Anunobuy (23d)
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PortlandD Lillard...6th pick...drafted by POR and developed on playoff context in 6 of 7 seasons
C McCollum...10th pick...drafted by POR and developed on playoff context entire career
J Nurkic...16th pick...acquired via trade two years before his prime ascent (23)
+ Aminu (10th), Harkless (15th), Turner (2nd), Kanter (3d), Collins (10th), Curry (undrafted)
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Golden StateS Curry...7th pick...drafted by GSW and developed in playoff context 7 of 10 seasons
K Thompson...11th pick...drafted by GSW and developed in playoff context 9 of 10 seasons
K Durant...2nd pick...acquired via trade at his peak prime (28)
D Green...35th pick...drafted by GSW and developed in playoff context 7 of 7 seasons
+ Iguodala (9th), Livingston (4th), Looney (30th)