I'm all for improving these players. In fact, I think you can do that AND get a high Lottery pick. Instead of Dame/CJ taking 30-40 shots a game, get Crabbe, Vonleh, Harkless, Plumlee and Aminu more shots. The results won't likely be as good right now but it will help them develop, you really get to see what you have, and you probably loose a couple extra games along the way. With #4-#10 being so close, a couple extra losses won't make any difference other than lost opportunity for a historically better shot at a much better player.
Why can't we have a high-ish lotto pick AND 5-7 improved players? I think we are out of the lottery next season and into the playoffs precisely because many of the players we have will improve, even if we don't hit pay dirt in free agency and trades. Both of which are also possibilities. To recap: Improved Players + Free Agent + Trade + High draft pick = Pretty f'ing good team next year and beyond. The eternal flame of optimism burns bright!
Playoffs isnt the measuring stick for me, but it seems to be for many others who say if we make it we are stuck in mediocrity. I just don't agree with that. If our guys continue to improve this season do you really think we will maintain a lotto pick? We are only a few spots out of the #8 spot as it is. In order for us to regress back into lotto favorability, I would imagine no one else can continue to improve and a couple players will have to regress. Sure, Id love a lotto pick and have 5-7 guys improve, but do you actually think that's realistic with the west not being as strong anymore? If we improve much more we have the #8 spot it sure seems.
If our guys improve that much and play the team out of the lottery, I'm not going to lose sleep over "losing" the pick. Olshey will just have to work harder in the off season.
How is this even a question? Get swept by Golden State and losing the pick would be a terrible damage for the franchise. The fourth pick would be nothing but a good thing.
I keep having this thought of us doing well enough that some player on a different team looks at what we did and says to themselves "man, that team with ME on it could make some serious noise" and then get here at any cost they could. Are there really no players like that anymore?
Who are we targeting again with the 4th pick? I am sure I will be much more excited about these guys in March than I am now, but the ones I have seen so far are a long ways away from helping us out any time soon. What if they decide to stay in school another year? Maybe improving enough to make the playoffs, but getting swept by the Warriors isn't that bad. Maybe it would be the difference in swaying a FA to sign with us because they think we are real close to being a contender. Maybe they might think they are the missing piece. Not saying this would be the case, but it is possible. But I admit I would not be bummed about getting a Jalylen Brown or a Brandon Ingram or a Jamaal Murray. (and of course Ben Simmons)
Third time's the charm... Well, even if we finish with the 4th worse record, we could still either move up in the lottery or combine the pick with another player for a pretty enticing trade package. It's a very high value chip that's basically free, on the contingency of not making the playoffs.
Fair point, but the only two ways of ending up with the 4th pick are having the 4th worse record, or a top-3 slot that got bumped back by one or more teams moving up in the lottery. And since the #4 spot is pretty likely to move up historically, I consider it a strong possibility that we would end up picking 3rd or better if we finished at #4.
point is banking on a lotto pick is just a crap shoot like anything else. people seem to think a top 5 pick makes us a contender but we have no idea if the pick will develop just like we have no idea if some of the current young talent will develop.
we could draft ben simmons and his knees could explode. this is why winning and competing is the best choice. if we suck then we get a pick to try and help. if we make the playoffs then we get 4-5 games of playoff experience for our young guys.
The same could happen to any player currently on the team. Or a free agent. Or someone we trade for. Or not. That's why you play the game.
