I loved their game against the Thunder. They played great against a good team and lost in double OT so you got to see the promise of what they could be but also picked up the L to not diminish their draft seeding. They are going to be on the bubble either way as to whether they lose their first rounder or not. They will probably need some draft lottery help.

Tanking is a dangerous beast in itself and teams that tank on purpose often take a very long time to recover. As much as tanking allows the team to obtain raw talent from the draft, these talents are nothing but raw. The new talents do not guarantee success. I think I don't have to remind you how many number 1 picks that went bust in any sport.

I believe when a team tanks on purpose, they enter a losing culture, which is a dangerous path that many teams are unable to turn away from. On top of that, this losing culture devours and destroys raw talent like a beast. For example, if you follow hockey, you will find that the Edmonton Oilers had tanked and tanked and got 3 number 1 picks in a row in the early 2010s. Yet, how much longer did it take for them to start winning again? Start actually making the playoffs? Even with one of the best players in the league in McDavid, they did not consistently make the playoffs until 2020.

Also, there are often players that are overlooked in the draft, the diamonds in the rough. Joker, Brunson, VanVleet, Middleton, Draymond Green all great players from the second round still active and playing. So yes, the draft means something, but its is not everything; and probably not worth entering a losing culture just to get a higher pick.

Unless, of course, if you're getting something like a Wembanyama, then it's a different story.