tlance
Kyrie Hater
Tanking does not work imo
Getting lucky and landing a star is what works
Look at the last 10 championships (all landed a star through the draft)
Cavs- drafted Lebron
Heat- drafted Wade
Lakers-drafted Kobe (sorta)
Boston-drafted Pierce
Golden state-drafted Curry, thomspon
Spurs-drafted Duncan
The common denominator even with the large markets was landing a star in the draft. Teams without championships...Wizards, Clippers, Hornets, Grizz, Knicks, Timberwolves, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, Jazz, Magic, Suns, etc...either never hit that superstar or messed up the FA part
A few select teams like the tragic and thunder have landed multiple stars through the draft and still struck out. It also takes a decent front office after you land a star, so trades play a role, but i would say getting a star in the draft first is the most important part.
How do you think the small market team gets lucky and lands that star?
It usually isn’t by winning 45 games and losing first round of the playoffs.