LogFAQs > #898353899

The fact that tanking is a legitimate strategy speaks to the shallowness of basketball in general. In no other sport, except arguably the quarterback in football, does one elite player make that much of a difference. Team building should be based upon identifying players that fit your system and accumulating depth; not intentionally losing so that you're in a position to take a consensus top prospect.

Look at the Edmonton Oilers. They have the best player under 30 in the world, he's 2nd in the league in scoring right now, and they're nowhere near playoff contenders. The Penguins on the other hand, while yes they have Sid and Geno, their most recent cup wins are equally attributable to guys like Rust, Guentzel, Sheary, and Murray coming up through the system and making big contributions.

On the other hand, you have basketball, where the 6ers spent a half decade intentionally sucking in order to be good, and now we have the Grizzlies doing the same, and you're discussing the Spurs potentially doing the same. Even the NFL, where 'Suck for Luck' was a thing, we can see how that didn't work out. Only basketball is that shallow.