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Message: [QUOTE="jncuse, post: 3607167, member: 1969"] This is clearly a means to an end. There are 3 ways to build a team, and Presti is setting himeself up to use them all: 1) The Draft (especially being bottom 5) 2) Cap Space to Sign Players or as an Asset Accumulator by taking on bad contracts 3) Through Trades -- and this is a big part of his ultimate plan Presti is also not going about this like Sam Hinkle. 2 Big Differences between what they are doing: 1) Presti was able to get much more of a head start in asset accumulation because of the Westbrook / George deals last summer. The Sixers did not have such valuable talent. 2) Hinkle's main plan was to try to get stars in the draft as soon as possible. When he traded Jrue Holiday it was on draft night for Nerlens Noel. When he traded MCW when he was a "hot" asset it was for a pick the next year. Hinkle's main weapon to building was sucking to get high picks that would play for the Sixers. Presti already has the big head start in accumulated assets, and he has yet to even start the process of tanking to get some top draftees. The result of these above two differences is huge. Presti will have much more trade capital to consolidate assets to bring top players together and a much longer window to do it with picks in 2023 to 2025. It gives him a much longer window to effectively use those picks as trade capital. Presti has shown that he will go for it, and consolidate assets, when he did the trades for George / Carmelo to join Russell. It did not work out, but he has been able to unwind for it pretty good. So what he is doing. 1) Yes they are tanking to a degree, to get high picks in what apparently will be some strong drafts. 2) Oklahoma will not likely get stars to come to them via FA. However, he will have no problem making trades to bring 2 of them together in future years, and perhaps one of them when they are still not at max level. 3) When he gets his 1 or 2 stars in the draft, he can surround them with real talent via trade not let them flounder. If you get an elite draft talent, add 2 stars via trade you might be attractive for players to remain for a while --and you might still have some cap space to bring in another all star who wants to win. The above is an ideal scenario so it may not go exactly as planned, but they have the flexibility to grow.. Oklahoma City has to really accumulate assets to bring in talent outside of the draft. Presti realizes this. Presti has also shown in the past that he is not as pragmatic as say someone like Ainge -- Ainge has nickel and dimed trades in the past which has hurt some deals for the Celtics. When Presti decides to go for it he won't need to worry whether I should hassle over 2 picks instead of 3 or 4. Giving up 3 or 4 will not be a problem. It could just end up creating a team that caps out in the 50-55 win area once again... or it could create a really good team. [/QUOTE]

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