Anonymous GM admits tanking

[Jakology]

Anonymous NBA general manager admits to tanking - SBNation.com

"Our team isn't good enough to win and we know it. So this season we want to develop and evaluate our young players, let them learn from their mistakes — and get us in position to grab a great player. The best way for us to do that is to lose a lot of games. This draft is loaded. There are potential All-Stars at the top, maybe even franchise changers. Sometimes my job is to understand the value of losing.

...

We're not alone. Look at the 76ers. Since the draft in June, I don't think they've signed a player or made a trade to add a legitimate player. A bunch of us realize that our teams aren't good enough talentwise to do anything. You're going to be bad. There's no way around it. And even if you finish 0-82, there's still a 75 percent chance you don't get the No. 1 pick. We're just going to take our lumps and hope our number gets called."

I love the game of basketball, but this is inexcusable, sorry. I don't care about how things work now, and how supposedly tanking is better than trying to compete and losing. How can you treat your fan-base like this? This is basically saying,"Hey, we suck, so we're going to suck EVEN MORE and try to draft a star player to make things better." That isn't going to make things better. Your team is still going to suck mostly. 1 star player isn't going to change much.

 

[Hambombs]

Who said this? The suns GM? But yeah I would still try to compete while evaluating underrated talent in the draft

 

[fordman84]

So the Spurs are looking for their next Duncan?

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

 

[BOTSLAYER]

and if you are a "true fan" you need to stand by them!!!


as for the franchises strategy here it is all they have left. Small market teams can not afford to get talent in the FA market because they can not afford the luxury tax. The only way they can improve their team is to tank and rebuild through the draft. To be precise they are making the only play they have left to make. That is what the NBA is today. Do not blame the GM for trying to be great, blame the NBA. And if you want to hate a team for Bullshit money grabbing tactics blame the Bucks, Cavs and Hawk types. They bring in just enough talent to make the playoff money and still collect luxury kick backs. At least tanking teams are showing that they are willing to do what ever it takes to win.

Nobody makes you watch the NBA or root for a shitty team. This is what the NBA is though.

 

[Jakology]

and if you are a "true fan" you need to stand by them!!!


as for the franchises strategy here it is all they have left. Small market teams can not afford to get talent in the FA market because they can not afford the luxury tax. The only way they can improve their team is to tank and rebuild through the draft. To be precise they are making the only play they have left to make. That is what the NBA is today. Do not blame the GM for trying to be great, blame the NBA. And if you want to hate a team for Bullshit money grabbing tactics blame the Bucks, Cavs and Hawk types. They bring in just enough talent to make the playoff money and still collect luxury kick backs. At least tanking teams are showing that they are willing to do what ever it takes to win.

Nobody makes you watch the NBA or root for a shitty team. This is what the NBA is though.

I do not care what kind of situation you are stuck in, you always play to win no matter what. You can't tell your fans that this is the only way to get better now, so we're going to lose. That's going to piss off fans.

 

[Cobiemonster]

I'm willing to bet this is Danny Ainge talking - see this quote:

"Sometimes my job is to understand the value of losing."

It makes me think that he doesn't want to do this, but this is something he has to do - Celtics made trades but they never really got anyone significant to help their team - this isn't the Suns GM most likely talking because the Suns made a legit move by trading for Eric Bledsoe so it can't be them

Maybe it is the Magic, but I really do think this is Danny Ainge that said it

 

[Cobiemonster]

I do not care what kind of situation you are stuck in, you always play to win no matter what. You can't tell your fans that this is the only way to get better now, so we're going to lose. That's going to piss off fans.

What fans do some of these teams have anyway? It's not like those teams were selling out anyways - and if the fans are dumb enough to not realize that tanking is the best way for these teams to try and get better at this point, then let them be dumb and look stupid

 

[BOTSLAYER]

I do not care what kind of situation you are stuck in, you always play to win no matter what. You can't tell your fans that this is the only way to get better now, so we're going to lose. That's going to piss off fans.

Firstly, you are not seeing the big picture. They are being rational with their self analysis of their team and realizing they need to do something to help the bigger picture. Just sliding into the playoffs each year may appease the simple minded fan but for those who see the bigger picture (but refuse to stop cheering for a hopeless situation) know that they need to build through the draft, so their tanking is actually the best course of action.

What makes their situation hopeless is that if they could afford to build through FA then they would not need to tank but not only is it a lottery but by the time that player and other players come around they will have to let them go because they can not afford all the pieces it takes to win a ring. OKC is a perfect example.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Also the players are not tanking, just the GMs are not keeping their best players in attempts to go younger and cheaper until they can land a decent draft pick or FA.

 

[Jakology]

Look guys, I understand this is the best course of action. I'm not stupid. But I'm just saying that it sickens me that it has come to this point. That teams HAVE to tank to be better. I wouldn't do it. I would refuse. I would demand a trade to a team that's not tanking.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Look guys, I understand this is the best course of action. I'm not stupid. But I'm just saying that it sickens me that it has come to this point. That teams HAVE to tank to be better. I wouldn't do it. I would refuse. I would demand a trade to a team that's not tanking.

Or take less money to go play with other good players in the hopes of winning a ring?


I completely agree with you, as long as caps exist this is going to happen.

 

[Crotchrocker]

Nah, Danny Ainge is already on record saying, "This is the Boston Celtics." Celtics don't tank, my friend. Word.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Danny probably has the money to acquire through FA.

 

[Jakology]

I'm just too competitive. Even as a fan. lol. I can't stand seeing a team give up or lose on purpose.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Nah, Danny Ainge is already on record saying, "This is the Boston Celtics." Celtics don't tank, my friend. Word.

He may say that out in the public but he knows in the back of his mind that they need to get a young super star player early in the draft so that they can pair him with Rondo - are there really a lot of big name players that would want to play with Rondo? I'm not too sure, tbh

 

[David_son]

I wish the Knicks would do this instead of trading two first rounders to Toronto for Bargnani. Though its not like the Knicks know how to draft anyone successful anyway.

 

[Jims_Doors]

I wish the Knicks would do this instead of trading two first rounders to Toronto for Bargnani. Though its not like the Knicks know how to draft anyone successful anyway.

Besides the players NY sent to Toronto, they gave up their 1st rounder in 2016 and both second round picks in 2014 and 2017 for Bargnani.

Not much of a difference though.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

This is why I can't be a fan of the NBA as a league. The league just isn't very strong in terms of talent. When I was a kid every team had a superstar type player. Now there so few it's pathetic.

 

[Kold]

Said it once and I'll say it again...THIS IS SMART BUSINESS for a team that has no shot at a title. Don't be the Atlanta Hawks stuck in playoff mediocrity....tank and try to get the next best thing.