06-22-2021, 03:20 PM
The mistakes happened prior to drafting Luka. It´s not like they tanked or ever tried to add young talent and/or draft picks. They added vets (Matthews, Barnes, Pachulia, DAJ...) and tried to win. Failed and went on losing streaks late in the season to secure the best possible draft position. The team just wasn´t good enough. They did not build a proper foundation. They won the last game in 16/17 and two out of three games at the end of the 18/19 season. Lost lottery positions in both cases. Just thinking about it still drives me crazy.
The 2015 first round pick was a bust (Anderson). 2016 first round pick was lost in the Rondo trade. 2017 first round pick DSJ was a bust as well but at least they turned him into KP (even though the trade probably was a mistake as well). Traded up to get Luka in 2018. Gave up the 2019 first round pick (could have kept it with a little luck and without winning the mentioned games at the end of the season).
Luka was the saving grace for a wasteland of a franchise. No assets. No young talent. Just imagine the DSJ/ WCJ nightmare.
The 2015 first round pick was a bust (Anderson). 2016 first round pick was lost in the Rondo trade. 2017 first round pick DSJ was a bust as well but at least they turned him into KP (even though the trade probably was a mistake as well). Traded up to get Luka in 2018. Gave up the 2019 first round pick (could have kept it with a little luck and without winning the mentioned games at the end of the season).
Luka was the saving grace for a wasteland of a franchise. No assets. No young talent. Just imagine the DSJ/ WCJ nightmare.