Sir Charles in Charge
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New York Knicks: Revisiting the tanking question

By Jonathan Macri

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks celebrates after he hit a three point shot in the final minutes of the game against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Tim Hardaway Jr. #3 of the New York Knicks celebrates after he hit a three point shot in the final minutes of the game against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – JUNE 25: NBA Commissioner David Stern poses for a photograph with the sixth overall draft pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jonny Flynn during the 2009 NBA Draft at the Wamu Theatre at Madison Square Garden June 25, 2009 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – JUNE 25: NBA Commissioner David Stern poses for a photograph with the sixth overall draft pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Jonny Flynn during the 2009 NBA Draft at the Wamu Theatre at Madison Square Garden June 25, 2009 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

More Awfulness

Like the Knicks right now, Minnesota had their multifaceted, superstar power forward in tow and tried to surround Kevin Love with an appropriate supporting cast by using high lottery selections.

Starting in 2009, they stunk their way to four top-six picks over three seasons, including a #2 overall. Ricky Rubio was ok, Wesley Johnson was bad, Derrick Williams was worse, and Jonny Flynn could be sitting next to you on the train right now and you wouldn’t know it. Love never saw a playoff game in a Minnesota uniform.

A few years earlier, those same Timberwolves benched Kevin Garnett for the last six games of the 2005-06 season in the hope of holding on to their top-ten protected lottery pick. They did…and won 32 games the following season, Garnett’s last with the team.

The Kings drafted the 2009 Rookie of the Year in Tyreke Evans and an All-NBA caliber talent in DeMarcus Cousins a year later. They’ve had a top ten pick in every draft since then, and they still can’t find their way out of a paper bag.

Scott Perry had as close a view as anyone of another recent plan gone awry.

The Magic thought they were onto something when they got Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonia – all top five picks – in consecutive seasons. They appear cooked yet again after some early success.

The Suns have added three top-ten picks to Devin Booker over the last two years, thanks to some not-so-subtle tanking efforts. How do their future prospects look?

The Clippers started off the new millennium with five consecutive top-eight picks, including three in the top four. Not a one was around by the time had its resurgence later in the decade.

The post-Jordan Bulls did them one better. From 1999 until 2007, the Bulls had nine top-ten selections. In that group were a first overall, two two’s, a three, and two fours. They won a single playoff series during that time leading up the Derrick Rose draft.

We could go on, but the results are largely the same: sustained losing on a grand scale often doesn’t produce the intended results.

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