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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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CAMDEN, NJ – SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ – SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

But Tanking Can Work…Can’t It?

Despite all this evidence, the devil’s advocate position is an easy one: incompetent franchises will always find a way to screw up, even if it’s the “correct” path. But who’s to say whether the chicken or the egg is the first in line here?

Maybe the answer lies in taking a closer look at the success stories. The most recent one is arguably the most polarizing.

The Sixers took four bites at the apple, hit twice (Embiid and Simmons), missed once (Okafor) and the verdict is still out on the last one (Fultz). Regardless of where Fultz ends up, if you’re making a list of the top 10 25-and-under talents in the NBA today, the Sixers have two names on it, likely near the top. They’re as good a bet to win a championship as any team in the 2020’s.

Here’s the thing about the Sixers though: the team that made losing an art form stopped tanking the moment that its primary pieces got healthy enough to actually play. They went out and signed JJ Reddick this summer, and the Trevor Booker deal is a win now move if there ever was one. No one from the front office ever had to sit down with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and explain to them that even though they’re ready to win now, the organization thought it best to pump the breaks.

Ditto for the current version of the Timberwolves.

They went out and traded some of its youth for Jimmy Butler. Sure, the Wolves have been bad before this season, but it wasn’t by design. If anything, last year was a vast disappointment.

Is it worth noting that these teams are a combined five games over .500 and have a combined net rating under one? Probably…but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt for argument’s sake. Their futures look brighter than not.

How bright that future is depends largely on the team that Philly and Minnesota, like everyone else, are chasing.

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