I love the trades the Front Office has made because of a little story of Otis Thorp.
He was a former All-Star, playing for the Detroit Pistons. Vancouver decided they wanted him so they traded their 2003 first round draft pick (top #1 protected) to Detroit for the 35 year old. He played a total of 47 games for them.
Fast forward 6 years:
Pistons are fresh off a 50-win season where they were the 1st seed in the east. The highly anticipated draft comes around. Pistons are excited because the Grizzlies (recently moved to Memphis) were the 5th worst team. Boom, they get the #2 draft pick. After LeBron James goes #1 overall, they have their pick between Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade.... and Darko Milicic.
Pistons end up winning the 2004 championship and losing to us in 2005... but imagine if they selected anyone OTHER than Milicic.
Alternate history:... imagine if the Spurs had traded for that pick. Fresh off the 2003 championship, WE get to select between Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade to join Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
That is what we are hoping for 6-7 years from now when Wemby is at his peak.