I'm starting to feel like the lottery will make a huge impact on how quickly this rebuild goes (duh). We are a fairly compe ive bad team, as the metrics show, not an absolutely roll over. So, we aren't THAT far off. With that said, we aren't necessarily better in the short run with a bunch of mid-FRPs.
Scenario 1: We jump into the Top 4 and have an impact rookie. We use TOR and BOS picks to add another instant contributor, whether it be by moving up, or using to trade for an impactful vet, or in a S&T for someone who can be impactful (Levine?)
Scenario 2: We have picks #8, 20, 25. We pick them all, and the Austin Spurs win the G-league with them spending significant time there. Or we'll trade those picks for picks down the road. We rent our cap space for more future picks, and we are basically just OKC or HOU, in what seems like forever rebuilding limbo... our problem will be we are too good to finish Top 4 every year, so we'll never make any real progress towards the rebuild.
Is there are Scenario 3 where we still pick in the 7-10 range, but get an impact player and add other impact players through trades or free agency and improve right away?
I know a lot of people would say it is foolish or impatient to expect a one year turnaround, but I have a hard time seeing an extended rebuild really working. With DJM and some of these other young guys, I don't see us sucking enough to fully commit to the tank, and we'll be forever stuck drafting these solid guys who aren't superstars. And no stars = no progress.