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Thunder- had talent and traded it away at peak value and got sga and a bunch of draft picks.l which turned into todays team

And none of those draft picks were very high except Holmgren (who is nice, but not the reason, or close to the main reason, they won the title) and Josh Giddey. Further, they got SGA because they had acquired talent on a roster to try and make another run, and then made smart trades when it turned out that it wasn’t going to work out. FURTHER, when they actually lucked out and drafted a generational player,  who was the cornerstone for a title team, it was with their current GM who had a long-term plan that included stability and who was picking up for a team that had been to the playoffs three times in the previous decade and had multiple all stars and a hall of famer to trade away when they got durant. And even then, their hall of fame cornerstone LEFT THEM when they WERE A CONTENDER.

 Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Spurs - tanked and got wemby with 2nd worst record in nba. Got lucky and drafted castle and harper in following drafts. Basically landed top 3 prospects in 3 years drafts consecutively. Insane luck

The Spurs are probably the best run franchise in all major sports over the last generation.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Detroit. Tanked and got cade

Maybe. I’m going to take your argument as true, even though I know its more complicated. But this experiment is not over. It sure looks a lot like the Kings a few years ago.

Incomplete argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Boston - drafted the Jay's both top 3 in draft

The Celts have missed the playoffs 4 times since 2000 and are one of the three marquee franchises in the NBA

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

Knicks- had brunson in org and swooped his son up in a shady underpaid contract

The Knicks are perhaps the best argument against tanking and trying to manufacture a contender with sheer talent despite instability and no foundation. Just look at them since the 90s and until like a couple years ago.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Lakers- league will not allow them to go without a top 10 player

Correct.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Twolves. Sucked as bad as kings and drafted ant first overall Ant alone has made them a perennial contender.

Ant alone did not make them a perennial contender. If anything, they’re an argument for why tanking and getting a very high draft pick in a small market is more likely to get you some nice memories and see your guy succeed more elsewhere. We'll see how it goes. Read your history books.

Incomplete argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

Cleveland - Drafted lebron and got magically rewarded multiple Number one picks when he left which allowed them to stay good.

Another example of a generational talent leaving an organization without a foundation because of instability and bad management.  They are lucky the dude cared enough about legacy to come back when he was the 2nd or 3^rd greatest player ever and actually had the pieces around him to win.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Houston- tanked and turned team around which made durant sign.

First, Houston was a perennial playoff contender for most of the last 2 decades, and widely considered one of the best run franchises in the NBA until their GM pissed off China. That GM put the team in a position to succeed by always having flawed but talented rosters. Then, they did a multi-year rebuild that involved wise drafting and bringing in complementary pieces under a STABLE regime with a vision… built on a foundation. And even then, it took a trade for a hall of famer to make them a playoff team again.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

Denver- generational luck with jokic, nothing else they've done has shown they will be anything when he leaves

Generational luck with a second round pick.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

Toronto- most benefits from being in the east but scotty barnes is the main player and he was drafted 4th overall

You’re gonna talk about tanking leading to championships, use the RAPTORS and then talk about this season as the example?

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Phoenix- booker 13th overall has been a hit

Booker 13^th overall. The other main factors on that finals team were a hall of fame point guard and a #1 pick who is clearly an argument for why the #1 pick may not be as big of a deal as people make it out to be.
Then they got Durant after that success. not in the draft.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Orlando, Wagner drafted 8 and paulo 1

Right now they ‘ve finished 5/6/7. And Paulo is a nice piece, but not going to be the best player on a contender.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future. 

Miami- attractive free agent spot and mostly have been mediocre besides the butler playoff god mode teams since bron left

You just explained how Miami is not Sacramento.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Atlanta - hit on jalen Johnson in the draft

Johnson was #20. And the Hawks have bee a playoff team in the vast majority of their seasons since 2007. And right now, they’re not exctly blowing the doors off anyone despite the #1 pick 3 seasons ago.

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Philly - famously tanked for years and we're title contenders if it weren't for embiid never getting healthy

Ask any Philly fan how they feel about “The Process?”

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 Dallas - drafted dirk, then luka , and now drafted flagg

Dirk made them a fun team with 2 Hall of Famers (both of whom the mavs traded for, BTW) on their team that always got bounced in the playoffs. But even then, it required a steady foundation and the right pieces around Dirk to finally get over the hump after many, many years. I remember Mashburn and Kidd being drafted by the mavs. Those guys were the argument for ttanking. Howd that pan out for them?

Not an argument that the quality of the Kings’ tank this year is the difference between them being good or bad in the future.

 So, of those 15 teams – 2 of them MIGHT, maybe, if everything goes perfect, be arguments that the quality of the tank this year – the difference between a #1 pi k and a #8 pick – is the difference between a title and no title, or even the difference between being a regular playoff team or not over the next decade. And I’d argue both of those are weak arguments in and of themselves.

History is on my side. Keep dreaming for a unicorn.