I was simply saying that the best way to tank (i.e. loose games) and build a contender is to get a high volume, low efficiency scorer who has the capacity to put up 30+ ppg for dirt cheap (~$5m) like Cam Thomas. Talk only about Cam all season and how you believed in him from day one to build up his narrative and stock.

In reality, focus on development of players 3-9. Lock them in contractually…3&D wings, vertical threats, rebounders and rim protectors. Before it’s time to pay him, dump him for draft picks.

If there were 2 or 3 offensive minded players who are trying to get paid for points & can get their shots off, – then it becomes a problem and doesn’t work.

Because of the condescension, I’ll give a more complete reply:

talking about the role on offense and usage in the mid 30s with TS% below 50

AI averaged a TS% above 50 for his career. In his best year, it was .518. That year, league average was….518. He also led the league in usage that year, at 35.9. So with the highest usage in the league, his TS% was league average. That’s…valuable.

Cam Thomas’s best overall season, his TS% was .554. League average was .571. A bit under average. And his usage was 30.5% – a lot, but not near the league leader. So not quite as valuable. Still, in that one sense they are similar: relatively high usage and moderate efficiency.

But there seem to be other aspects of the game to consider–their other stats aren’t in the same universe. AI’s VORP was 6.1 (!) and his BPM was also 6.1. Cam’s VORP was .4 and BPM was -1.2. The crazy amount of minutes at that high usage had something to do with it, but it’s also that AI had higher assists and steals. He was significantly more valuable on offense, and ok on defense…which is great compared to the abysmal traffic cone Cam is.

So the result of your suggestion would not be great tanking seasons with lots of losses, but mediocre seasons that would make it difficult to draft well. Ironically, you’d already have the “Brunson or KAT” player, the centerpiece all-star you think you’d be looking for, so you COULD actually fill out the roster with role players and go to the Finals…as the 76ers did. But the idea that AI would allow you to lose lots of games so you could build with role players and then trade him for a “Brunson-type” is just bizarrely clueless.

Yes, the 76ers famously lost a lot of games with Allen Iverson. Very similar player to Cam Thomas.

lol…talking about the role on offense and usage in the mid 30s with TS% below 50. AI was surrounded by guys who hated to create their own shot but loved to rebound and defend.

GMs on season long tanking teams should worry about identifying perfect role players instead of finding and developing their own all star.

despite the whole cultural phenom thing, always thought AI was a really gritty baller, and winning type player…

I tend to give extra credit to some of the less bigly nba players who make/made their living at the rim…

throw yabu and sochan in there, lots of other good candidates around the league…

Guaranteed to put butts on seats and simoultaneously lose a ton of games. Same as Alan Iverson.

Yes, the 76ers famously lost a lot of games with Allen Iverson. Very similar player to Cam Thomas.

Cam Thomas being waived by the Bucks. No surprise, but does he even have a market at all?

Unfortunately, this has to be a mental health issue. He must purposely break every play Rivers draws up and does whatever he wants both on and off the court.

If I was a season long tanking team GM next season like Pacers were this year, – I would sign him to a 2yr- $10m deal with team option on 2nd year and let him run the entire offense ala James Harden back in Houston. Make him the entire offensive system by surrounding him with offensively challenged players that don’t want to shoot that much anyway. Guaranteed to put butts on seats and simoultaneously lose a ton of games. Same as Alan Iverson.

When he averages 30+ppg at the end of 1st season, – trade him for draft picks to a greater fool.

The mistake teams make is to try to change him.