Playoffs vs. the future

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

So we make the playoffs, get swept by the Warriors, Clippers or Spurs and then proceed to not have a 1st round pick in the draft. What's the point of this outcome? Why do people want this outcome? This is exactly what you aren't supposed to do as a franchise. The experience gained from an ass kicking in the playoffs is not worth more than our pick. This isn't hockey or football or even baseball where you just have to get in and anything can happen. We have multiple, legitimate juggernauts in the way of any playoff success and we're likely to face one of them immediately. The goal should be a soft tank to the 12th overall spot to keep our pick and try to use it with pieces to get something that can help us right away for a legitimate push next year and the years moving forward. I believe in making the playoffs if you can do something in the playoffs that you can build off of. A sweep at the hands of one of the WC juggernauts is not something to build off. Just keep an eye on the Pelicans all year. So far it doesn't look like fighting and getting that 8 seed carried any momentum into this season after the Warriors quickly sent them home in the playoffs.

Edit: I pulled this out because people seemed to miss what I think the purpose of keeping our pick is for:

"The goal should be a soft tank to the 12th overall spot to keep our pick and try to use it with pieces to get something that can help us right away for a legitimate push next year and the years moving forward."

Edit 2: Scenario 2: We don't think about it too much. Try to make the playoffs. If it happens great, if it doesn't no big deal. Narrowly miss out and lose our pick because we are the 13th or 14th worst team in the league. That's a nightmare scenario and exactly why this fighting for a playoff spot is a double-edged sword this year. A swing and miss could put us in the worst of both worlds.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

You sound like Sam Hinkie....

I think it's totally worth it to make the playoffs. It's been an embarrassment for the franchise and its fans that we haven't been there since Karl Towns was in elementary school. And I think ANY experience in the playoffs would be good for our young pups. Yes, even getting crushed by one of the powerhouse teams can be a very educational experience.

P.S. I don't think we'll make the playoffs, even if we tried, so it's probably a moot point.

[Tactical unit]

I tend to agree the playoffs would not be best for the team long term and probably lead to Sam being our coach for quite a while. However don't you just want to finally make the playoffs? For Flip? For KG? Just to end the torment? Either way they are a fun bunch to watch so I am very pleased to have all this talent to cheer for!

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I tend to agree the playoffs would not be best for the team long term and probably lead to Sam being our coach for quite a while. However don't you just want to finally make the playoffs? For Flip? For KG? Just to end the torment? Either way they are a fun bunch to watch so I am very pleased to have all this talent to cheer for!

I think ending the drought just to end the drought is a dumb move. We've been out of the playoffs for 10 years. I can put up with 1 more year when we clearly have the long-term pieces to make this the last year we miss the playoffs for a while. I'd rather move forward making smart moves as an organization instead of desperate ones to appease the fan base. If you've (in the general sense, not you specifically) put up with 10, why is 11 the deal breaker?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

So trying to make the playoffs is a dumb move!? Again, Sam Hinkie has a spot reserved for you in his front office.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

So trying to make the playoffs is a dumb move!? Again, Sam Hinkie has a spot reserved for you in his front office.

At the cost of a first round pick, yes it is a dumb move this early in the rebuild. Hinkie hasn't even sniffed the playoffs so he has no idea what this situation is like. If we keep this pick it turns into a second rounder moving forward so we can trade it right away (Payne pick still isn't until 2017 because of this pick) for something that can help us make the playoffs next year and moving forward.

[worldK]

I don't think we can make the playoffs but if we have a chance at it, I will go for it.
I'm with Q on this one. Being in a playoff environment even if we get swept, will be huge for the development of the young guys.

[Tactical unit]

I tend to agree the playoffs would not be best for the team long term and probably lead to Sam being our coach for quite a while. However don't you just want to finally make the playoffs? For Flip? For KG? Just to end the torment? Either way they are a fun bunch to watch so I am very pleased to have all this talent to cheer for!

I think ending the drought just to end the drought is a dumb move. We've been out of the playoffs for 10 years. I can put up with 1 more year when we clearly have the long-term pieces to make this the last year we miss the playoffs for a while. I'd rather move forward making smart moves as an organization instead of desperate ones to appease the fan base. If you've (in the general sense, not you specifically) put up with 10, why is 11 the deal breaker?

It's not just ending it to end it, there is so much more than that. Free agents want to join playoff teams, adding a 1st doesn't mean that player becomes a long term piece, it means we get another young kid to develop without having minutes to give him to develop. Could that pick be a long term asset sure but lets not act like its a lock cause we've had high draft picks for a very long time. I want it to end because I think the core assets are already in place and them getting a taste of the playoffs doesn't automatically mean they are out in the 1st round. Hell a playoff run could mean they trade for a serious playoff chip to make a deeper run and I'll take Wiggins, KAT, and Lavine against many other players in the league.

[Carlos Danger]

I understand the logic of the OP. But it's something I'm just not going to worry about. I doubt we'll make the playoffs even if we try anyhow. But in the event we do make the playoffs - I certainly can see a benefit for our young core to have that experience. As far as the pick we might lose...we all know there are never any guarantees that pick will have an impact in the NBA. Granted - it would still suck to lose the pick. But it won't be a franchise killer/top 5 pick. They can still add talent without a pick via free agency and a smart trade or two.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I tend to agree the playoffs would not be best for the team long term and probably lead to Sam being our coach for quite a while. However don't you just want to finally make the playoffs? For Flip? For KG? Just to end the torment? Either way they are a fun bunch to watch so I am very pleased to have all this talent to cheer for!

I think ending the drought just to end the drought is a dumb move. We've been out of the playoffs for 10 years. I can put up with 1 more year when we clearly have the long-term pieces to make this the last year we miss the playoffs for a while. I'd rather move forward making smart moves as an organization instead of desperate ones to appease the fan base. If you've (in the general sense, not you specifically) put up with 10, why is 11 the deal breaker?

It's not just ending it to end it, there is so much more than that. Free agents want to join playoff teams, adding a 1st doesn't mean that player becomes a long term piece, it means we get another young kid to develop without having minutes to give him to develop. Could that pick be a long term asset sure but lets not act like its a lock cause we've had high draft picks for a very long time. I want it to end because I think the core assets are already in place and them getting a taste of the playoffs doesn't automatically mean they are out in the 1st round. Hell a playoff run could mean they trade for a serious playoff chip to make a deeper run and I'll take Wiggins, KAT, and Lavine against many other players in the league.

You know what would help us trade for a serious playoff piece? A top 12 pick. I'm not saying we need the pick to draft a guy. I'm saying we need the asset of a first round pick for a trade so it doesn't cost us as many young players we have on the team to land someone. We don't need to be an 8 seed one and done to change our status for free agents either. The whole league can see what's going on in MN. We're still gonna have to pay people regardless because players only take discounts for contenders and good, relatively young players don't take discounts period so they normally go to the highest bidder or stay where they already were.