Detroit Pistons: Quick or slow the better way to win an NBA Championship?

Part Two: The Slow Way

Some teams don’t have the luxury of attracting high-profile players to their city. These types of teams often have to recreate their thought process and decide on a different approach. This is the slow cooker approach. Teams add ingredients (draft picks, free agent signings, player trades), mix it up, and let it simmer.  It takes strategic thought to put all of the right ingredients into the metaphorical slow cooker. When organizations take this approach, it takes time for fans to see the big picture.

It is possible to build a winning organization this way. It is slow, but can be successful when organizations think methodically, exhibit patience, and forge an identity during winning seasons and losing seasons. Here is one example from the recent past of how this worked.

Golden State Warriors

The 2015 NBA Championship earned by the Golden State Warriors was not won overnight. It was not won by a team pieced together over one, two or even three years. It all started after the 2009 team completed a 29-53 season.

Over the next several seasons, the Warriors started building what became their championship team. They drafted Stephen Curry in 2009, Klay Thompson in 2011, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green in 2012. David Lee, Andre Iguodala, and Andrew Bogut came through trades. Shaun Livingston was signed in 2014.

This compilation of smart draft selections, shrewd trades and signings produced a team that won the 2015 Finals and laid the groundwork for the team to win three total championships and appear in five straight finals.

Bob Myers and the Golden State Warriors created a team that will be a serious NBA championship contender for a long time. It is a modern-day dynasty that rivals all the great NBA teams. It is not about how many championships this team has won. Three rings in the big scheme of things is not a lot. It is about how this team has consistently dominated its competition. The Warriors show us a team can compete in this league by slowly building a team.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are rebuilding their team with the slow approach over the past few years.

The 2015-16 LA Clippers went 53-29 during the regular season, made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Portland Trailblazers. This officially ended their dynamic team led by Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan.

Doc Rivers decided to change course and do something different. The big three of Paul, Griffin, and Jordan could not get it done. They couldn’t reach the pinnacle of an NBA Title. Over the next couple of years, Rivers traded away the team he long dreamed could win it all.

They finished the 2016-2017 season 51-31 and made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz. June 28, 2017, was a historic day for fans. Paul was traded to the Houston Rockets and the Clippers got a host of role players.

On July 18, 2017, they traded Griffin and two other players to the Detroit Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovich and a 2018 first-round draft pick. This trade has had positive implications for both sides.

They finished 42-40 in 2017-18, finishing tenth in the western conference. Internal improvement helped the team finish 48-34 the following season and they clinched the eighth playoff spot.

By waiving a few guys and making a few smart trades, this Clippers team put themselves in a great financial situation. To better their flexibility, the Clippers sent Harris, Marjanovich and Mike Scott to the 76ers in exchange for a few players and a slew of draft picks. That trade led them to do something even more impressive, destroying all offseason expectations.

All of these sacrifices set them up well to make a major trade.

NBA fans held their breath for longer than humanly possible. Finally on July 9th, 2019, newly crowned Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard decided to join the LA Clippers. This news shocked the NBA, but even more electrifying was what happened next. A mastermind, whether it was the Clippers or Kawhi Leonard, arranged a deal that sent Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and seven draft picks to the OKC Thunder for Paul George.

Now the team looks to be a dynasty in waiting. What are the implications of this offseason for the Clippers? This is not the Paul, Griffin and Jordan team anymore. Even though it seemed that that team should have been able to win, Rivers and Lawrence Frank made sacrifices to recreate the team.

This Clippers team looks like it took a slow, methodical approach to their NBA championship aspiration and it looks like it might work. The general consensus around the league believes that this team has what it takes in Leonard, George, and their supporting cast.

Pros and Cons

There are clear benefits to a team taking the slow approach. One, an identity is formed and a thoughtful plan is executed step-by-step. The executives know what is needed, show patience, and put the pieces together when the right opportunity presents itself. The fan base grows with the team and gets to enjoy the steady ride. It is an experience that is not long forgotten. It is remembered and cherished by all that have the privilege to be witnesses to it.

The downside to this approach is multifaceted. Fans may not understand the slow approach and buy into the process. The team hopes their core players do not get injured or regress in their ability over time. Other teams might develop their championship-contending team at the same time. The path to the title might get overgrown and the next golden opportunity might get pushed further back.