It's not really in the context of free agents. When was the last big free agent you heard of sign in Philly? Elton Brand maybe, but even then, he was coming of an achilles injury and wasn't getting that many offers. No player ever asked to be traded to Philly, even before the Hinkie era, it's not a destination guys want to go to, because basketball isn't the main focus in Philly.

I'm pretty sure that's how the Spurs won their first two championships, by getting #1 draft picks in Robinson and Duncan, except they were able to do it sooner. Did they intentionally tank? No, but it ended up happening and they got the 2nd #1 pick in Duncan. It's how OKC made it to the finals in 2012. It's how Cleveland got LBJ back.

Most teams that have won championships in the past 20 years have been either The Spurs, a bunch of superstars teaming up together like in Miami and Boston. Big name markets like the Lakers. Only Detroit and Dallas are the only teams that did so without tanking and just acquiring players through trading. The 2004 Pistons are an anomaly and will most likely never happen again, and the 2011 Mavs needed Dirk playing at God mode. The Warriors won the championship by drafting Curry, Thompson and Barnes,all through the lottery and Green in the 2nd round. Those e guys helped build their core, and allowed them to trade for other players to complement them. If you're not a big market team or a franchise like The Spurs, your only options are to hope a bunch of superstars decide to team up on your team, hope one of your players will have a ridiculous post-season and carry the team to the finals, and that's about it. Tanking gives you the ability to hopefully draft the best players available. I don't get what what other option there is.