Nine? Try 29. The fans in this market are not accustomed to losing, we are spoiled that way. The reason that they are accumulating assets is because they don't want to have to rely on their own draft selection. I guarantee that the team isn't planning on being in the lottery themselves. Of course if it ends up that way, so be it, but they aren't tanking. Besides, the team isn't that bad. Let's look at the primary players and their backups:
Burke: really, the season hinges on his preformance.
Random point guard: yeah, this one is kinda tough, but Lucas is a vet, and he has moxy. Burks might get time here, and he's shown promise.
Burks: core four, nuf said.
Rush: if he heals up, he's a great shooter who is pretty athletic, not a bad backup at all.
Hayward: again, core four.
Marvin: when he's on, he's good. heck, he's getting paid seven mil for what someone saw in him
Favors: four again.
Evans: not really strong or big, but a lot of people like him, and he does bring amazing athletisism.
Kanter: final four.
Biedrins: again, sure he played like crap the last year or two, but he got paid ten millish for something, and he has been a double double guy in his career. And remember, this 'old guy' is only 27
Drinking the coolaid? maybe, but the fact is that if all ten of these guys play to the top of their abilities the team has plenty of talent. If not, there are three or four guys at the end of the bench who either have veteran experience, or are also part of the future of the team.
Does that sound like tanking to you guys? Doesn't to me.