It also cannot be overstated that the Raptors fell out of their protected range which they tanked their asses off to get to - because two teams with some of the lowest odds to jump - jumped ahead of them, making that pick convey at the highest possible value (8th in the 2024 draft).
They then used that pick to get a ‘31 pick and ‘30 swap from the Timberwolves. They then traded the ‘31 Minnesota pick as the centerpiece of their offer to the Kings for Fox.
Every trap they lay gets them a pelt that outrageously defies any reasonable statistical likelihood. Then the Hawks - not owning a pick and supposedly all-in - inexplicably trade two of their best four players to save money for… to save money, or…?
At what point does the league create a mechanism to nullify outcomes with an emergency vote of the board of governors because it is so outrageous? Cuz that’s what the Luka deal is, and SA getting the #1 pick this year (or even top-4) is way worse. They will be virtually unbeatable for a half-decade stretch, conservatively.