Seems like every post in here someone is saying some version of this.
Things still matter. The primary goal is not losing. They’re going to lose regardless, but you still want to try building a functional organization, a new culture/identity, and a fun (or at least watchable) product for fans. These are all possible during a rebuild/tank as many teams have shown over the past 5 years or so. Nihilism isn’t going to move the organization forward even if it gets them the #1 pick next draft.
I didn’t really address the question, but, i agree, building winning habits is necessary in addition to playing young players with the intention of them losing. Like, when the second unit came in against the Heat, that was a good moment to see the starters cheer on the reserves while they pushed Spoelstra to put in Butler and Bam. Things like that should he celebrated and pointed out. I’m still not sold on Poole and Kuzma as beacons of hope for the long run, I see them as pieces to move, but that’s up for debate too. My biggest thing is, we saw with the Houston Rockets, you can’t tank AND have a shit locker room. We want to avoid that, and whatever criticism addresses that and other matters of the future success of the franchise are valid. I think a lot of this is younger fans not understanding the reality of tanking, it sounds good in theory, but watching it sucks.