btwn showing competitiveness and keeping their lottery odds favorable.

no need to go full tank. there's value in winning. you don't want guys just losing night in and out. young players internalize that stuff, they get used to losing and it plays on their confidence and self-esteem. so it's good to see them win some games and show some promise. they look to have a handful of keepers (dunn, lauri, nwaba, portis, valentine, lavine)

i still think they move mirotic after he becomes trade-eligible on 1/15 and that they finish with top 5 lottery odds. meanwhile, credit (begrudging as it may be) has to go to garpax. for now it looks like both the hoiberg hire and the butler trade may turn out to be good moves.