However, there is alot of variability (those early games didn't have Beno, and K-9 was being played, and Shawes wasn't being played) to accurately put the responsibility of successes on any specific player - especially when we're working within a half-season window. Any team not utilizing its best talent is usually worse for the present.

The cap-space diary - the ensuing conversation between pookey and I also develops the argument further, and draws unique conclusions.

 I agree: The Jazz is another interesting case study. They took an initial gamble that at first-sighting looked like it failed (Boozers injuries maddening Utah fans). In some ways, they got lucky (that high pick helped them out a bit, too). Even then, they still had some tough times in between. What is interesting is that they went into rebuilding phase almost immediately (they didn't have much of a choice). They got rid of the Big O when Stock and Malone left (and a couple other players whose names evade me now), and then started looking to fill their needed positions (via draft and free agency) and stuck with those players that they chose. Constructing a timeline of their signings/player-leavings** would be a very useful visual tool, I'm too tired to sit around and construct it.
**(what is the actual word for that?)

It would seem that accepting fate and jumping into rebuilding speeds up the process, rather than trying to rebuild-and-win. Portland is another great example of a team that just went all-out with the rebuilding; let's see what happens with the Supersonics (though their arena talks might affect the issue) and the Timberwolves (who are especially interesting because of [something else mentioned in that diary] the fact that so much of their young talent will be looking for deals at the end of this season. 76ers though, are a complete fkjob managerial-wise, and should also be interesting to watch - if only to serve as warning to the Maloofs.

We could play with this idea more - my knowledge of the present NBA is significantly better than my knowledge of anything going on three-years before, so if you can suggest some teams that were rebuilding 4-5 years ago, we could take a closer look (suns after the J-Kidd trade?). An example of the opposite would also be necessary (Orlando forcing the issue with Hill trade, and thus not really rebuilding - or trying to rebuild too quickly?). Clearly we'd need more.

If you're game, I'd love to walk through this kind of discussion. I'm more privy to the how-were-they-utilizing-young-talent side of the question, and you're more interested in the well-how-did-they-get-that-star side of the question. Together, the two issues could bring about some altogether interesting points.