Exactly...and while they operate with different financial constraints, they also had a barren MiL system at the time too.
But they made the right decision to trade guys, develop what they did have well and got right back there.
While not the best example, the Yankees "sell off" in 2016 shows that a rebuild does not need to take years and years. They traded a huge trade chip in Chapman for Gleyber Torres, traded Andrew Miller for some good pieces, traded Beltran for Tate (which got them Britton shortly thereafter) made a few more moves, and were competitive again. Again, they operate with different financial constraints, etc., but this is proof that a rebuild does not need to include purposely terrible seasons.
Or the more likely concern, from my perspective, is it's just a SSS. Don't want to over react to a hot streak. Every hitter who ever played has had them.
With Kjerstad, he also had some team USA moments if I remember correctly, so hopefully this is a reflection of what he is and not a hot month at the plate.
This is true. And to this point, the hardcore tanking of the Sixers netted them two very good draft picks at the top of the draft (Embiid and Simmons) and two awful early picks (Okafor and Noel). Being awful for good draft positioning does not always yield results.
They've had a lot of help.
It isn't as if the O's are breaking new ground here. In the last decade or so these types of tanking movements have become pretty standard in American proffesional sports.
Look at how hard the 76's tanked(three consecutive seasons playing under .250 ball) and they haven't even made a conference finals since.