can anyone prove that a sports franchise has ever purposely lost games to have a higher draft pick?

[Varking]

56 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Ironic thing to say in the modern "super team" era. You aren't competing in today's NBA unless you can convince 2-3 superstars to team up in your city.

MJ never won without Pippen in the playoffs. A single guy can dominate a game but you need multiple good players to win a series. 

[Agent Blue]

The problem is people (esp fans) only see things in the moment. They can't see the big picture. 

Once you are eliminated from the playoffs, the next thing to focus on is maximizing the draft. 

Winning meaningless games hurts us in the long run. 

Losing meaningless games helps up in the long run. 

We would likely have Herbert had we lost one more game last year. Who is looking like a potential franchise QB. 

If you are a coach, the main thing is just making sure the owner and GM are all on the same page. 

 

[beo]

12 hours ago, DeAngelo Beason said:

The samurai defeated the Mongols.  Twice.

To be fair a lot of that was on the typhoons but yeah the analogy still doesn't work either way. The Mongols were best at fighting in the open fields, the rocky landmass of Japan wasn't ideal for them. Even if there had been no interference from Mother Nature it would've been comparatively hard fought as the Mongols had struggled with unfamiliar fighting landscapes before (Early invasions of China, campaign into Vietnam.) although the typhoons were still the primary cause of those failures in the Japan invasions.

[SizzleBuzz]

11 hours ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

No they aren't. The Saints laughed their collective asses off when we beat them week 17 and they rested all their starters for the playoffs. They didnt play their best players trying to win. And not only did losing not hurt them, by letting us win, they hurt our draft position which in turn helps them. They won by losing. 

Not putting your team in the best position to succeed intentionally for a game. Theres a word for that. TANKING.

Completely different situation, definitely not "tanking".

Saints were resting starters for the playoff run...happens every year.

All that being said, do you believe the Saints to be a (i) high character organization, (ii) low character organization, or (iii) a no character organization?