“Are they better for it?” and “was it worth the risk to take a shot?” are two different questions.
In hindsight, it failed. Are they actually better today than if they’d taken another path? Who knows? They had Jarrett Allen, LaVert, Dinwiddie, all their draft picks, and enough cap room to sign two max players.
Today they have Ben Simmons on max, Joe Harris at 2yr/$40M, lost their next six first rounders altogether or after pick swaps, and whatever they get after unloading KD and Irving. They can’t take another “rookie max” guy so their trade options for “star” players are very limited. Sounds like they may get Westbrook and some other trash for Irving. I doubt whatever they get back for KD will be better than 3 firsts, 3 pick swaps, Allen, LaVert, and Dinwiddie. But y’all are sure they will be better off in ‘23 than ‘19?