A former NBA player who is now a coach and executive, Isaiah Thomas frequently offers his opinions on team management and basketball strategy. One of his well-known quotations talks about the difficulties teams have when choosing between keeping their current players and making risky trades.

According to Thomas, some teams are tempted to take risks in the hopes of succeeding quickly, but these tactics don't always work out right away. He contends that depending on more seasoned, older players may be a more reliable strategy. But both the team and its supporters must be patient with this approach.

Consider a garden where seeds are sown with the expectation that they will produce colorful flowers. Occasionally, a gardener may replace plants often in pursuit of instant beauty rather than waiting for the ideal circumstances to support each plant. When nothing turns out the way you had hoped, this tactic can cause frustration. On the other hand, maintaining established flowers might eventually produce more reliable results, even if it means enduring seasons devoid of eye-catching displays.

In a similar vein, Thomas's counsel advises teams to put more effort into building and preserving fan base trust by sticking to a long-term strategy rather than pursuing short-term solutions. This method recognizes that, similar to nature, sports success frequently calls for perseverance and patience.