If Riley is as committed to the free-agent process as he was before the harsh reality of his Durant setback, then which sets up as more meaningful to the next class of top-tier free agents: A team that claws its way to a playoff seed by ceding time to nominal veterans such as Ellington, Babbitt and James Johnson? Or a team that shows, even with the anticipated growing pains, continued growth from next-wave talents such as Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and, once again, Tyler Johnson?