The Nets and Philadelphia 76ers took differing rebuilding paths to arrive at their first-round matchup in the playoffs.



Philadelphia traded young core players for future draft picks and cap space to tank for multiple seasons in order to land high lottery picks who would become All-Stars and form a new long-term nucleus. Years after drafting two All-Star players, the Sixers moved their top remaining young players and future draft picks to land a veteran All-Star guard and an All-Star caliber forward.



For Brooklyn, an organization handcuffed by a lack of draft picks when general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson took over, the plan was to find sleepers in the draft and on the free agent market, take chances on talented players who could use a change of scenery and add veterans on short-term deals while developing a winning culture.



Now, with a rivalry brewing between these two teams during the playoffs that could last into the foreseeable future, is...