Every year it seems there’s always a player in every sport who is supposed to be the “next big thing.” So every year there is a race to see which team can lose the most games and get that primetime player.

Is this morally wrong? I’m not sure what to think. Obviously there is some upside to throwing games in order to get a player who could turn around an entire franchise. But for those season ticket holders, it could make the entire season a waste of time and money. There hasn’t been any evidence of teams throwing games for this cause, and I wouldn’t accuse any team of doing this because I can’t find any proof that they did. But it’s a common subject of speculation whether or not it would be the best move for the organization.

Take LeBron James, arguably the biggest star in sports. He was considered the “can’t miss” prospect of his draft class. And who could fault that analysis? He has gone on to have an incredible career so far, pretty much accomplishing everything short of an NBA title. The Cavaliers tied for the worst record in the NBA in the 2002-2003, ended up with LeBron James and had years of success until he decided to bolt for Miami.

Granted, because of the lottery, the NBA team with the worst record doesn’t always get the top pick. Regardless, the Cavs drafted one player and improved drastically fast over the next couple of seasons.

The same types of players can be found in other sports as well. In the MLB there was no debate about which player the Nationals would select in the 2009 draft. Stephen Strasburg was, without a doubt, the best player available. The Nationals also claimed the number one pick a year later and drafted high school powerhouse Bryce Harper. Sure, these picks haven’t exactly propelled the Nationals to the spotlight yet. But an average of 33,485 fans showed up to watch Strasburg’s starts in 2010, about 11,000 more than the Nationals’ average attendance that year. And once Harper works his way up to the majors there’s no doubt even more Nationals fans will line up to see this kid get his shot in the MLB. So even without winning a lot more games, this has benefitted the club and gotten fans excited again.

But acquiring the first overall pick doesn’t always have the same kind of payoff. No Wizards fan will be able to forget the Kwame Brown fiasco, just as all Clippers fans will never live down the busted pick of Michael Olowokandi. The first overall pick comes with the potential to turn around an entire organization. But it also comes with the prospect of losing fan support and diminishing chances for success.

So is it smart to throw games and potentially get the first overall pick? Honestly I’m not quite sure. But I always tend to view these subjects from a fan’s perspective, and as a fan I know I never want to see my team lose. I would feel cheated if I bought tickets to a game only to see my team throw away a chance at a victory.

Yes, it could potentially bring better things in the future. But it might put off some fans that simply want to watch their team play to the best of its ability. In the end, I believe sports should always be about the race for the best record, not the worst.