It’s always been the case. Success in the NBA draft depends, in large measure, on other teams’ mistakes. Let’s eyeball Sam Presti’s Oklahoma City successes, since his Thunder are the current building model for aspiring NBA doormats. Remember: in 2007, 2008 and 2009, OKC had the No. 2 overall, a No. 4 and a No. 3 draft pick, respectively.

–In 2007, Portland drafted Greg Oden instead of Kevin Durant.

–In 2008, now transplanted to OKC, Presti got lucky again when the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves with the second and third picks left Russell Westbrook out there for OKC to select. And how surprised Presti must have been to find — with the 24th pick he had secured from Phoenix — Serge Ibaka still available.

–And, in 2009, after Blake Griffin went No. 1, Memphis opted for Hasheem Thabeet — leaving James Harden for Presti to take with OKC’s No. 3 choice.

–By 2011, Presti’s luck held; he selected Reggie Jackson with the 24th pick of the first round.

–The 2012 draft produced the D- Leaguer, Perry Jones, but Presti, in shipping Harden to Houston in a multi-player deal, also wound up with a No. 13 pick in the following year’s draft. It turned out to be Steven Adams.

Still, with all the wonders he’s accomplished on Draft Day, Presti’s club has made it to just one championship round — in which the Thunder were steamrollered, four out of five, by Miami. In other good years, OKC has been ousted by the Lakers, Mavericks, and Grizzlies … just a reminder that, while a little luck and solid scouting might get you close, another kind of magic is required to reserve a seat in the NBA throne room.