Folks.....Miami's rings have zero to do with tanking. They were the 5th best tankers the year they got Wade. In 2008 they picked 2nd and got M Beasley. Their titles are based off a trade for Shaq and free agency. And not tanking at all.
So
1. Luck / Timing -- they got a superstar in Wade despite picking 5th in the draft. Either they got lucky or they picked the right year to tank.
2. Pat Riley -- did an amazing job convincing Shaq and then LeBron to come to Miami.
3. Great location -- played a significant role in where the aforementioned players chose to take their talents.
Location, Location, Location...
Guys Boston will NEVER be as attractive as NY, LA, Miami or even Chicago. Those cities are either warmer or are just better cultural hubs with a lot more interesting things to do. Boston is a small city, it's extremely cold, and the city essentially hides it's diversity and has a history of not being favorable to people of color.
So yea, if I'm a NBA player I'd rather go to a warmer climate or a place that had more culture to it. Boston just isn't that place.
Building through the draft and actually getting guys to buy into the culture here is our best bet. Free Agents do not come to Boston ever, unless they're named Brian Scalabrine.