Of course they will lose to one of the top seeds. The only team they’d be able to at least “run with” is Brooklyn. They seem to match up well with them. Plus Brooklyn’s team seems extremely injury prone.
All that said, it’s a dumb strategy. They should be building for the future, not striving to be the 10th best team in the East. It’s screams poor planning, and a silly desperation borne from years of wallowing in pathetically bad management.
My guess it’s only to appease Beal, so he will stay. Which just immediately circles back to terrible management by the team and zero forethought and planning towards a winning future.
Worst of the worst.