You have to start by drafting a superstar. Then you can get a second and/or a third superstar by free agency and plundering a team that wants to unload a star player to rebuild.
For example, here are a few championship teams' formulas for success ---
Lakers:
1. Draft Kobe Bryant (when he refuses to play for anyone but you)
2. Steal the most dominant center in the league through free agency right when he's hitting his prime with the lure of making bad movies and rap albums.
3. Heist a good complementary player (Horry) via free agency or trade
4. When Shaq starts to burn out send him to the Heat, then keep trading some of those players you get until you can steal the next top 3 center in the league from a team that wants to rebuild.
Celtics:
1. Draft Paul Pierce
2. Steal Kevin Garnett from the Timberwolves when he's had enough.
3. Steal Ray Allen from the Sonics for Jeff Green.
4. Fill in with role players who want to play with those guys.
Spurs:
1. Win the lottery and draft a HOF center.
2. Win the lottery again and draft a second HOF center.
3. Draft high-impact players in the late first and second rounds to keep a good thing going.
Rockets:
1. Win the lottery and draft a HOF center.
2. Wait for Jordan to retire.
3. Let Benoit shoot.
4. Draft pretty well and coach them pretty well.
5. Steal a superstar wing from a team whose dynasty is falling apart.
Heat:
1. Draft a superstar guard.
2. Trade the house for Shaq while he's still got something in the tank.
3. Take advantage of the Eastern Conference being weak when Ben Wallace hits a wall.
4. Hope you play the Mavericks in the Finals.
Jazz:
1. Draft a HOF point guard.
2. Draft a HOF power forward.
3. Steal an okay combo guard from a team that's falling apart.
4. Bludgeon the other teams with pick-and-rolls and physical defense until they relent.
....It almost worked.
For example, here are a few championship teams' formulas for success ---
Lakers:
1. Draft Kobe Bryant (when he refuses to play for anyone but you)
2. Steal the most dominant center in the league through free agency right when he's hitting his prime with the lure of making bad movies and rap albums.
3. Heist a good complementary player (Horry) via free agency or trade
4. When Shaq starts to burn out send him to the Heat, then keep trading some of those players you get until you can steal the next top 3 center in the league from a team that wants to rebuild.
Celtics:
1. Draft Paul Pierce
2. Steal Kevin Garnett from the Timberwolves when he's had enough.
3. Steal Ray Allen from the Sonics for Jeff Green.
4. Fill in with role players who want to play with those guys.
Spurs:
1. Win the lottery and draft a HOF center.
2. Win the lottery again and draft a second HOF center.
3. Draft high-impact players in the late first and second rounds to keep a good thing going.
Rockets:
1. Win the lottery and draft a HOF center.
2. Wait for Jordan to retire.
3. Let Benoit shoot.
4. Draft pretty well and coach them pretty well.
5. Steal a superstar wing from a team whose dynasty is falling apart.
Heat:
1. Draft a superstar guard.
2. Trade the house for Shaq while he's still got something in the tank.
3. Take advantage of the Eastern Conference being weak when Ben Wallace hits a wall.
4. Hope you play the Mavericks in the Finals.
Jazz:
1. Draft a HOF point guard.
2. Draft a HOF power forward.
3. Steal an okay combo guard from a team that's falling apart.
4. Bludgeon the other teams with pick-and-rolls and physical defense until they relent.
....It almost worked.