There is, of course, a reason why the Spurs were in position to draft Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio’s mere 22 wins last season gave it the joint-best odds of nabbing the No. 1 pick, and ultimately the honor of selecting the uber-talented teenager.
And while some growing pains were expected in the first year of the Wembanyama era, the current standings are a stark reminder of just how ugly the rebuilding process can look.
Despite some nice individual numbers from the Frenchman – 19 points and 11 rebounds per game – the Spurs are the worst team in the Western Conference currently, with a woeful 4-21 record.
Of course, there are things the lanky big man can improve upon in the coming years; his three-point shot hasn’t really fallen in the NBA yet, for one.
But Wembanyama can’t do it all on his own, and like some other top prospects of the recent past, we are seeing his promising play overshadowed by garbage time and relegated to the background of the NBA universe.
Victor Wembanyama has shown promise individually but the Spurs have struggled badly
2011 first overall pick Kyrie Irving languished on some truly poor Cavaliers teams before LeBron James returned to Cleveland, while Devin Booker’s merits as a ‘winning player’ were debated for the first five years of his career as his individual scoring plaudits failed to uplift some lackluster groups in Phoenix.
Wembanyama will get better, and the Spurs likely will too under the guidance of Gregg Popovich. But for a little while, this will look like how you’d expect a young, point guard-less roster to.
If there is any consolation for the Spurs’ current struggles, it’s that they are not the worst team in the NBA; that distinction goes to the 2-25 Pistons, who should be further along in their rebuilding process after two consecutive years of top-five picks.
Nonetheless, Detroit has somehow regressed from its 17-65 mark last year, with the team riding a 24-game losing streak.
Cade Cunningham has failed to progress as hoped in his third NBA season with the Pistons
The Pistons were not exactly projected to be world-beaters this year, and six of the team’s top minutes getters are 22 and under.
But it’s not unfair to expect slightly more from a group with the second-highest paid coach in the league in Monty Williams, and the 2021 first overall pick in Cade Cunningham.
Detroit is just four losses away from matching the most consecutive losses in NBA history. There is rebuilding, and then there is getting lost along the way.
It’s fair to wonder what path Detroit is on.
Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland is a waste of time for both parties
Even before the season started, there was speculation that Donovan Mitchell wanted out of Cleveland next summer.
The All-Star guard, who was heavily linked to the Knicks last year before being traded to the Cavs, has so far refused to sign an extension with his current team (he’s eligible to sign an even more lucrative one next summer).
And despite a strong 2022-23 season for the Cavs, in which they won 51 games, Mitchell’s potential departure could come even sooner than expected after the team was dealt two significant injury blows.
Forward Evan Mobley is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks following knee surgery, while Darius Garland will be out at least a month with a fractured jaw, the team said.
Donovan Mitchell is stuck in no man’s land on the Cavs – especially with two recent injuries
Those injuries, combined with the team’s underwhelming start to the season (Cleveland sits sixth in the East with a 15-12 record) have thrust the Cavs into a sort of no man’s land, where team president Koby Altman might be wise to consider his options in regards to Mitchell.
Altman won’t be eager to deal the four-time All-Star, who had a career year last season. But the Cavs are well off the league’s elite, and Mitchell has shown over time that he’s not a championship No. 1.
If someone comes knocking on Cleveland’s doors with a tremendous offer for Mitchell, now might be the time to strike – with multiple years left on his deal, and before he could turn down another extension next summer (and potentially worsen the team’s leverage).
Viral moment of the week: Giannis’ game-ball tantrum could give the NBA a much-needed rivalry
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a meltdown last week, after the Pacers initially took the game-ball following his record-breaking 64-point performance.
The image of an NBA champion and two-time MVP remonstrating with an opposing player (Tyrese Haliburton) and coach (Lloyd Pierce) over the lost artifact – and sprinting towards the tunnel to find it – was shocking to watch.
Whether you think it was wildly over the top, or somewhat admirable that he cared that much, the moment undoubtedly fueled some bad blood between Milwaukee and Indiana.
And honestly, that’s not such a bad thing in a day and age where authentic NBA rivalries are severely lacking.
The Bucks and Pacers are both talented and now have legitimate reasons to dislike each other – especially after Indiana ousted Milwaukee in the In-Season Tournament as well. That can only lead to good entertainment.
The Central Division rivals face off two more times in January, and don’t be surprised if the friction from their previous matchups carries over.