NBA Offseason: 5 Teams Who Should Be Entering a Rebuild

Detroit Pistons

Is there such a thing as rebuilding a rebuild, but it’s just not working in Detroit. Last season, under Monty Williams, the development that the Detriot Pistons were supposed to see went the other way, creating one of the worst teams in the history of the NBA. Detroit just brought in a new front office, so they should be granted the opportunity to build the team of their liking. Trade Jalen Duren to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a ton of picks, trade Jaden Ivey for whatever you can get for him, and trade Cade Cunningham to the San Antonio Spurs for their entire roster except Victor Wembanyama. This all may seem far-fetched, but the culture is non-existent. Rip the band-aid off now rather than sitting through another 20-win season next year.

Sacramento Kings

It’s hard to envision the Sacramento Kings entering a rebuild in the near future, especially after they inked Mike Brown for a lucrative extension, but how does this Kings’ team improve? De’Aaron Fox has seemed to tap his potential, and Domantas Sabonis isn’t improving anymore. Frankly, the Kings’ only path to improvement is finding a gem in the middle of the draft of Keegan Murray becoming an All-Star level player. I’m certainly high on Murray, but I also don’t think he’ll be any more than a third option on a championship-caliber team. I’m among the belief that if you’re not first, you're last, and knowing how competitive the top of the Western Conference will be for the next decade, it’s hard to see where the Kings fit into that mix. Tear it down sooner than later!

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have everything a team can ask for when it comes to beginning a rebuild. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray will both be able to return Atlanta a ton of assets, while the Hawks also own the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s draft. The latter certainly helps a ton, regardless of the perceived “strength” of the draft class. Now, it’s just a matter of executing. Don’t get it twisted; Young and Murray can’t be on the Hawks’ roster next season!

Golden State Warriors

If we’re being realistic, the Golden State Warriors will never trade Stephen Curry, but Curry still has a ton of great basketball left in him, and he deserves another shot at a ring. You never want to punt on a season, but this current version of the Warriors isn’t going anywhere in the West next season, so they’d be better off entering a mini-rebuild to set up for a star hunt next summer. Essentially, they’d just clear their books to open up a max-slate and trade everyone who has some resemblance of value. That may include trading someone like Jonathan Kuminga before he’s due a contract extension. Next summer is their summer, but at the same time, unless someone becomes available on the trade market, looking at the free agent class, the only realistic option seems to be a Kevin Durant reunion. Now, I struggle to see what an old Curry-Durant pairing accomplishes in the West, so if Curry wants to win a championship while still in his prime, he needs to build a superteam elsewhere. The Warriors would allow Curry to pick his next destination, so he should take advantage.

Detroit Pistons

Is there such a thing as rebuilding a rebuild, but it’s just not working in Detroit. Last season, under Monty Williams, the development that the Detriot Pistons were supposed to see went the other way, creating one of the worst teams in the history of the NBA. Detroit just brought in a new front office, so they should be granted the opportunity to build the team of their liking. Trade Jalen Duren to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a ton of picks, trade Jaden Ivey for whatever you can get for him, and trade Cade Cunningham to the San Antonio Spurs for their entire roster except Victor Wembanyama. This all may seem far-fetched, but the culture is non-existent. Rip the band-aid off now rather than sitting through another 20-win season next year.