Which path could lead Pistons out of futility?

The 2023-24 Detroit Pistons (3-31) aren't the first bad team in NBA history. They're not the first atrocious team in NBA history either; even since 2000, the NBA world has witnessed pretty brutal seasons. 

How do these Pistons compare to the other woeful teams of the 21st century? And can Detroit potentially pull some tactics from the rebuilding strategies of those other teams, whether in the form of player development, drafting or staffing decisions? It's worth a shot.

2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (7-59)

Like Detroit has Cade Cunningham, the 2011-12 Bobcats had a promising young guard of their own in Kemba Walker — and then not a whole lot else. 

Charlotte had its eyes set on a super-prospect in the 2012 NBA Draft that would make the miserable 2011-12 season — a regular season cut short by a lockout — worth it. Anthony Davis, the seven-footer from Kentucky, was viewed as a franchise-changing prospect for whichever team won the 2012 lottery and earned the right to draft him. He did end up being that franchise-changing talent, but it just wasn't in Charlotte. The Bobcats were instead awarded the second pick, which they used to select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who had an undistinguished nine-year career in the league. 

In the years to come, Charlotte was never quite as dreadful as 2011-12, but it didn't win a playoff series with Walker as its leader, couldn't attract free agents and drafted poorly. 

There's pretty much nothing from a rebuild perspective that Detroit can learn from Charlotte, but player development is a different story because, at the very least, Charlotte developed Walker from an inefficient, raw scorer into an All-NBA-level point guard. Cunningham has the skill set to make some All-NBA teams of his own, and prioritizing his growth should be Detroit's main on-court objective.

2015-16 Philadelphia 76ers (10-72)

The famous (or infamous) "Process" era Sixers changed the way many folks view tanking in the modern age. Essentially, the strategy — headed by Sixers GM Sam Hinkie — was to lose as much as possible as quickly as possible, completely clear out the roster and gain assets and then improve extremely rapidly through the draft, free agency and trades.

Has it worked? Well... maybe? Philadelphia's Joel Embiid won an MVP last season — he was a direct result of The Process — but the 76ers have yet to reach a conference finals in his tenure.

Detroit isn't trying to lose like Philadelphia did, but the losses are coming regardless. And there are lessons to be learned from the Process-era Sixers. First and foremost, though, Detroit must hit on its draft picks.

If Philadelphia hadn't picked Embiid and Ben Simmons (who was a three-time All-Star in a past life), The Process would have been an utter failure. But taking a chance on Embiid paid dividends, and until Embiid is wearing a jersey other than Philly's, The Process lives. Can Detroit hit on a pick like Philadelphia did with Embiid? It will certainly have a few chances in the near future.

2004-05 Atlanta Hawks (13-69)

Mike Woodson's tenure as coach of the Hawks was moderately successful. The team won a few playoff series with him at the helm and finished in the top four of the Eastern Conference in 2008-09 and 2009-10. But his first season in Atlanta was pretty much a disaster. The team went 13-69, the fourth-worst record in the 21st century. But they stayed patient with Woodson, who proved to be a competent coach in the following years.

So, can Detroit learn something from this Atlanta team? Potentially. Monty Williams might not be the coach for Detroit, but no one would have succeeded in Detroit this season. Pistons fans are already calling for his job, but letting Williams coach a real NBA roster (if Detroit can build something close to one this summer) is the right path forward, no matter how frustrating that feels in the meantime.