NBA NOTEBOOK: Spurs’ and Pistons’ struggles show just how ugly rebuilding can be… while it may be time for the Cavs to pull the plug on their Donovan Mitchell era

There is of course a reason why Spurs were in a position to appoint Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio's only 22 wins last season gave it the best chance to land the No. 1 pick, and ultimately the honor of selecting the highly 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 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 currently the worst team in the Western Conference, with a dismal record of 4-21.

Of course, there are things the lanky big man can improve on in the coming years; his three-point shot, for example, hasn't really fallen yet in the NBA.

But Wembanyama can't do it all alone, and like some other top players of the recent past, we're seeing his promising play overshadowed by garbage time and relegated to the background of the NBA universe.

Kyrie Irving, the 2011 first overall pick, languished on some really bad 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 cheers failed to brighten some lackluster ones. groups in Phoenix.

Wembanyama will improve, and Spurs likely will too under Gregg Popovich. But for a while, this will look like what you'd expect from a young, point guard-less roster.

If there's any consolation to Spurs' current struggles, it's that there is 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 straight years of top-five picks.

Nevertheless, Detroit has somehow regressed from last year's 17-65 mark, with the team snapping a 24-game losing streak.

Cade Cunningham has failed to make the progress he hoped for in his third NBA season with the Pistons

The Pistons weren't exactly expected to be world beaters this year, and six of the team's top minutes players are 22 years old or younger.

But it's not unfair to expect a little more from a group that includes the second-highest paid coach in the league in Monty Williams, and the top pick for 2021 in Cade Cunningham.

Detroit is just four losses away from tying the most consecutive losses in NBA history. People are rebuilding and getting lost along the way.

One wonders what path Detroit is taking.

Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland is a waste of time for both parties

Even before the season started, there was speculation that Donovan Mitchell wanted to leave 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 declined to sign an extension with his current team (he is eligible to sign an even more lucrative contract next summer to draw).

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 suffered two significant injuries.

Forward Evan Mobley is expected to miss six to eight weeks after knee surgery, while Darius Garland will be out at least a month with a broken jaw, the team said.

Donovan Mitchell is stuck in no man's land with the Cavs, especially with two recent injuries

These injuries, combined with the team's disappointing start to the season (Cleveland is sixth in the East with a 15-12 record) have pushed the Cavs into something of a no man's land, where team president Koby Altman might be wise to consider his options . as for Mitchell.

Altman won't be eager to deal with the four-time All-Star, who had a career year last season. But the Cavs are far behind the league's elite, and Mitchell has shown over time that he is not a number one in the championship.

If someone comes knocking at Cleveland with a killer offer for Mitchell, now might be the time to strike — with several years left on his contract, and before he could turn down another extension next summer (and potentially impact the team's could deteriorate).

Viral moment of the week: Giannis' 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 protesting the lost artifact with an opponent (Tyrese Haliburton) and coach (Lloyd Pierce) — and sprinting to the tunnel to find it — was shocking to watch.

Whether you think it's over the top or somewhat admirable that he cared so much, the moment undoubtedly created some bad blood between Milwaukee and Indiana.

And honestly, that's not such a bad thing in an era where authentic NBA rivalries are sorely lacking.

The Bucks and Pacers are both talented and now have legitimate reasons to dislike each other, especially after Indiana also ousted Milwaukee in the In-Season Tournament. That can only lead to good entertainment.

The Central Division rivals face each other twice more in January, and don't be surprised if the friction from their previous matches continues.