More than any other professional sports league, the NBA does not favor middle-of-the-road teams like the Detroit Pistons. Therefore, it is imperative that teams who are not contenders have a rebuilding plan in place.
Looking at past NBA champions, it is virtually impossible to contend, let alone win an NBA title, without a superstar. Obviously, the 2004 Pistons are an exception to the rule.
A distinction that is less widely known is the difference in talent between the beginning and end of the lottery of the NBA Draft. While there is typically plenty of talent in the top five of a given draft, there is evidence to prove how quickly the value of picks change.