Rebuilds have a lot of negatives for fans who understandably want to see their team win, but they do offer the possibility to focus on more than just the standings. One of those options is the opportunity to embrace a flawed player with potential for what they could become without having to be too concerned with expectations or production.
There’s just something enjoyable about rooting for an underdog to figure things out, to put everything together and surprise everyone. That’s true for everything in life, and not that rare in the NBA. Think back to Danny Green, getting waived twice before carving out an illustrious NBA career, or Patty Mills, who was discarded by the Trail Blazers and was close to having the Spurs give up on him before getting in shape and becoming one of the most beloved players in franchise history.