Win their most recent win, the Detroit Pistons inched ahead of the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference standings, with a half game separating the worst two records in the NBA.
The PISTONS AREN'T THE WORST! Raise the banner!
There is still time for Detroit to claim the worst record in the league, but even if they do, are they really the worst team?
Records aside, when you factor in age and future of the roster, there are teams that have it worse than the Pistons.
3 Teams that are worse than the Detroit Pistons despite the records
Washington Wizards
Ok, so you don't have to say "despite the records" with the Wizards, as they are the only team currently beneath the Pistons in the standings.
The Wizards probably should finish ahead of the Pistons, as they haveterans including Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones and Richaun Holmes playing big minutes while the Pistons' entire starting five is 22 years old or under.
They are paying Kuzma and Poole a combined $52 million next season and will be paying Holmes, Marvin Bagley III and Landry Shamet a combined $35 million. That's a lot of money for a core that has won 11 games and whose youngest player is 24.
As for young talent, the Wizards have a couple of interesting guys in Bilal Coulibaly and Deni Avjija but neither of them are players to build around. They will likely have a top 5-6 pick in this year's draft, but finding elite talent won't be easy in a wide-open draft with no consensus.
At least the Pistons have hope, and I don't see much here for the Wizards until they can get out from under some of those contracts or hit the jackpot in the upcoming draft.
Charlotte Hornets
There is certainly an argument with this one.
The Hornets have currently won five more games than the Pistons and 10 of those victories came before the trade deadline. They are 6-9 since, not terrible considering they have had injuries and traded away two useful veterans.
They also have LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, a nice duo to build around, not to mention good young big men in Mark Williams and Nick Richards who are locked up on friendly deals.
They have some nice project players like Tre Mann and younger veterans in Miles Bridges and Grant Williams who can fill useful roles, so the cupboard is not bare for Charlotte.
But the Pistons have beaten them three times this season, sweeping the series, which is saying a lot considering that represents nearly 30 percent of Detroit's total wins.
In my absolutely biased opinion, I'd rather have the Pistons' core than the Hornets', especially considering the Pistons will have more money to spend this summer and don't have as much invested in their current roster. The Pistons only have around half as much invested for next season, so have more wiggle room to improve on what they already have.
Detroit also has more trade chips to make a big move this summer, so I like the Pistons over the Hornets, but it's definitely debatable.
Portland Trail Blazers
Like the Wizards, the Trail Blazers have plenty invested in a team that has won just 18 games this season.
When you look at Portland's roster, they should probably not be as bad as they are, as they aren't a super young team full of guys on rookie deals. They have Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon, a group they owe over $110 million to next season.
They are light on exciting young talent, though Shaedon Sharpe looks like a keeper and future star and Scoot Henderson has also flashed that talent. Both of these guys are 20 and are going to be good, so Portland isn't as desperate as Washington.
But they do have a lot invested in a bad team and most of it is under contract for next season. They could make a big move this summer, get a new coach (sorry Chauncey) and make a huge leap next year, but for right now, it's hard to call them a rebuild when most of their top players are over 25 and already on big contracts.
It will be interesting to see if Portland blows up this roster in the summer, as guys like Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon could kickstart a youth movement and net them some assets in trades.
It is small consolation for the Detroit Pistons that they aren't the league's worst team if you even believe that to be true, as it's like being the fastest of the world's four slowest runners.
In other words, thank god for the Wizards because at least we can say we're not them.