How Ownership Broke the Nets Kings Wizards Jazz Pelicans

Merlin sees a blame game aimed at the NBA’s five worst teams and the piece says, "the buck stops at ownership." A missed Kevin Durant shot becomes a through line to the Nets’ teardown, Washington’s rebuild faltered because the lottery never paid off, Sacramento suffers from Vivek Ranadive’s meddling, Utah’s Danny Ainge left them "too good" to properly tank, and New Orleans shows the Benson family’s neglect, with critics saying "the organization only cares about the Saints." Merlin smells a pattern: bad timing, poor owner choices, and plain bad luck. Short sight from the top, impatient trades, and uninspired hires have turned recoverable rosters into long projects. These clubs can flip, but it will take steady front offices, smarter drafting, and a little fortune.