In the past three seasons I have rebuilt struggling teams in five different leagues (K17, F18, Chall, 99T3, 00T2) to the point where they made the playoffs. Four of those five teams were in the lottery the year before their playoff appearance, Four of those five won their division last year (the 5th had the third best record in the league but got the Wild Card).

So it is possible for those with struggling teams to rebuild. You just have to be smart about your trades and drafts.

This does not count the three teams I own that were already strong teams that have been above .500 every year I owned them.