They are not as bad as they seem.
Injuries and a terrible schedule, on top of the normal growing pains of being a relatively young and inexperienced team. Have to remember that 7 of the 12 players they regularly run have 3 or less years of experience. 8 if you count Thomas Robinson who is in his 5th year, but for all intents and purposes plays nothing like that.
The 2-14 in December is what really killed them. 4-8 this month, which is generally more around what they are as a team.
Lou while having a solid individual season, is propped up by some monster games that negate 2 or 3 bad or mediocre games, since having added more in his role, he's shot the team out of as many games as he's kept them in.
Deng isn't a good fit in the starting lineup (defense from him has been fine) it's more so that he routinely blows open 3s from all over the floor.
But being "THIS bad" and what they realistically should be is maybe 4-5 games in 3 months of basketball.