Sprint (S) is not in the habit of making investors fabulously wealthy. The stock has lost 42% of its value over the last year, destroying nearly $28 billion of shareholder value in the process.

On the other hand, Sprint stock is also losing most of its fiercest critics. Sprint currently enjoys the lowest level of short-selling interest since 2005, which means investors have largely stopped betting against the company's never-ending turnaround.

Where will Sprint go from here?
 Let's start on the sunny side of the street.

SoftBank CEO and Sprint Chairman Masayoshi Son enjoys a lighthearted moment. Image source: Softbank.

Under the strategic leadership of SoftBank billionaire Masayoshi Son and his handpicked CEO, Marcelo Claure, Sprint runs a full-court press offense with heavy discounts chiefly meant to steal customers from AT&T (T -1.43%) and Verizon (VZ -1.13%).

And it's working. Sprint recently reported its first quarter of actual subscriber gains since 2012.

Looking ahead, the company aims to improve its much-lamented network quality. It's an expensive, absolutely necessary round of 4G LTE upgrades, with an eye toward buying a lot of new spectrum at the next major Federal Communications Commission auction in 2016.

In other words, Sprint investors must have nerves of steel and a long-term focus. The company is running an expensive and risky turnaround plan here. Then again, you could argue that every turnaround effort meets that description.

Sounds like a slippery slope!
We've already started sliding over to the dark side.

As I said, Sprint's subscriber growth plan relies on extremely low-cost plans. The idea is to overcome qualms about the subpar network with an irresistible deal. The network improvements are coming, but too slowly to make a difference in the short term.

The big risk is that Son might run out of patience with his largest American asset. If he takes his massive capital reserves and goes home, Sprint would be stuck up the asset-building creek without a financial paddle.

So a bet on Sprint is a bet on Son's global ambitions and on his patience with Sprint's slow progress.

Sprint really needs access to Son's massive cash reserves.

What it all boils down to
Given Sprint's sagging stock chart, many investors aren't willing to take that bet on Son's steadfast support. On the other hand, the lack of short-selling interest also means investors don't dare bet against it.

The depressed value of today's Sprint shares sets investors up for a huge rebound -- if the subscriber growth momentum continues for a few more quarters. I don't own any Sprint shares yet, but I've been interested for quite some time. If the stock sinks much further, and Son still shows no sign of leaving his pet project unsupported, then I might bite the bullet.

It's a risky bet, but one with a large upside. Where do you stand in this love/hate relationship with Sprint? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.