The Kings are still competitive, with De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield earning All-Star consideration. The latter is having one of the best shooting seasons in recent memory, putting together Stephen Curry-esque splits. They’ve been a pleasant surprise all season.
It’s tough to peg the Lakers without LeBron James. Until his return, L.A.’s dreadful roster construction will continue to shine a negative light on the team. With LeBron, however, the Lakers are legitimate contenders in the West, albeit a tier below Golden State.
Tobias Harris will have suitors next summer. The guard rotation hasn’t been great, but the Clippers have a deep bench with several intriguing pieces. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell are legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidates. The latter could win Most Improved Player.
The Spurs have taken a slight step back, but they remain competitive in Gregg Popovich’s 1347th season. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge will get All-Star votes, while Bryn Forbes, Derrick White and Davis Bertans are all buoying an effective supporting cast.
D’Angelo Russell has finally turned the corner, turning into an efficient three-level scorer and leading Brooklyn to relevancy. There’s now a very real chance we get Brooklyn vs. Boston in the postseason — a great storyline regardless of how lopsided the end result might be.