Each NBA Team's Franchise Centerpiece Entering 2015-16 Season
What makes a good centerpiece?
No, not the ones you see decorating tables at Halloween and Thanksgiving, but the ones that serve as the linchpins of NBA rosters.
Ideally, you want a player who can lend a team its identity, in terms of both basketball style and personal substance. You want someone whom a front office can build a stable squad around.
That's easier said than found. Every team has a de facto centerpiece, but not all can boast someone who truly fits that description. It's not always a club's best or highest-paid player, though those factors can play a pivotal part in sorting out centerpieces.
These designations can and often do change quickly—from year to year, month to month, week to week, sometimes even game to game. For now, the following 30 players look like the centerpieces of their respective organizations based on past individual production, league-wide recognition and projected impact on team success heading into the 2015-16 season.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford, F/C
1 of 30
Contrary to popular belief, the Atlanta Hawks do, in fact, have a star. His name is Al Horford.
Sure, Horford doesn't light up the scoreboard, pile up double-doubles or do anything particularly sexy on the court, but the three-time All-Star has grown into a leader over the course of his eight previous seasons in Atlanta.
The Hawks' biggest move of the offseason—trading for Tiago Splitter—had plenty to do with accommodating Horford. Where the Florida product once had to bang with bigger pivots in the paint and on the glass, he can now spend more time showing off his skills at the 4 while Splitter does the dirty work down low.
It's possible, then, that Horford could see some slippage in his stats this season, but still come out ahead of where he was as a player after the most recent Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart, PG
2 of 30
The Boston Celtics' true centerpiece might still be in the pipeline somewhere. Between the Dallas Mavericks' top-seven-protected pick, the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected first-rounder and their own selection, the C's, with Danny Ainge at the controls, should be able to unearth at least one more young stud for their mish-mosh of a roster in 2016.
Until then, all eyes will be on Marcus Smart to see if he's ready for that responsibility. He's probably the most gifted prospect on Boston's current roster, despite what a rough rookie season would suggest. At least one other Beantown resident has faith in Smart's talent.
"I know that Marcus is going to continue to get better," said Avery Bradley, per MassLive.com's Jay King. "And he's going to be one of the best guards in the NBA."
For now, all he needs to be is the best guard in Boston for the Celtics to take the next step up the Eastern Conference standings.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez, C
3 of 30
With Deron Williams gone and Joe Johnson in decline, Brook Lopez is finally getting his closeup as the Brooklyn Nets' most important player—for better or worse. As Grantland's Danny Chau described him:
"Yes, he’s been thrust into this beacon-of-hope position for the bulk of his seven years in the league. Yes, it’s probably foolish to expect a major breakthrough heading into his eighth season, but there is still latent potential in that massive frame. He is the only player on the team with enough indisputable skill to convince an impending free agent to see the forest for the decaying trees. He might be the only thing keeping this Nets season from being hopeless.
"
In truth, Lopez might be much more than that. Over the final 16 games of the 2014-15 season, the 27-year-old twin tore through the NBA to the tune of 23.7 points on 57.7 percent shooting, 9.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Thanks to Lopez's efforts, the Nets sneaked into the East's No. 8 seed, from whence they mounted a six-game challenge to the Atlanta Hawks, with big Brook (19.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) still in full swing.
With his talent at center and a three-year, $63 million contract in his hip pocket, Lopez is poised to be the player around whom Nets GM Billy King engineers the team's rebuild. Whether that works out in Brooklyn's favor is another story entirely.
.png?w=256)
Charlotte Hornets: Al Jefferson, C
4 of 30
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist might be the Charlotte Hornets' best barometer, if their 6-21 record without him last season was any indication. Should MKG miss most (if not all) of the 2015-16 schedule while recovering from his latest shoulder injury, the Hornets might be screwed.
That is, unless Al Jefferson plays more like the All-NBA center he was in 2013-14 than the injury-riddled, oft-crowded pivot he was in 2014-15. The Hornets' offseason efforts to stock up on perimeter shooters (i.e. Nicolas Batum, Spencer Hawes, Jeremy Lamb, Jeremy Lin, Frank Kaminsky) point circumstantially to Big Al's pride of place in the Queen City's basketball hierarchy.
As Jefferson explained to Sporting News' Adi Joseph:
"I think people don't realize, 3-point shooting is what makes me who I am. Last year, we didn't have 3-point shooting. That's why guys were able to sit down on me. I didn't have it. Now we have guys who can spread the floor and make shots. Teams have to pick and choose their spots. You double me, bang — we've got an open shot. So having shooters around is music to my ears. That's what lets me do what I do best.
"
Jefferson's summer diet, free of fried chicken, showed that he's committed to making the most of his central role in Charlotte, especially with free agency awaiting him in July 2016.
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, PG
5 of 30
It's been more than three years since Derrick Rose was last the best player on the Chicago Bulls. During the time that Rose has spent recovering from a litany of injuries, Joakim Noah's been the Defensive Player of the Year, Jimmy Butler's taken home the Most Improved Player award and Pau Gasol's started at center for the Eastern Conference in the All-Star Game.
Despite all that, Rose remains the focal point in the Windy City. His orbital bone fracture in training camp sent Bulls fans spiraling into yet another deep, dark depression. His return to action in Chicago's preseason finale—and word of him playing in Tuesday's season opener—sent their hopes soaring sky-high again.
His vision may be blurred and his knees may forever be vulnerable to further setbacks, but as deep and talented as the Bulls are today, there's still only one former MVP, only one hometown hero, on the roster. Until that changes, Chicago may have no choice but to hitch its wagon to Rose.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James, F
6 of 30
LeBron James is much more than just the Cleveland Cavaliers' centerpiece, according to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin.
He's also the general manager who lured Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion and James Jones to the shores of Lake Erie, and later signed off on the trade that brought Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to town. "When you cut LeBron loose in the free-agency pack, you tend to get results that you don't get otherwise," Cavs GM David Griffin said last fall, per ESPN. "To say he's been an amazing partner this offseason would be a gross understatement."
He's also the team's coach. He calls his own meetings, calls his own plays and even called his own number on a winning shot to beat the Chicago Bulls in Game 4 of the second round this past spring.
He's also a part-time trainer—at least when it comes to matters of his own fitness. Last season, he alone made the decision to take two weeks off in January to let his body rest and recover.
And, of course, he's also Cleveland's best player. To say James is a centerpiece, then, is a gross understatement. For the Cavs, he is every piece.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki, PF
7 of 30
Like the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant, the Dallas Mavericks have little choice but to build around Dirk Nowitzki while he's still active.
The depths of Dallas' dependence on Dirk are a bit different. On the positive end, Nowitzki's still an All-Star-caliber performer around whom head coach Rick Carlisle can construct a competent offense, even with only spare parts at his disposal. At the other end of the spectrum, the Mavs' determination to win with the giant German spurred them to trade for Rajon Rondo and give up a top-seven-protected pick in the process.
Now, they'd be lucky to be one-and-done in the playoffs, as they've been in each of the last two seasons. Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews are both recovering from major injuries, DeAndre Jordan is back in L.A. and the rest of the West is as stacked as ever.
Should Parsons decline his player option for 2016-17 and the team's 2016 pick convey to Boston, the Mavs would once again be left to forage for pieces to put around Nowitzki—assuming he hasn't called it quits by then.
Denver Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari, G/F
8 of 30
It's been about two-and-a-half years since Danilo Gallinari was last seen playing basketball in anything approaching tip-top shape. Back then, the Denver Nuggets were soaring through a sensational 57-win season and into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
This year's Nuggets would be fortunate to sniff half that many victories, but folks in the Mile High City are feeling good about Gallo again. At long last, the sweet-shooting Italian seems to have put his injuries behind him. He made just four of 21 threes in the preseason, but still managed to average a sturdy 13.6 points.
Emmanuel Mudiay may be the future in Denver, but the No. 7 pick in the 2015 NBA draft will have to pass the ball to someone. Gallinari figures to garner plenty of those looks—and look like a star himself in the process.
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond, C
9 of 30
Ready or not, Andre Drummond will be the man of the hour for the Detroit Pistons this season. The team let Greg Monroe, Drummond's former frontcourt partner, walk to Milwaukee and replaced him with a slew of shooters (i.e., Marcus Morris, Ersan Ilyasova, rookie Stanley Johnson) who should open up even more space for the UConn product.
There are still plenty of growing pains for the 22-year-old to sort through, as noted by CBS Sports' Zach Harper:
"You look at these miscues by Drummond and there are plenty of them. But they are also the mistakes of a young big man who is still trying to figure out how to be a leader both on and off the court, a process Van Gundy seems encouraged about. He doesn't even have to become the Defensive Player of the Year, although that would be preferred for Detroit. What he does have to do is be enough of a deterrent inside to allow the perimeter defenders to be more aggressive.
"
He has all the tools to be great on both ends. With Stan Van Gundy's tutelage, it's just a matter of time until Drummond puts it all together.
And until he re-ups with the Pistons on a long-term deal.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry, PG
10 of 30
Year after year, Stephen Curry has seen the Golden State Warriors hand out paydays bigger than his to his teammates.
Andre Iguodala got his upon arrival in 2013. Andrew Bogut and Klay Thompson both got theirs last year. Draymond Green got his this past July. Harrison Barnes has one coming soon, be it before the Nov. 2 extension deadline or as a restricted free agent next summer.
Curry will get his once his contract expires in 2017—just in time for the salary cap to soar past $100 million. Whatever he brings in, he'll likely deserve every penny. Curry's historic shooting, superb passing and on-a-string ball-handling have all made him a target for opposing defenses and, in turn, opened up opportunities for his fellow Warriors to cash in.
In the meantime, the NBA's reigning MVP can take comfort in knowing that Golden State will take care of him, the face of the franchise, when the time comes. The Dubs, in turn, can rest easy knowing that, in Curry's case, "free agency isn’t really appealing to me because I love where I’m at, love the organization I’m playing for and the Bay Area is home for me and my family," according to Sporting News' Jimmy Spencer.
Houston Rockets: James Harden, SG
11 of 30
James Harden has been a hit for the Houston Rockets since the moment he arrived in October 2012 because he happened to be the on-court embodiment of the team's aspiring philosophy.
Shoot lots of three-pointers? Check. According to Basketball-Reference, nearly 46 percent of Harden's shots in OKC were threes. As a Rocket, he's launched 38 percent of his looks from beyond the arc.
Get to the rim? Check. Just over 30 percent of his career attempts have come from within three feet of the hoop. According to NBA.com, Harden was the fifth-most frequent driver in the league last season.
Shoot free throws? Discount double check. He paced the Association in free-throw makes (715) and attempts (824) in 2014-15.
That the biggest move of Houston's offseason (i.e., the Ty Lawson trade) was motivated, in part, by a desire to lighten Harden's load only further solidifies The Beard as the face of the Rockets.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George, F
12 of 30
Paul George might not be pleased about spending time at the 4, but the Indiana Pacers made that switch—along with trading away Roy Hibbert and signing Monta Ellis—to tailor their team to the talents of the Palmdale, California, native. Grantland's Zach Lowe, for one, is buying the move:
"Look up and down the East: There aren’t a lot of teams with two big men so good and so burly that they make you queasy about having George defend them. Hell, C.J. Miles and Budinger can take some of them so George can hound stud wing scorers.
George can dust opposing bigs, and if teams hide their extra big on Miles, expect Indy to run him around picks until that big is hopelessly behind.
"
Soon enough, George will probably approve of the change, too, assuming he hasn't seen the light already.
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul, PG
13 of 30
Blake Griffin might now be the Los Angeles Clippers' best player, but he'll have to pry the ball from Chris Paul's cold, dead hands before he can take over as the team's engine.
The 30-year-old's been pulling strings around the organization since he arrived in the aftermath of David Stern's infamous invocation of "basketball reasons" in December 2011. He's had a hand in a number of the team's personnel decisions over the last four years, including the trade that brought head coach Doc Rivers to L.A.
And it's not as though Paul's game has fallen off a cliff or anything. Last season, he snagged his fourth assists crown and finished sixth in the MVP voting while playing the full 82-game schedule for the first time in his decorated career.
He's still the best ball-handler and strongest voice on the team. So long as he's healthy, Paul will have the rest of his Clippers running mates eating lobs and pinpoint passes out of the palm of his hand.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant, SG
14 of 30
Someday in the not too distant future, the Los Angeles Lakers will (probably) organize their efforts around one of their three core youngsters, be it Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell or Jordan Clarkson. But Randle and Russell are both rookies, and Clarkson just completed his debut campaign, so they all still have plenty to prove before they can carry the franchise forward.
Oh, and Kobe Bryant hasn't retired yet. So long as No. 24 is still sporting purple and gold on the Staples Center court, the Lakers will have little choice but to accommodate him, lest they upset the longest-tenured player in franchise history—or any of the countless rabid fans who stand behind him.
Heck, the fact that the Mamba can practically name his own price at this point, even amid annual injury woes, says everything about his standing within the organization.
As Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss told USA Today's Sam Amick:
"You give Kobe Bryant $50 million for two years. Are you kidding me? What did he bring us? In this day and age, what did he bring us, for 20 years? And if that isn’t what you’re supposed to do, then I have no idea what life is all about.
You pay the guy. You believe in the guy. If he ends up (staying healthy), that’s fantastic. Well everybody (in the media) cut me up for that, but I’d say over 200 fans have come up to me and said, ‘Thank you so much for letting my kid see Kobe Bryant for two more years.’ And I’m like, 'You know what? I’m glad I can see him for two more years.'
"
That is, at least until one of the up-and-comers is ready to take the reins.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol, C
15 of 30
There's a certain temptation to put Tony Allen here. After all, he is the Grindfather to the Memphis Grizzlies' grit-and-grind style. He's the heart and soul of a now-perennial 50-win powerhouse, and not just when he's shutting down the opposition.
But this is clearly Marc Gasol's team. He's been Memphis' best player for at least the last four seasons, and has practically been the city's native son since his older brother, Pau, brought the Gasols overseas in 2001. He's every bit as important to the Grizzlies defense as Allen is; his 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year award would attest to as much. And now that he's the owner of a five-year, $110 million contract, Gasol has the salary to match.
More importantly, Gasol is the rug that ties this room of ragtag pieces together, particularly on the offensive end. As Grantland's Zach Lowe put it:
"Marc Gasol finds the sublime within Memphis’s grit-and-grind slog — set shots, shoulder shimmies, and backdoor bounce passes he sometimes delivers underhand, as if he’s bowling. Last season, he started running one-man fast breaks, only he wasn’t a tentative dribbler on the edge of catastrophe like most big men playing at point guard.
"
Anyone who can even feign playing 1 through 5 has the goods to be a true centerpiece.
Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade, SG
16 of 30
In reality, Dwyane Wade probably isn't the best player—or even the second-best—on the Miami Heat.
Not because he's not the most talented (he might still be), but because the most reliable thing about him is the 20-30 games he'll lose to injury this season. Chris Bosh and Goran Dragic, meanwhile, are both younger and sturdier than Wade, save for the anomaly of Bosh's season-ending blood clots in 2014-15.
You know what else is reliable about Wade, though? Reports of his demise. Year in and year out, he'll look like his days of dominance are done, only to rise from the ashes and average about 20 points and five assists. Last season, Wade wound up with 21.5 points and 4.8 assists.
When he's healthy, Wade can be the best player on the floor on any given night. Those nights may be fewer and further between now that he's nearing 34, but the 11-time All-Star claims he's ready to handle a bigger offensive load this season after shedding some weight over the summer.
And remember: Wade—not Bosh, not Dragic—is the face of the franchise, and will continue to be until he either retires or takes his talents elsewhere.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, F
17 of 30
The Milwaukee Bucks lack a true superstar to serve as their fulcrum, but if there's any one player who embodies what they are now and what they might be in the near future, it's Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Like the Bucks as a whole, the Greek Freak is young (he turns 21 in December), flush with physical gifts and tremendously versatile. At 6'11", he's quick and long enough to check guards on the perimeter and tall enough to contend with big men on the block.
And, as with most of Milwaukee's core constituents, his long-range jumper (15.9 percent from three last season) is a work in progress.
That figures to change in time, along with Antetokounmpo's overall package. As Brew Hoops' Dan Sinclair wrote, the kid is still very much on the upswing:
"Giannis improved nearly every facet of his game in his sophomore season and has shown no signs of slowing down. He's been hard at work improving his jump shot and he's bulked up considerably. Those are just the sort of improvements Milwaukee needs to see from him, especially as they seek to further exploit his positional versatility.
"
If those improvements come, Antetokounmpo could become the sort of star who puts to bed any debate about who the Big Kahuna is on his team.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Andrew Wiggins, SG
18 of 30
The Minnesota Timberwolves are teeming with young talent these days. Between Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Ricky Rubio and Karl-Anthony Towns (among others), the Wolves should be able to find their next franchise star.
The smart money is on Wiggins, and for good reason. The No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA draft has already shown himself to be a budding centerpiece, though he still has a ways to go. As NBA.com's Sekou Smith wrote:
"Wiggins has pressure his counterparts either don't have to worry about now or ever. He has to continue that momentum from late in his Kia Rookie of the Year season -- he averaged 23.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the final 13 games -- and continue polishing his game the way he did with the Candian [sic] National Team over the summer. Based strictly on what we've seen so far, Wiggins is much more than just an athletic marvel, he warrants all of the hype.
"
If Wiggins is able to live up to that Maple Jordan hype, Minnesota will have on its hands the sort of tentpole talent who can lift the organization out of its decade-plus-long doldrums and back into legitimate contention out West.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis, F/C
19 of 30
Anthony Davis isn't just the New Orleans Pelicans' centerpiece; he's the face of the NBA's future. He's already arguably the league's single most impactful player, and could emerge as its most valuable by the end of the 2015-16 season.
The 22-year-old Chicago native is taking it upon himself to lead an awkward, injury-riddled roster to new heights. That determination is spurred, in part, by the bitter taste left in Davis' mouth from his first postseason experience: a four-game first-round sweep at the hands of the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. Per SB Nation's Paul Flannery:
"The biggest lesson Davis has taken from the setback is that he needs to do more. Not more in the sense of putting up bigger numbers, but more in the way the true greats do more. He needs to be more active and vocal defensively. He needs to continue to develop his game, adding go-to moves and maybe even a long-discussed corner three of his own. Mainly, Davis needs to do more before the ball is even tipped. That’s his mandate this season.
"
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony, F
20 of 30
In discussing the futility of NBA basketball in New York, Grantland's Zach Lowe hit upon an important point about Carmelo Anthony's place on the Knicks' ladder: "Neither New York team is going to be good, but if you surround Carmelo Anthony with at least a few competent NBA players, you should be able to push 30 wins in the East."
That's what true centerpieces do: They raise the competency of even mediocre teams.
To be sure, the Knicks could be just that this season. Who, other than 'Melo, would so much as sniff cornerstone status? Robin Lopez? Arron Afflalo? Kristaps Porzingis?
But Anthony isn't just superior by comparison. When healthy, he's one of the 10 best players in the league, a one-man offense who can challenge for the scoring crown at the drop of a hat.
And now, the eight-time All-Star seems to be taking on a more vocal leadership role. All the more reason, then, to put Anthony atop team president Phil Jackson's personnel totem pole.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, F
21 of 30
Off the court, Kevin Durant is one of the most valuable athlete brands in the world. On the court, he's still the heart, soul and face of the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite suffering through an injury-riddled 2014-15 campaign.
The last time he played a full season, Durant was the NBA's MVP. Long before that, he'd woven himself into the fabric of the community around him, donating his time and money to causes across the Sooner State. As ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne wrote:
"People in Oklahoma City feel as if they know him and believe he cares about the things they do: hard work, perseverance, strength. The Thunder franchise was the first in major sports to put down roots in OKC. Durant was the first superstar fans there could call their own. Before 2008, this was a college town. The Thunder elevated this city. Made the people here feel like their town was growing.
"
Chances are Durant will remain the team's top dog under head coach Billy Donovan. How he fills that role remains to be seen, though the fact that Durant could comfortably claim that title—even after missing all but 27 games last season, on a squad that features another MVP-caliber talent in Russell Westbrook—reveals plenty about how integral he is to the Thunder organization.
And, in turn, how critical his free agency will be to the team's future.
Orlando Magic: Victor Oladipo, G
22 of 30
As a player, Scott Skiles was known for steady play at the point and tough, disciplined defense. As a coach, his teams have tended to follow that formula.
The same figures to be the case for his Orlando Magic. Nikola Vucevic is the team's most productive incumbent, but Victor Oladipo's skill set and latent potential portend him becoming a Skiles favorite. The 6'4" guard out of Indiana is a terrific athlete and a tenacious on-ball defender. He's not the pure point guard that Elfrid Payton is, but Oladipo did well to cut down on his turnovers in Year 2.
He's already shown that he can impact the game all over the floor. Last season, Oladipo averaged 17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals—making him one of just nine players in the league to put together such a line, per Basketball-Reference. Seven of the other eight were All-Stars.
With Skiles' guidance and his own maturation (he's only 23), Oladipo could be "the man" for an up-and-coming Orlando team.
Philadelphia 76ers: Nerlens Noel, F/C
23 of 30
If all goes according to plan, Jahlil Okafor will be the Philadelphia 76ers' offensive fulcrum in due course. But as gifted as the Duke product is, his poor shooting (44.5 true shooting percentage) and struggles with setting up shop on the block against more mature opponents point to a potentially steep learning curve for the No. 3 pick.
While Okafor gets his NBA bearings, Nerlens Noel may be the Sixers' best bet to look like a bona fide cornerstone in the City of Brotherly Love. The first-team All-Rookie performer looked impressive and was productive throughout Philly's tuneups—a far cry from where he was a year ago, as Grantland's Ben Detrick detailed:
"Noel, who appeared as unsure as a newborn pony in the first half of last season, looks different now: His jumper and ballhandling have improved and, at least in the preseason, he’s doubled his assists per 100 possessions while playing more at power forward...As bizarre as it might have sounded a month ago, having Noel initiate the attack from the elbow or the top of the key might be more productive than force-feeding Okafor on the block.
"
Phoenix Suns: Eric Bledsoe, G
24 of 30
The Phoenix Suns have long been a guard-oriented organization. From Paul Westphal and Kevin Johnson to Stephon Marbury, Steve Nash and Goran Dragic, the Suns have hung their hats on great perimeter play since, essentially, their inception in 1968.
The same holds true today, with Eric Bledsoe serving as the next tentpole in Phoenix's backcourt. In his first fully healthy season as a starter, the Kentucky product poured in 17 points. 6.1 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals a night, albeit for a team that slid further back into lottery territory.
He's clearly the Suns' most gifted player, in addition to being its highest paid. On that count, his $13.5 million salary for 2015-16 is tied with Brandon Knight's for the largest on the team. But Knight's played all of 11 games in Phoenix and still has a ways to go to figure out what kind of player he can be at the NBA level.
Bledsoe, on the other hand, is a terror on both ends of the floor, and has been integral to the Suns' dual-point guard arrangement since Jeff Hornacek took over as the team's head coach in 2013.
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, PG
25 of 30
If Damian Lillard wasn't the face of the Portland Trail Blazers before, he certainly is now. That designation comes to Lillard almost by default, in light of the departures of LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez.
There's no question now that the Blazers will be retooling around their All-Star point guard, and not just because of the five-year extension he inked this past summer. He's far and away the best player left in Rip City, and his combination of scoring, shooting and passing make him the perfect fit as the centrifugal force of what could be a tough rebuild.
Portland's next project will put the 25-year-old's skills and wherewithal to the test, as CBS Sports' Zach Harper described it:
"He'll see what it's like for the other side of those incredible guards who have to do so much on losing teams. He was fortunate enough to start his career with an All-NBA level big man by his side. Now the expectations are low for him and his team for the first time in his career. And he'll have to build those expectations back up. He just can't do all of the building by himself. He'll have to find help.
"
How well Lillard does in finding (if not creating) that help will go a long way toward determining how ready he is to carry an NBA franchise back to prominence—and how quickly the Blazers get there.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins, C
26 of 30
There's no denying DeMarcus Cousins' all-world talent. He's the one guy around whom the Sacramento Kings will continue to set their table, for better or worse. As Grantland's Zach Lowe detailed:
"...five years in, we’re still waiting for Cousins to go 10 straight games without loafing in transition defense or humiliating a teammate with a tantrum about some alleged mistake. But when Cousins tries, he is a unique force — one of the league’s last true bullies, capable of bum-rushing dudes with Shaq-like post-ups or face-up drives someone his size shouldn’t be able to pull off. He finishes with artful pivots, killer fakes, and a pillow-soft touch off the glass.
"
Head coach George Karl, Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay and the rest of the gang in California's capital will have plenty to do with both Boogie's individual success and that of the team as a whole. But the Kings won't truly get off the mat from their nearly decade-long playoff drought without Cousins buying in and bringing the full force of his talents to bear each and every night.
San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker, PG
27 of 30
Tony Parker's time as the sun within the San Antonio Spurs may have already come and gone. The 33-year-old's game has been in decline over the past few years, and with Kawhi Leonard coming into his own and LaMarcus Aldridge on the scene, the Spurs might not need Parker to be "the man" anymore.
Then again, Leonard still has some work to do to bring his tantalizing future potential into the present day. Aldridge, on the other hand, will need time to adjust to his new digs in the Alamo City.
"LaMarcus will be different," Spurs GM R.C. Buford told Grantland's Zach Lowe in September. "And we’ll be different than we were before LaMarcus. We have to figure out how LaMarcus will play within our group, and produce at levels that he’s capable of—and that are important to him, and to our success."
Tim Duncan has been the face of the franchise for almost 20 years and remains an All-NBA-caliber performer, but his time as San Antonio's gravitational force has come and gone. Until Leonard and/or Aldridge steps into the team's biggest pair of cowboy boots, the show will be Parker's to run.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry, PG
28 of 30
Kyle Lowry came into Toronto Raptors camp looking slimmer and trimmer than ever. Then, the All-Star guard spent the preseason proving that his offseason weight loss wasn't just for show.
Lowry averaged an outstanding 22 points in Toronto's five tuneups, bolstered by a franchise-record 40-point explosion against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"I was talking to my wife, and she said 'You were always your best at your college weight,'" Lowry told STACK's Jordan Zirm in September. "The saying is, the older you get, the lighter you've got to be."
The Raptors will need Lowry to stay light throughout the coming campaign if they're to avoid another flameout. Last season, Toronto stumbled to a 13-16 finish after the All-Star break, with Lowry missing 12 games and averaging 15.1 points on 37.3 percent shooting in those for which he was fit.
Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward, SF
29 of 30
It's entirely possible that Rudy Gobert is the straw that stirs the Utah Jazz's drink. Entire tomes have already been written about how the Stifle Tower turned Utah's moribund defense into a meat grinder after the All-Star break.
But 37 games as a starter on a sub-.500 squad doesn't seem enough to anoint Gobert as the B.M.O.C. in Salt Lake City—not yet, anyway. That title belongs, instead, to Gordon Hayward.
The 25-year-old finally came into his own last season when he averaged 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. With a top-notch defense behind him, a maturing cast around him and a second-year coach (Quin Snyder) guiding him, Hayward appears poised to take yet another step toward NBA stardom.
"He's just really assertive," Snyder told the Salt Lake Tribune's Aaron Falk. "He's getting more and more comfortable with himself as that player and as that leader."
Especially when it comes to defending his gaming habits to those who, like Jon Snow, know nothing about that world.
Washington Wizards: John Wall, PG
30 of 30
John Wall isn't just a blur with the basketball anymore; he's a blur with the basketball who makes his teammates significantly better. In the eyes of Grantland's Zach Lowe, Wall has become a master of puppets on the court for the Washington Wizards:
"Wall is the rare brilliant passer who has advanced beyond just finding open players — though he’s damn good at that. He coaxes guarded teammates open with dribbles and shoulder fakes designed to trick defenders into shifting just a half-step away from his target. He plays two steps ahead of everyone else.
"
Those extra steps will come in handy within the Wizards' new free-flowing offense. Wall might not dominate the ball as much as he used to in Washington, but his ability to make the right pass at the right time to the right guy could be more critical than ever to his team's cause.
Josh Martin covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
.png?w=480)
