The Ideal Starting 5 for Each NBA Team

Most NBA teams' starting fives are three or four deep. They have the majority of the pieces in place to make them a decent or even good team.

What most teams need is that one piece (or two, in some cases) to plug into the starting five to get over that hump that seperates decent teams from good ones and good teams from great ones.

These pieces do not necessarily need to be All-Stars or superstars. Sometimes, a good role player will complement the other starters to make the team's starting five ideal.

The rules for making this list—I can add at most two players to a current NBA's team's starting five. The player(s) I add through free agency must fit under the cap. If I add a player(s) through a trade, it must work in ESPN's Trade Machine.

Free Agents can show up on multiple rosters, traded players also. For example Nene can be ideal for the New Jersey Nets and the Denver Nuggets.

Feel free to make recommendations of your own.

Here are my ideal starting five:

Atlanta Hawks

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Steve Nash

Shooting Guard: Joe Johnson

Small Forward: Marvin Williams

Power Forward: Al Horford

Center: Zaza Pachulia

Atlanta really needs a point guard, so why not get Steve Nash?

Send Josh Smith to Phoenix for Steve Nash.

Smith has been involved in trade rumors last season and even before that. Marvin Williams could slip into the starting SF spot finally and Nash can reunite with Joe Johnson. They worked well together before.

The Suns might be inclined to accept the trade since the team has ran its course and Nash only has one year left on his contract. Phoenix would get a really good player in Smith and can start to rebuild. Vince Carter's, Mickael Pietrus's and Robin Lopez's salaries come off the cap after next season.

Boston Celtics

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo

Shooting Guard: Ray Allen

Small Forward: Paul Pierce

Power Forward: Kevin Garnett

Center: Nenad Krstic

The Celtics are stuck with this group for one more year. They don't have any flexibility. I would start Krstic over Jermaine O'Neal.

After this season, Garnett's, Allen's, O'Neal's and Krstic's contracts come off their books and they will have plenty of cap room after whenever this season ends.

Charlotte Bobcats

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: D.J. Augustin

Shooting Guard: Kemba Walker

Small Forward: Cory Maggette

Power Forward: Tyrus Thomas

Center: Samuel Dalembert

Charlotte is in a rough spot. They spent too much on marginal players like Boris Diaw, Tyrus Thomas, DeSagana Diop and took on Maggette's high salary.

They really don't have any tradeable assets and need help at center, their only option right now is Diop.

They have just about $6 million left in cap room, maybe it will be enough to sign Dalembert.

Chicago Bulls

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Derrick Rose

Shooting Guard: O.J. Mayo

Small Forward: Luol Deng

Power Forward: Carlos Boozer

Center: Joakim Noah

The Bulls need another one of their starters to be able to create his own shot when Rose goes cold. This was apparent in the playoffs.

The Memphis Grizzlies are deep at SG and it looks like Mayo needs a change of scenery.

Chicago should send Kyle Korver to Memphis for Mayo. Mayo can create his own shot, Korver can't. When Roes goes cold, Mayo can pick up the slack.

Memphis will get a good three-point shooter out of the deal.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Kyrie Irving

Shooting Guard: Monta Ellis

Small Forward: Danny Granger

Power Forward: Antawn Jamison

Center: Ryan Hollins

Cleveland has to start their No. 1 overall pick, Kyrie Irving right?

From there they can use their LeBron James trade exception to get Ellis. This would save the Warriors money and lets them get rid of a potential problem pairing with Stephen Curry.

The Cavs then trade Anderson Varajao and Ramon Sessions to the Indiana Pacers for Granger. Indiana's starting PG is George Hill at the moment and Sessions can be insurance for them. Varajao can give them more depth up front.

Dallas Mavericks

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Jason Kidd

Shooting Guard: Rudy Fernandez

Small Forward: Shawn Marion

Power Forward: Dirk Nowitzki

Center: Tyson Chandler

Dallas may be old but they're not broke so I'm not going to fix them. The only change is at SG; since DeShawn Stevenson is gone, Fernandez should fit in nicely.

With the Mavs being over the cap, I don't know how they're going to re-sign Chandler but they must find a way.

If they can't find a way to re-sign him, they could possibly send Marion to Golden State for center Andris Biedrins.

Then the starting five would be; Kidd, Jason Terry, Fernandez, Dirk, Biedrins.

Denver Nuggets

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Ty Lawson

Shooting Guard: Aaron Afflalo

Small Forward: Danilo Gallinari

Power Forward: Nene Hilario

Center: Tyson Chandler

The Nuggets had a stacked team after they made the Carmelo Anthony trade. Now they have a ton of cap space and a few players they hope to re-sign.

Kenyon Martin, Aaron Afflalo, Wilson Chandler, Nene and J.R. Smith are all free agents.

Denver should use their money to re-sign Afflalo and Nene then make a push for Chandler with the rest.

Detroit Pistons

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Brandon Knight

Shooting Guard: Ben Gordon

Small Forward: Austin Daye

Power Forward: Glen Davis

Center: Greg Monroe

The Pistons do not have a lot to work with and are only $8 million less than the cap. Tayshaun Prince is an unrestricted free agent who I don't see them re-signing. Richard Hamilton's contract is practically untradeable.

Might as well start the rookie Brandon Knight and move Daye into the starting lineup.

With their cap room, they should sign someone like Glen Davis. It's either Davis or Charlie Villanueva. I believe Davis is better.

Golden State Warriors

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Stephen Curry

Shooting Guard: Monta Ellis

Small Forward: Tayshaun Prince

Power Forward: Ekpe Udoh

Center: David Lee

Golden State needs a defensive upgrade from Dorrell Wright, they should use some of the $7 million in cap space on Prince.

Prince can bring the defense and leadership that the young Warriors desperately need. He does not command the ball, so he would not slow the offense.

And just maybe he can teach some of the younger players how to play actual defense.  

Houston Rockets

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Kyle Lowry

Shooting Guard: Kevin Martin

Small Forward: Chase Buddinger

Power Forward: Luis Scola

Center: Robin Lopez

The Rockets have a good roster but they are short at center, literally, with Chuck Hayes starting and Yao Ming retiring. They have a ton of guards, so why not trade one of them?

Houston sends Jonny Flynn to Phoenix for Robin Lopez. Houston gets their center and Phoenix gets their possible Steve Nash replacement. 

Indiana Pacers

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: George Hill

Shooting Guard: Darren Collison

Small Forward: Paul George

Power Forward: Nene Hilario

Center: Chris Kaman

The Pacers have a decent roster and and are $20 million less than the cap. Danny Granger and Paul George duplicate each other making one of them a luxury.

So, the Pacers trade Granger for Chris Kaman. Then they move Collison to SG, George to SF, get Nene in free agency and put Kaman at center.

They can also trade Granger to the Jazz for Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles.

Los Angeles Clippers

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Eric Bledsoe

Shooting Guard: Eric Gordon

Small Forward: Tayshaun Prince/Caron Butler

Power Forward: Blake Griffin

Center: DeAndre Jordan

The Clippers have a lot of very nice young pieces and they have money to spend. Al-Farouq Aminu does not look like he's ready to start just yet, so the Clips should get a proven starter through free agency. They can do this by signing either Prince or Butler.

They also need to make re-signing Jordan a priority.

If they are able to sign him, they can trade Chris Kaman for Danny Granger. This trade would work out well for both teams.

Los Angeles Lakers

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Ramon Sessions

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant

Small Forward: Matt Barnes

Power Forward: Pau Gasol

Center: Andrew Bynum

The Lakers don't have much flexibility. They do have a trade exception though, and unless they want Derek Fisher to remain the starter, they have to make a move.

Sessions can fill the point guard role right away. Cleveland may be ready to deal in order to start Kyrie Irving right away.

Also, with Metta World Peace wearing down, it looks like the right time Barnes starts ahead of him.

Memphis Grizzlies

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Mike Conley

Shooting Guard: Tony Allen

Small Forward: Rudy Gay

Power Forward: Zack Randolph

Center: Marc Gasol

If Memphis re-signs Marc Gasol, it looks like they will already have their ideal starting five. Tony Allen's playoff performance should have earned him a starting spot.

Rudy Gay, coming off an injury, should be just like adding a high-priced free agent to this team.

Miami Heat

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Mario Chalmers

Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade

Small Forward: LeBron James

Power Forward: Chris Bosh

Center: Robin Lopez

Miami has no cap room and hardly any tradeable assets. The center position was a problem for them last season. They can fix this by sending Mike Miller to the Suns for Robin Lopez and a trade exception.

All Lopez would have to do is play good defense and rebound, and that he can do.

Milwaukee Bucks

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Brandon Jennings

Shooting Guard: Stephen Jackson

Small Forward: Carlos Delfino

Power Forward: Ersan Ilyasova

Center: Andrew Bogut

Milwaukee made their big move on draft day and acquired Stephen Jackson. I believe Ilyasova deserves to be in the starting five. Every time he's given minutes, he produces and deserves to get more.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Ricky Rubio

Shooting Guard: Wesley Johnson

Small Forward: Michael Beasley

Power Forward: Kevin Love

Center: Robin Lopez

Time for the Rubio era to finally begin. Darko at center is not the answer. So, Minnesota sends Anthony Randolph to the Suns for Robin Lopez.

Randolph is the versatile kind of player Phoenix loves and Lopez would fill the Wolves need at center.

New Jersey Nets

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Deron Williams

Shooting Guard: Anthony Morrow

Small Forward: Tayshaun Prince

Power Forward: Nene Hilario

Center: Brook Lopez

The Nets have the money to spend and must upgrade the roster to appease Deron. They must get better at SF. Prince can come in right away as the proven veteran this young team needs. Nene can team with Lopez to form one of the better frontcourts in the league. 

New Orleans Hornets

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Chris Paul

Shooting Guard: Marco Belinelli

Small Forward: Trevor Ariza

Power Forward: David West

Center: Emeka Okafor

No changes here. The Hornets have a good starting five, as long as they re-sign West and Belinelli.

New York Knicks

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Chauncey Billups

Shooting Guard: Landry Fields

Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony

Power Forward: Amare Stoudemire

Center: Robin Lopez

The Knicks are in desperate need of a center. So, they send Toney Douglas and Renaldo Balkman to Phoenix for Robin Lopez.

Lopez is a legit seven footer who can bring them a defensive presence and can play a little offense too.

This is the last time I'll use Robin Lopez. I just think he's a much cheaper version of Tyson Chandler and fits really well with center starved teams.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook

Shooting Guard: James Harden

Small Forward: Kevin Durant

Power Forward: Serge Ibaka

Center: Kendrick Perkins

Just a tweak here, Harden moves into the starting SG spot.

Orlando Magic

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Tony Parker

Shooting Guard: Gilbert Arenas

Small Forward: Hedo Turkoglu

Power Forward: Brandon Bass

Center: Dwight Howard

Something is clearly not working in Orlando, so it's time for another shakeup. Magic sends Jameer Nelson, J.J. Reddick and Ryan Anderson to the Spurs for Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess.

Howard gets a better point guard in Parker and the Magic will save some money with McDyess coming off the books next season.

San Antonio gets a pretty good return for Parker, who I believe has worn out his welcome in Texas.

Philadelphia 76ers

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Jrue Holliday

Shooting Guard: Evan Turner

Small Forward: Andre Iguodala

Power Forward: Elton Brand

Center: Tyson Chandler

The Sixers have a pretty good starting four, that is if Brand can stay healthy. They should move last year's rookie, Turner, into the SG spot ahead of Jodie Meeks. Turner showed signs of improvement after a slow start.

Through free agency, Tyson Chandler could be a major improvement over Spencer Hawes.

Phoenix Suns

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Steve Nash

Shooting Guard: O.J. Mayo

Small Forward: Jared Dudley

Power Forward: Channing Frye

Center: Marcin Gortat

The Suns seem to be closing in on the end of the Steve Nash era. This upcoming season will be his last year under contract in Phoenix.

Maybe O.J. Mayo can be sort of a going away present for him. Mayo is an upgrade from Vince Carter at this point in his career.

To get Mayo, the Suns can use their Amare trade exception. The Memphis Grizzlies are stacked at the shooting guard and can use the money to re-sign Marc Gasol.

Portland Trail Blazers

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Raymond Felton

Shooting Guard: Wesley Matthews

Small Forward: Gerald Wallace

Power Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge

Center: Marcus Camby

I wouldn't change anything here, except plug the recently acquired Felton into start at the point and see how it goes.

Portland's starting five has a good mix of youth and vets and should be good to go depending on how good Felton can be.

Sacramento Kings

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Jimmer Fredette

Shooting Guard: Tyreke Evans

Small Forward: Caron Butler or Tayshaun Prince

Power Forward: DeMarcus Cousins

Center: Tyson Chandler

The Kings have a lot of young talent and a lot of shoot-first players. They need veteran leadership and a pure point guard to distribute the ball.

They also have a bunch of cap room. They should throw a lot of that money at Chandler, he would be a perfect defensive complement to the offensive Cousins.

Then get a veteran SF in Butler or Prince, players that don't need the ball to contribute.

I don't know what they were thinking with drafting another shoot-first guard in Jimmer Fredette. Well, probably ticket sales. But, what does this mean for Tyreke Evans who plays a similar type game? Do they plan to trade him for a point?

There is really no option for a point guard in free agency unless they want to take a flyer out on T.J. Ford or Acie Law.

San Antonio Spurs

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Jameer Nelson

Shooting Guard: Manu Ginobili

Small Forward: Ryan Anderson

Power Forward: Tim Duncan

Center: DeJuan Blair

It's time for a change in San Antonio. They looked like an old and defeated team in last season's playoffs. It's time to bring in some youth.

Spurs trade Tony Parker and Antonio McDyess to the Orlando Magic for Jameer Nelson, Ryan Anderson and J.J. Redick.

This group puts together a pretty nice starting five.

Toronto Raptors

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Jose Calderon

Shooting Guard: DeMar DeRozan

Small Forward: Andrei Kirilenko

Power Forward: Ed Davis

Center: Andrea Bargnani

Last season's rookie Ed Davis proved he belongs last season averaging seven points and seven rebounds per game in 25 minutes. He should be the Raptors starting PF this season.

In free agency, Andrei Kirilenko would be a good fit for the international city of Toronto. He can get out and run with Calderon, DeRozan and Bargnani while providing defense and his all-around game.

Utah Jazz

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: Devin Harris

Shooting Guard: Raja Bell

Small Forward: Danny Granger

Power Forward: Derrick Favors

Center: Al Jefferon

The Jazz drafted C Enes Kanter leaving them flush with big men. Paul Millsap is the odd man out. Jazz should ship Millsap and C. J. Miles to the Indiana Pacers for Danny Granger.

Granger has been brought up in trade rumors numerous times and has become an expensive luxury to the Pacers ever since they drafted Paul George, who has a similar game but is younger than Granger and cheaper.

Washington Wizards

Ideal Starting Five

Point Guard: John Wall

Shooting Guard: Jordan Crawford

Small Forward: Shane Battier

Power Forward: Andray Blatche

Center: JaVale McGee

Washington has a very young, talented team and they need time to grow and become familiar with each other. What they don't have is a strong veteran presence. Free agent Shane Battier can provide that.

Battier doesn't care too much about getting his minutes, so there would be no big clash with incoming first-round SF Jan Vesely. Battier can come to Washington and show this young bunch how to play as a team and hold them accountable for their mistakes. He can also provide defense and three-point shooting.

With close to $12 million in cap room, the Wizards can make Battier a great offer.