NBA: What Each Western Conference Team Needs For Christmas
With Christmas just around the corner, we explore what each Western Conference team in the NBA could use this holiday season
Yesterday, we looked at what each team in the NBA Eastern Conference needed most when pursuing to take the next step as a franchise. Now, we are giving each team in the Western Conference one Christmas gift that will help them as well.
Dallas Mavericks
Wishlist: Markelle Fultz
The Mavs are dead last in not only the Western Conference, but they have the worst record in the entire NBA. They’re getting older, and as much as it pains me to say it, Dirk is on the home stretch of his Hall of Fame career. Dallas needs to rebuild.
They went out and signed Harrison Barnes who leads the league in minutes played and is a very improved player from last year in Golden State. J.J. Barrea has been a bright spot offensively running the point, but other than HB40, they could use an upgrade everywhere.
Looking at their team stats, they’re last, or close to last, in the NBA in points, assists, and rebounds. So we’re going to focus on giving them offensive help.
The Dallas Mavericks are getting Markelle Fultz for Christmas!
Having the worst record in the league, Dallas needs to keep doing what they are doing and lose. They have a great chance of picking first in the draft and being able to draft the young stud out of Washington. Fultz is a dynamic 6-foot-5 PG who can do it all. He is the number 1 ranked prospect in this year’s draft class and is averaging 23 points, six rebounds and nearly seven assists. This will be a huge step in the right direction to improve the Mavs offensive production.
Nov 20, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) during the game against the Utah Jazz at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 105-91. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Nuggets
Wishlist: Perimeter Lockdown Defender
If the season ended right now, Denver would just miss out on a playoff spot. Currently sitting at 9th in the west, the Nuggets are a young team who’s future looks bright. They are loaded in the post with their three-headed monster of Nikola Jokic, Kenneth Faried, and Jusuf Nurkic. This is a direct correlation to them being the best rebounding team in the NBA.
The Nuggets weakness lies in their ability to guard on the perimeter. They don’t really have a set starting lineup. Danilo Gallinari is a consistent wing starter, but the other wing has been rotated between Emmanuel Mudiay, Will Barton, and Jamal Murray. All of these guys are lacking when it comes to guarding opposing wing players, so we’re giving the Denver Nuggets a perimeter lockdown defender for Christmas!
Having to guard KD, Kawhi, and Wiggins on a night to night basis in the west is extremely difficult. The Nuggets don’t have anyone they can matchup with other elite small forwards in the league. Think of a Jae Crowder type player. Someone who’s main focus is making life miserable for opposing wings who will be exhausting to deal with.
Nov 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia (27) and forward Kevin Durant (35) and forward Draymond Green (23) in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors
Wishlist: Frontcourt Depth
After a slower start than expected, the Warriors are now who we thought they’d be. The best record in basketball, and a nightmare to game plan against. No matter what anyone throws at them personnel wise, they’re going to have a mismatch in their favor due to their versatility.
Watching them in the playoffs last year, both OKC and Cleveland gave them fits with size however. This year is no different. A blind man can see that their only lacking starting position is center, and they’re not nearly as deep as they were last year.
We’re giving the Warriors post depth for Christmas!
Golden State can’t play their death lineup with Draymond at the 5 for 48 minutes straight minutes of basketball. Zaza Pachulia and Javale McGee are just big bodies that can give decent minutes when need be. The loss of Mo Buckets has seemed like a bigger deal than expected, so look for this PF/C to be a strong body who is a threat offensively as well as defensively.
With David West not looking like the old David West quite yet, some other names to keep an eye on are Zach Randolph and Boris Diaw.
Dec 5, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) brings the ball up the court during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Rockets
Wishlist: A Dominant Rebounder
Mike D’Antoni has brought a new swagger to this Houston team. Run & Gun offensive style with and extremely fast pace, whether they give up a bucket (which is more than likely) or they don’t. James Harden and this offense is a match made in heaven. With him at the point, he has total control of what goes on during an offensive possession. He has the brightest neon green light known to man.
The Rockets lead the league in three-point shooting attempting 39 a game and making 15 of them. They do not have a problem scoring points, and with their play style, defense isn’t that big of a priority for them.
We are getting the Rockets a double-digit rebounder for Christmas!
Look for this guy to be a relentless scrapper. Someone who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work on this finesse team. They need a guy to go all out for loose balls. A modern day Dennis Rodman would be the perfect fit in this Houston lineup. Since time travel isn’t available yet, keep an eye on Kenneth Faried and maybe for their own Montrezl Harrell to get more minutes.
Nov 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) huddles with guard Chris Paul (3) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) and forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) and guard J.J. Redick (4) during the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The Clippers defeated the Kings 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
LA Clippers
Wishlist: Starting Small Forward
The Clippers are so close to being at the top of the Western Conference. There has always been something to get in their way, whether it’s freak injuries, players suspensions, or just choking in important playoff series. If I could give them the gift of not having a playoff curse I would, but we’ll stick to personnel Christmas gifts.
We’re giving the Clippers a legitimate small forward for Christmas!
Doc has been toying around with different lineups with Crawford and Redick being out there at the same time, or having Mbah a Moute and Wes Johnson rotate at the 3, but nothing has really stuck. This small forward needs his number one priority to be defense, because the Clippers are set offensively. Having a guy that can guard multiple positions on the wing with great length has never been more in demand. If Rudy Gay cared about defense at all, he would be a great fit here.
Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and guard Nick Young (0) celebrate during a NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Suns 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Lakers
Wishlist: A Rim Protector
Here is another one of those teams that looks to have a very promising future. They have young pieces in all the right places, a young coach that can relate to their guys, and some veterans that can teach the young guys along they way. The main thing the Lakers need is time. Time for D’Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram to grow together. Time for Julius Randle to keep improving his all around game at the PF position. Larry Nance Jr. has came out of nowhere to be an above the rim rebounder and finisher.
With Jordan Clarkson, Loo Will, and Swaggy P sprinkled in to knock down threes, one position stands out and could maybe use some improvement. LA is dead-last in the league in blocks per game.
We’re getting the Lakers a rim protector for Christmas! But not just any rim protector. Yes, the Lakers have Timofey Mozgov and paid a lot of money to get him, but he is not even leading the team in blocks. He is 9th on the team in minutes played, which means he is not even in the game much to change shots at the rim which doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.
This center needs to fit the style the Lakers play. He needs to be able to run the floor and keep up with their fast pace. The Lakers are third in the league in points per game, but this won’t be the focus of their new guy. A poor mans Rudy Gobert, or a homeless mans Tristan Thompson would definitely help with defense in the paint as well as being able to keep up with the run & gun style.
Dec 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward JaMychal Green (0) and center Marc Gasol (33) celebrate as they hug forward Zach Randolph (50) after a rebound late in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers as guard Andrew Harrison looks on at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Philadelphia 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis Grizzlies
Wishlist: Health
Memphis is the most injury riddled team I’ve ever seen. They throw millions of dollars at pretty good players who just end up getting the injury bug. Last year with Mike Conley and Marc Gasol hurt for the season, Memphis was transformed into a D League team. The average NBA fan couldn’t tell you anyone in their starting lineup.
This year unfortunately looks to be similar so far. Conley is now the most paid player in league history and has already missed 10 games this season. Their new offseason acquisition Chandler Parsons is also sitting out due to an injured knee, having only played six games so far. With all of these guys in the starting rotation playing solid minutes, Memphis is a very solid team and a playoff contender.
That’s why we are getting the Memphis Grizzlies 100% health for Christmas!
This is the number one thing Memphis needs in order to contend for a championship. No need to mix up the roster or try to get new guys at new positions in this magical scenario. If their guys are healthy, they are good! its that simple. We have seen a whopping six total games where Memphis’ three key guys have all played together.
Nov 13, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) talk during a time out in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-99. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves
Wishlist: Perimeter Shooting
The T-wolves haven’t been the young superstar team a lot of people expected right out of the gate. It’s way too early to panic, however. Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have been a solid duo and have shown they can be very productive with each other on the court at the same time.
Tom Thibodeau is known for working his players extremely hard and maximizing their minutes played. Having said this, Minnesota has to make sure they’re deep enough to be able to run their players into the ground and last for an 82 game season.
The T-Wolves are getting a perimeter shooter to come off the bench this Christmas!
With Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn rotating at the PG and SG positions, it would be nice to have a straight shooter to be able to come in and knock down open threes while also giving these guys a much needed rest. Think about having a Kyle Korver/ Eric Gordon type player to plug in and not rely on heavily, but still have the confidence to let it fly from deep at a 40% and above clip.
Dec 5, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Langston Galloway (10) is embraced by forward Anthony Davis (23) after missing a three point basket as time expired during a second overtime quarter in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Smoothie King Center. The Grizzlies defeated the Pelicans 110-108 in double overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Pelicans
Wishlist: A Starting Shooting Guard
Anthony Davis needs help. Anything. Anyone.
No, but seriously Ant has been a one man wrecking crew. Jrue Holiday coming back from injury has been very big for the Pelicans as they’ve seen their win total rise in the last week. Buddy Heild has shown glimpses of being a consistent shooter but nothing close to who he was at Oklahoma. Since he hasn’t quite been able to help them on the perimeter yet, they can’t rely on Solomon Hill and E’Twaun Moore to carry the load. We’re going to help them with that this holiday season.
We are giving the Pelicans a legit starting SG for Christmas!
With AD down low constantly drawing double teams, a deadly three-point shooter would infinitely help New Orleans offense. The spacing would be wide open, and you would pay the price for doubling the post as a defense. I see Bradley Beal being the perfect fit in N.O. to help with a lot of the scoring load. Things haven’t been so hot in Washington D.C. this year so maybe this Christmas wish will come true.
Dec 9, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder
Wishlist: Wing Help
Speaking of one man wrecking crews, the NBA’s best may be Russell Westbrook. What he is doing right now is truly an honor to watch. Russ is averaging 31-11-11 per game. He is the energizer bunny. I get more tired watching him play than he does actually playing.
During this Russell Westbrook show, his supporting cast just needs to be able to work well at his side and hit open shots when the ball comes to them. They’re 7th in the Western Conference so far this year, so if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
OKC is pretty middle of the pack in every statistic category except turnovers, but I’m not going to be the one to tell Westbrook to slow down. Their defense is long and stifling, starting Oladipo and Roberson on the wings, Steven Adams down low, and Kanter/ Sabonis rotating at the PF spot.
It might seem repetitive, but the direction the NBA is trending, three-point shooting is at an all-time high. No team can ever have enough shooters. With that being said, we will give the Thunder a perimeter shooter for Christmas!
Since their defense is pretty set in stone, this perimeter shooter can be very offensive minded. Some one like J.R. Smith who is very streaky, can come off the bench and be an instant spark plug for their second unit. With Kanter and Sabonis at the 4, having a stretch four that can help with spacing would be a good fit on this roster as well. Jared Dudley would be a great catch late in the season for an OKC playoff run.
Nov 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (right) and teammate Eric Bledsoe talk in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 118-114. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Phoenix Suns
Wishlist: A Star
The Suns are 14th in the West and i think it’s safe to say they are in the middle of rebuilding. They have two young studs in Devin Booker and T.J. Warren who are putting up great numbers this season. In order to speed up this growing process, they need playoff experience ASAP. We are going to help them with that.
The last superstar Phoenix has had in their city was Steve Nash, but not for long. We’re signing Chris Paul in free agency this summer!
Bledsoe has been hit or miss when healthy (which hasn’t been much), and Brandon Knight has been sitting on the bench waiting for his opportunity to prove he can play for a while now. It might be time to move on from trying to force these two to fit. The Suns desperately need veteran leadership, and a guy that has been there before. Someone who is a pure passing PG that can set up their budding young guys Booker, Warren, Chriss, and Bender.
Enter Chris Paul.
Before you say anything, hear me out. Chris has played in a very small market before in New Orleans. The Clippers are one year away from possibly falling apart with CP3, Blake, and JJ all becoming free agents this summer. If the Suns want to turn their franchise around, what better way to set up their future with CP3 running the show?
Oct 18, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with C.J. McCollum (3) after making a free-throw to cut the Utah Jazz lead to one point during the fourth quarter of the NBA preseason game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. The Blazers won 116-111. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers
Wishlist: Defensive Specialist
The Trail Blazers are a very good offensive basketball team. Watching some of their offensive sets is pure artwork. Damain Lillard and C.J. McCollum can fill it up with the best in the NBA.
But this just in: Portland needs defensive help everywhere.
They’re dead last in the league in defensive rating. Defensive help has been on their Christmas list dating back to last season, so we’re going to give them some defensive help this holiday season! If the Blazers had a guy that could guard multiple positions (mainly 2-4) that was long and strong with the ability to be mobile on the perimeter, they would be a legit threat in the west.
With Golden State in the west, being versatile is a must. If Curry runs a high pick and roll with Draymond at the top of the key, you must have a guy that has the ability to switch this. The way Portland is set up now, they will get eaten alive by the Warriors versatility.
Dec 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a play against the New York Knicks during the second half at Golden 1 Center. The Knicks defeated the Kings 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Sacramento Kings
Wishlist: Assets
The list of things the Kings could use for Christmas is miles long. The front office has been a mess ever since the Peja and Chris Webber days. Since we’re just focusing on what their roster could use to become a better team, I won’t mention that they need to relocate back home to Kansas City. In a town that would love and adore them. In a city that would praise Boogie and make Sprint Center the loudest arena in the NBA. I won’t mention any of that.
Rudy Gay has been actively trying to get out of Sac Town, and has made it known he is not interested in re-signing with them this coming off season. Why not cut ties with him before the trade deadline and get some assets while you’re at it?
This holiday season, we’re trading away Rudy Gay for another wing and a 1st round draft pick.
Orlando has too many power forwards, and no true small forward unless you count Jeff Green. Aaron Gordon and a future 1st round pick for Rudy Gay would make a lot of sense for both teams. This would give Sac a very athletic compliment alongside Cousins down low, and also give them an additional early first round pick in the next two years.
Nov 25, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is congratulated by guard Patty Mills (8) as Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) looks on from behind during the second half of the San Antonio Spurs 109-103 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
San Antonio Spurs
Wishlist: A Youthful Jolt
Spurs currently sit 2nd in the Western Conference with the best road record in the league. A lot of people aren’t talking about the Spurs, but that’s exactly what they want. They continue to quietly dominate teams on the defensively end without making mistakes offensively. They’re one of four teams in the league that are top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
It’s easy to see however that San Antonio is getting older. Tim Duncan was the first to go last year, but Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are close to their finish line as well. Patty Mills has been an important 6th man this year with Parker resting nagging injuries.
We’re giving the Spurs some youth for Christmas!
Now I don’t believe they will make any drastic changes this season, but in the offseason is when they will have their eye on making their roster younger. Jonathon Simmons has already been a huge success for the Spurs. He’s playing 18 minutes a game and his athleticism is a big step up from Ginobili at SG.
Look for the Spurs to address the PG position via the draft with a young guy to grow and learn behind Patty Mills. Pau is also getting up there in age and free agency would be a great place to find a more defensive minded center.
Oct 5, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) and forward Gordon Hayward (20) talk mid court during the first half of the game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Utah Jazz
Wishlist: Backup Point Guard
The Jazz are 5th in the Western Conference at the moment but this stat lies to us. They’re another one of the four teams that are top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Their only problem has been not getting their main guys to be able to play together. George Hill and Gordon Hayward have only played six games together.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
George Hill is one of the more under appreciated guys in the NBA, and if it weren’t for Greek Freak, would probably be the most improved player in the league through the first quarter of the season (20 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4 APG).
Quin Snyder has done a terrific job with this up and coming team. They have great depth with Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw, Trey Lyles, and Dante Exum all making good contributions off the bench. They could, however, use some more depth at the PG position.
We’re getting Utah a true back up point guard for Christmas!
George Hill has been a great scoring threat this season with a real skill defending the perimeter. His first thought isn’t to run the offense to set people up in the best positions to score though. The Jazz are 28th in assists per game as a team.
They could really benefit from having a guy to relieve George Hill for a handful of minutes and be a facilitator. They have great scorers on both wings with Rodney Hood and Gordon Hayward. Once Derrick Favors is completely healthy at PF, this pass-first PG would have a field day setting up this talented roster for scoring opportunities.
