Marquese Chriss Gives Ultimatum: More Playing Time or Trade

Houston Rockets forward Marquese Chriss is requesting either more minutes or to be traded, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Haynes spoke to Chriss’ agent, Aaron Goodwin, who says the third-year big man is seeking a bigger role with Houston or to be moved to another team.

“Marquese didn’t ask to be traded to Houston,” Goodwin told Yahoo Sports. “The Rockets are a great organization and the kid has done everything they’ve asked of him to get on the floor. If it’s not going to happen there, we just want him to be treated fairly.”

Chriss was acquired by Houston in the offseason, along with guard Brandon Knight, in a deal that sent Ryan Anderson and De'Anthony Melton to the Phoenix Suns. Chriss, 21, spent his first two seasons in the league with the Suns, who selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. In his two years with Phoenix, the 6’10” forward posted per-game averages of 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals in 21.3 minutes.

Marquese Chriss wants the chance to showcase his talents. (AP)

According to Haynes, Chriss became the third-youngest player in NBA history to register 100 steals, 100 3-pointers and 100 blocks by the age of 20. The only other two players to accomplish that are LeBron James and Kevin Durant, proving Chriss has plenty of potential.

Glued to the Rockets’ bench, Chriss has given the Rockets an ultimatum—play me or trade me. He has played in just 15 games this season and is seeing a career-low 6.7 minutes per contest. 

Chriss failed to crack the rotation even after starting center Clint Capela went down with a thumb injury—requiring him to have surgery and sidelining him for the next four weeks. Instead of playing Chriss, the Rockets opted to sign Kenneth Faried, who was bought out by the Brooklyn Nets earlier this month, and immediately put Faried into the starting rotation. 36-year-old Nene Hilario and 2017 second-round draft pick Isaiah Hartenstein are receiving the majority of the bench minutes at backup center.

Houston already declined to pick up Chriss’ fourth-year option, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. Goodwin hopes his client can showcase his talents before free agency and a trade out of Houston may be the best option now that Chriss has been ousted from the Rockets’ rotation.

“I would hate to see a career derailed because teams feel he cannot play at the level he did before the trade,” Goodwin said.

The NBA's trade deadline is Feb. 7.

Enes Kanter Demands Trade Following Benching

A disgruntled Enes Kanter sounded off on Wednesday night after getting no playing time in the New York Knicks’ loss to the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden.

“I want to play basketball,” Kanter said, after receiving a Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision (DNP-CD) on Wednesday. “If you’re going to play me here, play me. Or if not, then just get me out of here.”

With starting center Luke Kornet sidelined with an ankle injury, Kanter was expected to see substantial playing time against Houston. In fact, head coach David Fizdale told Kanter on Wednesday morning that the big man would start. Later in the day, however, assistant coach Keith Smart relayed the news that Kanter was likely headed for a DNP-CD.

Kanter wants out of New York. (John E. Sokolowski/USA Today Sports)

The decision to start Noah Vonleh was “frustrating” for Kanter. Fizdale said he started Vonleh in an attempt to slow down Rockets superstar guard James Harden in pick-and-roll situations. That obviously did not work, as Harden erupted for a career-high 61 points in Houston's 114-110 victory.

Kanter was informed by Fizdale last week that the Knicks planned to play young centers Kornet and Mitchell Robinson more moving forward. Still, Kanter was irritated by the fact that he was told he would start versus Houston, only to ride the pine for the entire contest.

"My job right now is just cheer for my teammates and try to be a good teammate, [but] what they're doing to me is pretty messed up. I deserve way better," Kanter said.

The 26-year-old Kanter is clearly not a part of the long-term plans for the rebuilding Knicks. Locked in a youth movement, the Knicks see no reason to play the seven-year veteran, an awful defender. He ranks 66th out of 67 centers in ESPN's defensive real plus-minus.

Teams interested in Kanter will be drawn to his scoring and rebounding abilities. He averages 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest.

Kanter wants out of New York, changing his tune from last month when he met with Knicks general manager Scott Perry and expressed his frustration with being removed from the starting unit—but indicated his desire to remain with the franchise.

A free agent at the end of the season, Kanter would like to be moved before the NBA’s trade deadline on Feb. 7.

LeBron Wants Lakers to Acquire Carmelo Anthony

Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward LeBron James hopes his team can acquire longtime friend Carmelo Anthony, according to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon. Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and fellow member of the 2003 NBA Draft class, remains on the Houston Rockets' roster, but is no longer associated with the team after the two sides decided to part ways after just 10 games. Anthony, 34, is eligible to be traded on Dec. 15.

Taking a gamble on Anthony, a 16-year veteran who is a shell of his former self, does not seem worth it for the Lakers. They have won 11 of their past 14 contests and are finally starting to form an identity. Youngsters Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart are emerging into solid players and developing strong outside games. Veteran big men Tyson Chandler and JaVale McGee are playing their best basketball in years, crashing the boards on both ends of the floor.

The Lakers would be well-advised to stay away from LeBron's pal, Anthony, who played downright atrocious in his short stay with Houston. In 294 minutes with Anthony on the floor, the Rockets were outscored by 63 points. The Rockets outscored other teams by 17 points in the 330 minutes he sat on the bench.

LeBron James wants to team up with his friend Carmelo Anthony. (Getty Images)

Anthony, a terrible defender his entire career, was not committed to the Rockets' defensive schemes. Opposing players shot 3.6 percent better with Anthony defending them on average.

Is James' loyalty to Anthony so strong that he would risk sabotaging the Lakers' season? Would he stick his neck out for a player who some league executives speculated has already played his final NBA game?

Let's not forget that Anthony is currently being paid $26.8 million by the Atlanta Hawks to not play for them after they bought his contract out. Assuming the Lakers and every other NBA team resists trading for Anthony, then the Rockets would be the second team this year to pay Anthony to not play for them, as Houston would owe him the remainder of his $2.4 million veteran's minimum contract.

Maybe James is just pretending that he wants the Lakers to acquire Anthony to show support for a friend. Maybe he truly knows the Lakers are way better off without Anthony and that his buddy isn't nearly the player he once was. Because it's pretty obvious for even the most casual of NBA fans to understand that Anthony, a likely Hall of Famer, is washed-up and not worth the risk.

Heat not Interested in Houston's Ryan Anderson

The Miami Heat is not interested in trading for Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson. The Rockets remain intent on unloading Anderson’s bloated contract, but Miami is not a realistic destination for the 30-year-old who will earn $20 million next season and close to $21 million in 2019-20.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat does not want to take on Anderson’s contract because it would increase its luxury tax bill.

The Rockets are having difficulty trading Ryan Anderson. (Carlos Osario/AP)

The Rockets would like to acquire Tyler Johnson—a player Miami has attempted to trade away, but to no avail because of his hefty contract—in a swap for Anderson that would likely include a draft pick being sent to the Heat. But this not a deal that is “appealing” to Miami, says Jackson.

The Heat does not intend to deal James Johnson—another player Houston has inquired about in a potential trade—because it “values his skill set.”

It will be a challenge for Houston to find a suitor for the sharpshooting Anderson. His horrific defense, most notably on the perimeter in the pick-and-roll, has made him nearly unplayable as he fell out of the rotation in the playoffs. He did not receive playing time in six of the Rockets’ 17 postseason games. He averaged just 5.8 minutes and 1.7 points per playoff contest.

Fresh off their 65-win season, the Rockets seek to augment their second-unit. The reserves could get a boost from Carmelo Anthony if he accepts a role off the bench, something Houston has reportedly discussed with the 10-time All-Star. Anthony is also defensively limited, but even he can produce better on that end of the floor than Anderson, an untradable asset that is destined to remain glued to Houston' bench.

Rockets Sign James Ennis, Add Much-Needed Defense

After losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency, the Houston Rockets needed to add a versatile 3-and-D wing defender. The Rockets believe they found that in James Ennis, who signed a two-year contract with Houston on Wednesday, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. The deal includes a player option for the second season.

Ennis will be tasked with replacing some of the length and athleticism the Rockets lost from the departures of Ariza and Mbah a Moute. Ennis, a 6-foot-7 forward, appeared in 45 games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season before being shipped mid-season to the Detroit Pistons—where he played in 27 contests. He averaged 7.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last season.

James Ennis is the newest member of the Houston Rockets. (Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Houston will rely on Ennis to knock down three-pointers, as Ariza did in past seasons. Ennis shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range in 22.3 minutes per game last year.

In hot pursuit of Carmelo Anthony in anticipation of the 10-time All-Star’s release from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ennis could be delegated to the bench in Houston. If so, Ennis would serve in a reserve role similar to Mbah a Moute did last season—but Houston believes Ennis is an even better fit because of his superior speed and his potential to become a catch-and-shoot threat from behind the arc.

Yahoo Sports reports that Ennis will compete for a starting job in Houston. However, if Anthony signs with the Rockets—as most pundits have speculated—it’s tough to envision Ennis receiving the starting nod, even if he is better fit with Houston, as Anthony has made it clear he refuses to come off the bench.

We will always have this Melo Thunder moment and there is nothing you can do to take it away from us pic.twitter.com/oBwbrJZVA0

— Scott Wobstein (@World_Wide_Wob) July 6, 2018

Rockets' Role Players Shrink in Game 1 Loss

The Golden State Warriors demonstrated on Monday night why it is such a grueling task to defeat them come playoff time. The opposition must execute close to perfection. The Houston Rockets failed to do that in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and now face a must-win contest on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.

James Harden, expected to be named the league’s Most Valuable Player, performed at an MVP level—but so did Kevin Durant in the Warriors' 119-106 victory. While Harden scored a game-best 41 points, Durant recorded 37 of his own. Chris Paul, who posted 23 points, 11 rebounds and two steals, was on par with two-time MVP Stephen Curry (18 points, eight assists, two steals and one block).

Review of the game tape and a quick glance at the box score shows that both teams’ superstar duos came to play and essentially offset one another other. But the remaining cast of the Warriors severely outplayed Houston’s. There lies the problem for the Rockets. They don’t have the depth of talent to go neck-and-neck with the Warriors. No NBA team does.

On a night where the Rockets needed Clint Capela (who is far more than just a role player, as these playoffs have shown, but still clearly playing third fiddle to Harden and Paul) to dominate on both ends, he was instead held in check. Houston's center scored just 12 points (mostly off alley-oops) and had just six rebounds—the same amount as Curry.

P.J. Tucker, fresh off scoring 19 and 15 in his last two playoff contests, respectively, had one measly point. He missed all three field goal attempts and went 1-of-3 shooting from the charity stripe. Luc Mbah a Moute couldn’t muster a single point on 0-for-6 shooting, while Trevor Ariza registered just eight points.

Trevor Ariza struggled mightily against the Warriors in Game 1. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)

The aforementioned forwards need to hit outside jumpers for Houston to have a chance this series. Tucker, Mbah a Moute and Ariza went a combined 1-for-9 from behind the arc. They didn’t make an impact on the glass (11 rebounds combined) and had no answer for Durant.

Ariza picked up his fifth foul less than three minutes into the second half. Tucker ended up spending the most time guarding Durant, who used his height to shoot over the top of Tucker. Mbah a Moute actually has the length to defend Durant, but struggled against him in limited chances and put forth a brutal overall showing—as evidenced by his game-worst minus -14 in 20 minutes of action.

Eric Gordon was the only non-star to deliver on offense for the Rockets. The 2017 Sixth Man of the Year had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. However, he turned the ball over four times, struggled on the defensive end and posted a minus-10.

So while Houston relied on Capela, Gordon, Tucker, Mbah a Moute and Ariza to aid its superstar duo, Golden State leaned on the likes of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala to compliment its superstar pair. Advantage, Golden State.

Thompson had a field day, hitting six treys en route to a 28-point showing, while Green delivered his typical all-around offensive performance (five points, nine rebounds, a team-high nine assists) and stellar defense, which included a couple of steals and blocks.

Iguodala didn’t have nearly the statistical output as Thompson and Green, but his insertion into the starting unit (their “death lineup”) caused all sorts of problems for the Rockets, who were forced to sit Capela during some important stretches of the game to combat Golden State’s smaller unit.

The Rockets are counting on guys outside of Paul and Harden to come through in Game 2. If they don’t, the Rockets will likely be staring at an 0-2 series deficit, which all but ends their upset hopes.

How Rockets Can Upset Warriors

The Houston Rockets won a league-best 65 games in the regular season and have lost just two games this postseason, but will enter the Western Conference Finals as underdogs against the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are listed as -185 favorites to win the series, according to the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. However, the Rockets are currently favored to win Game 1 of the West Finals on Monday night in Houston.

Oddsmakers shouldn’t be ostracized for leaning towards the Warriors over the top-seeded Rockets. Golden State, after all, has posted a 24-3 record over the past two postseasons and has yet to even partake in a series longer than five games since Kevin Durant ditched Oklahoma City for the heavyweight Warriors.

Although it’s tough to foresee the Rockets dethroning the Warriors, here are three factors that could make it possible:

Chris Paul Outplays Stephen Curry

Advancing to the conference finals for the first time in his career, Chris Paul needs to perform at the same superstar level as he did against the Utah Jazz last round. Paul scored 41 points in the Rockets’ series-clinching victory over the Jazz, shooting 13-of-22 shooting from the field—including 8-of-10 from three-point land—and added 10 assists (zero turnovers) with seven rebounds and a steal.

Chris Paul will go head-to-head against Stephen Curry. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)

Paul is certainly capable of outshining two-time MVP Stephen Curry on the big stage. For all the negativity associated with CP3 and his lack of team playoff success, he ranks fifth all-time in postseason assists per contest. Paul, a seven-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, must be physical against Curry, particularly when guarding him away from the ball. The more off-the-ball pressure Paul can provide, the less pick-and-roll opportunities will be available for Curry, who is all but unstoppable in the two-man game on offense.

Clint Capela Maintains Dominance

Clint Capela, a restricted free agent this summer, was a borderline All-Star during the regular season and has shined thus far in the postseason. Houston’s center outplayed his counterparts Karl Anthony-Towns and Rudy Gobert in successive series. The 7-footer will be challenged, though, by Golden State’s “death lineup,” which features Draymond Green at center.

The Warriors will likely open with their small-ball lineup as they did at the end of their last series against the New Orleans Pelicans. In the past, centers have been pushed off the floor by the quickness of this lineup because it steers the opposing big men away from the hoop. Capela is shifty for a player his size and possesses the ability to keep up with the Warriors’ fast-paced offense. Furthermore, Capela can overpower any player on Golden State’s roster and can be particularly effective in the post versus the death lineup. If things going according to plan, Capela will defend the Warriors’ smaller players well and dominate the paint on offense as he done all playoffs long.

Mbah a Moute and Tucker Play Strong Defense, Hit 3s

The Rockets will rely on Trevor Ariza on defense against Durant to start the game. But offseason additions Luc Mbah a Moute and P.J. Tucker will be tasked with guarding the superstar forward for portions of the contest as well. Mbah a Moute provides more length against Durant, while Tucker is a more physical defender. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey constructed his roster to match up with the Warriors—even admitting he was obsessed with beating the champs—and brought both players to Houston with an eye on slowing down Durant by bodying him and forcing him to take difficult jump shots.

Mbah a Moute and Tucker are both defensive specialists who don’t provide much offense. As Golden State hones their defense on James Harden, Paul and Capela, forwards Mbah a Moute and Tucker will be often left alone on the perimeter to shoot threes. Tucker has been effective from behind the arc this postseason, making 22-of-48 (45.8 percent) of his 3s. Mbah a Moute missed the first round and made just two of his 10 3s versus the Jazz, but the 31-year-old did hit a career-high 63 three-pointers in the regular season, despite missing 21 games to injury. When Harden and Paul penetrate to the basket, Mbah a Moute and Tucker will be the open men who need to make shots to keep the Warriors’ defense honest and limit their double-teams.

Timberwolves' Disappointing Season Ends in Game 5 Rout

            The Minnesota Timberwolves reached the postseason for the first time since 2004. Two of their players, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, represented the franchise at the 2018 All-Star festivities. And yet by most measures, this was a dissatisfying season for the Wolves.

            Finishing eighth in the conference and grabbing just one playoff win cannot be considered a success for a team expected to post a top-5 record in the West. The Houston Rockets dispatched the Wolves in five games in the first round of the 2018 postseason, culminating with a convincing 122-104 Game 5 win on Wednesday night. Three of the contests in the series were blowouts, including a Game 4 home loss for Minnesota in which they allowed 50 points in the third quarter.

James Harden and Chris Paul, Houston’s star-studded backcourt, outperformed the Wolves’ duo of Towns and Butler.

Towns was even outplayed by his center counterpart Clint Capela, who is one of the league’s most improved players this season. Capela brought more energy on both sides of the court.

Capela recorded 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the opening playoff game. Towns had just eight points in the 104-101 Game 1 loss for Minnesota, which missed a golden opportunity to steal home court advantage from the top-seeded Rockets. 

Closing out the series in strong fashion, Capela registered game highs in points (26) and rebounds (15), going 12-of-14 from the field in Game 5. For the series, Capela posted better offensive statistics than Towns—something few could have predicted before the series began. He had averages of 15.8 points and 14.2 rebounds, compared to 15.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per contest for Towns.

Capela outplayed Towns for the majority of the series. (Michael Ciago/Houston Chronicle)

Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins failed to make a significant impact for the Wolves all series, a microcosm of his underwhelming season. The 23-year-old signed a massive contract extension in October—a 5-year, $145.6 million deal that kicks in next season. He remains one of the league’s weakest defenders and offers little outside of scoring.

Butler is eligible for a maximum contract extension in the summer of 2019 and Towns will eventually command a max deal as well. That means the Wolves will feature Towns, Butler and Wiggins for the foreseeable future—a “Big 3” that pales in comparison to the league’s most dominant trios.

            While Tom Thibodeau helped the Wolves reach the postseason, the 2012 NBA Coach of the Year has ran into the same problems as he did in Chicago. This is fitting given that, as the team's president of basketball operations, Thibodeau acquired some of his former Bulls players, including Butler, Taj Gibson, Derrick Rose and Aaron Brooks. He still plays his starters far too long. Towns and Wiggins ranked in the top-15 in total minutes played, while Butler (who missed 23 games this season) ranked in the top-10 in minutes (36.7) per contest. Gibson averaged 33.3 minutes per game.

Thibodeau was frustrated throughout most of Minnesota's five playoff contests. (Jim Mone/AP)

            Thibodeau was brought in for his supposed defensive prowess, but the Wolves ranked 17^th in points allowed per game. Towns has the potential to improve defensively, but Wiggins seems hopeless on that side of the ball and he is under contract through the 2022-23 season.

            The Wolves broke their 14-year playoff drought. But if this season is any indication, they are far from being title contenders.

Rockets' Morey Tops Celtics' Ainge for Executive of the Year

Danny Ainge pulled off the firework offseason that the Boston Celtics had promised fans for years in the summer of 2017. A decade after acquiring future Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in separate trades, Ainge landed perennial All-Star Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster deal with the rival Cleveland Cavaliers and signed All-Star Gordon Hayward to the most lucrative contract in franchise history.

Not only did Ainge acquire Irving and Hayward, he also fleeced the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that netted Jayson Tatum and a future first-round pick. Tatum is expected to finish third in Rookie of the Year voting, while the 76ers traded up for the top pick with Boston to select Markelle Fultz, who had a disastrous first season in the league and even forgot how to shoot.

Danny Ainge acquired two All-Stars this offseason. (Elise Amendola/AP Photo)

Boston's offseason changes also included the free agent signings of big men Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis, in addition to the initially-scrutinized trade with the Detroit Pistons that swapped Avery Bradley for Marcus Morris. It was arguably an A+ summer for Ainge—yet his offseason excellence shouldn’t earn him the Executive of the Year award. Instead that honor should go to Daryl Morey, the Houston Rockets general manager.

It’s an unfair reality that Hayward only played one game for the Celtics. A freak injury suffered to his leg on opening night sidelined him for the entire season and robbed him of the chance to contribute for the Celtics. Unlike Hayward, Morey’s prized offseason addition, Chris Paul, made a splash in his first season in Houston and helped lead the Rockets to the best record in the NBA.

Morey brought Paul to Houston in a stunning trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul and MVP favorite James Harden, who Morey landed in a trade in the 2012 offseason, formed a dynamic duo that spearheaded the best regular season mark (65-17) in franchise history.

Harden—the league’s leader in scoring and player efficiency rating (PER)—and Paul are easily the best backcourt court in basketball. They average a combined 49.0 points and 16.7 assists per contest. Paul has posted a 55% effective field goal percentage, while Harden owns a 54.1% mark.

Paul was just one of the widely successful offseason moves Morey made. The bench was bolstered through the signings of defensive stalwarts P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute. Tucker and Mbah a Moute have built the Rockets into a top-eight defense. Tucker and Mbah a Moute allow the Rockets to hide guys like Harden and Eric Gordon on the defensive end, both of whom have struggled  in times on that side of the ball.

Daryl Morey has built the Rockets into a championship contender. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

In rare occasions, the Rockets have used Mbah a Moute and Tucker at the 5 and 4, respectively. When doing so, Houston has outpaced opponents by 38.4 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass. This could be a lineup utilized for stretches when the Rockets inevitably play the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. The Rockets will counter the Warriors’ “death lineup”—which features Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green—with the length of Mbah a Moute and Tucker, rotating in-and-out starting small forward Trevor Ariza.

Morey managed to augment the bench during the season, too. He inked free agent guard/forward Gerald Green to a 1-year, veteran minimum deal in late December. The 32-year-old Green emerged as a reliable scorer off the bench, producing per game averages of 12.1 points over 22.7 minutes.

New additions galore, the Rockets cruised through the regular season. They were the only team to win 60+ games and clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs two weeks before the season had even ended. The Rockets dominated the regular season because of the shrewd moves by Morey, who should be recognized as the 2017-18 Executive of the Year.

Lou Williams Belongs in 2018 All-Star Game

                For the second time this season, Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams was awarded the Western Conference Player of the Week. Appearing in four games in the week of Jan. 8 through Jan.14—all wins for the Clippers—Williams averaged 35 points per contest, shooting 45.7 percent from three-point territory and 96.7 percent from the free-throw line in 36.5 minutes per game.

Congratulations @TeamLou23! 👏#NBAVote 🔁 Retweet pic.twitter.com/3nY4Rg4Ere

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 15, 2018

                The most noteworthy performance for Williams came against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. He scored a career-best 50 points in the upset victory.

                Williams began his campaign for a third Player of the Week honors with a bang on Monday night, totaling game-highs in points (31), assists (9) and plus/minus (+16) in a 113-102 win against the Houston Rockets, the franchise that traded him to LA this summer in a blockbuster deal for star guard Chris Paul.

                Williams, a 13-year veteran, is now a star himself and deserves to represent the Western Conference in the 2018 All-Star Game.  He is averaging career-highs in points (23.8), assists (5.0) and three-point percentage (41.6%). He has started 12 games and appeared in 30 games off the bench. Williams is currently the NBA’s leading bench scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game as a reserve.

                Carrying a Clippers team that many figured to miss the postseason—especially in the wake of a season-ending injury to starting guard Patrick Beverley—Los Angeles has a 22-21 record behind Williams, good enough for the Western Conference's No. 7 seed if the playoffs started today.

                Among Western Conference guards, Stephen Curry, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are locks to make the All-Star team. Based off the latest tally for fan voting, Curry and Harden will start the game, which means Westbrook will come off the bench.

                Williams will complete with the likes of Paul, the Portland Trail Blazers’ backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jimmy Butler and the Warriors’ Klay Thompson for reserve spots in the All-Star Game. Williams has recorded a 22.9 player efficiency rating (PER), the third-most among the aforementioned players, trailing only Paul—who might get excluded from the roster because he has only appeared in 25 games this season—and Butler. With the Trail Blazers (22-21) only a game above .500, the team will likely have just one All-Star representative, so either Lillard or McCollum should get the short end of the stick. Booker has been a terrific scorer this season for the woeful Suns, but his lower PER (18.82) and major defensive inefficiencies make him a lesser All-Star candidate than Williams. Butler, who has elevated his level of play for Minnesota in the wake of Jeff Teague’s injury, is expected to make the All-Star roster.

                The catalyst of a surging Clippers squad, Williams should make the All-Star team over Thompson, who is the fourth-most important player on the Warriors behind Kevin Durant, Curry and Draymond Green. Thompson is a much better defensive player than Williams, but has had a far less impact on his team’s success this season.

Klay Thompson is looking to make his fourth straight All-Star Game appearance. (Noah Graham/Getty Images)

                The West had just four guards on the All-Star team last year, but this season it could roster at least six guards (two starters and four reserves). It will be up to the voting of the coaches and players to put Williams in his first career All-Star Game, a recognition he certainly merits.

NBA 2017-18 Western Conference Standings Predictions

With the summer drawing to a close and the NBA’s Opening Night tipping-off in less than two months, standings predictions are detailed here for the upcoming season in the Western Conference.

1. Golden State Warriors

By far the best team in the league, the Dubs brought back their championship core and added guard Nick Young and forward Omri Casspi in free agency.

The Warriors could reach the 70-win plateau for the second time in three seasons.

2. Houston Rockets

The Rockets are constructing their roster to dethrone the Warriors. Not only did they trade for superstar point guard Chris Paul, they also signed P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute — two defensive stalwarts whom can guard (as best as one possibly can) Kevin Durant.

Chris Paul holds his jersey up in his introductory press conference with the Houston Rockets. Houston’s general manager Daryl Morey (left) and head coach Mike D’Antoni (right) are also shown. (AP Photo)

Houston is the home for two of the 10 best players (James Harden and Paul) in the NBA. Will it also be the home of Carmelo Anthony come this winter?

3. San Antonio Spurs

It was a bit of a rough offseason for the Spurs. Not only did their in-state rivals acquire Paul, a player who the Spurs coveted, they lost Jonathan Simmons in free agency (Orlando Magic) and their biggest move of the summer was signing Rudy Gay, who is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury.

Tony Parker is out until January, as the Spurs’ floor general recovers from successful surgery on his left quad. Patty Mills will be manning the point guard duties in the meantime.

Even with Parker out and forward LaMarcus Aldridge reportedly unhappy in San Antonio, the Spurs remain a top-3 team in the West because of Kawhi Leonard, the best two-way player in the league.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder pulled off one of the most stunning trades in recent memory, acquiring superstar forward Paul George from the Indiana Pacers in return for mercurial guard Victor Oladipo — currently in the midst of a hefty contract — and backup forward Domantas Sabonis.

Four-time All-Star Paul George, a free agent in 2018, is the newest member of the Thunder. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Some think George, an impending free agent, may be a 1-year rental, but the forward made it clear if the Thunder reach the West Finals (or beyond) he’d be “dumb to leave” Oklahoma City.

Now serious contenders in the Western Conference, the Thunder re-signed defensive juggernaut Andre Roberson and inked stretch forward Patrick Patterson to a three-year contract.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2004 but their woes appear to be in the past after landing Jimmy Butler in a Draft Night trade from the Chicago Bulls.

The Timberwolves signed Jeff Teague to join a (projected) starting lineup comprising of Butler, Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Gorgui Dieng.

The bench features free agent additions Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson.

6. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers squeaked into the playoffs last year — only to get throttled in a first-round sweep at the hands of the champion Warriors. Though it was a disappointing season for Portland, given its expectations, there is certainly room for optimism because of Jusuf Nurkic.

The seven-foot 23-year-old Bosnian center was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Trail Blazers at February’s trade deadline. From the moment he arrived in Portland, Nurkic played like an All-Star, averaging 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest.

Jusuf Nurkic will be critical to Portland’s success in 2017–18. (Sam Forencich/Getty Images)

Nurkic’s season was cut short after he suffered a non-displaced right leg fracture, as the center missed the final seven games of the regular season and appeared in just one game (17 minutes in Game 3) in the playoffs.

Assuming Nurkic returns to form, he can establish a powerful trio with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. And if all goes well, the Trail Blazers can trade for Carmelo Anthony (they would first have to convince the 10-time All-Star to waive his no-trade clause and leave the New York Knicks) and acquire the star power needed to compete in a Western Conference loaded with All-Star caliber players.

7. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets missed the playoffs by a mere game last season. After adding All-Star forward Paul Millsap in free agency, the Nuggets are poised to make the postseason for the first time since 2013.

Millsap will form a one-two punch in the middle with center Nikola Jokic, a bonafide superstar in the second half of last season who looks the part of a perennial All-Star.

Jokic is a walking double-double who improved on the defensive side of the ball as the season commenced. Jokic’s dominant interior presence will keep the Nuggets competitive in the West for years to come.

8. Utah Jazz

Gordon Hayward defected to the Boston Celtics in free agency, but the Jazz still have Rudy Gobert, a member of the All-NBA Second Team last season.

Replacing Hayward is an impossible task — at least for the upcoming season — for the Jazz who now must rely heavily on Gobert, the NBA’s blocks leader in 2016–17 who made the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

The Jazz traded for point guard Ricky Rubio — replacing George Hill, who signed with the lowly Sacramento Kings — and re-signed Joe Ingles. They also inked veteran forwards Jonas Jerebko and Thabo Sefolosha to two-year deals as the Jazz recovered relatively well from the Hayward departure.

Advancing to the West semifinals last year, the Jazz will likely be grinding just to reach the playoffs. They could find themselves battling with the Los Angles Clippers — who they defeated in a seven-game series last postseason — for the eighth seed in the West.

Rest of the Pack

9. Los Angeles Clippers

10. New Orleans Pelicans

11. Memphis Grizzlies

12. Dallas Mavericks

13. Los Angeles Lakers

14. Sacramento Kings

15. Phoenix Suns

Rockets Sign Luc Mbah a Moute, Adding Another Player to Match Up with Warriors

                With the Golden State Warriors retaining their core players this summer—re-singing Finals MVP Kevin Durant, giving two-time league MVP Stephen Curry a supermax contract and re-upping Andre Iguodala—while also bolstering the bench with the additions of Nick Young and Omri Casspi, the defending champions will be heavy favorites to win the title next year. For other title hopefuls, the most prudent move is to construct their roster to match up with the heavyweight Warriors. The Rockets—who traded for nine-time All-Star Chris Paul at the start of free agency—have done exactly that this offseason and Sunday’s signing of free agent combo forward Luc Mbah a Moute is further proof.

                An elite wing defender who shot a career-best 39 percent from three-point territory last season, Mbah a Moute is one of the most underrated players in the league. The 30-year-old Cameroonian small forward spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, earning 61 and 76 starts in the past two years, respectively. For all the awful moves Doc Rivers has made as the president of basketball operations for the Clippers, signing Mbah a Moute was a clear-cut home run. Mbah a Moute received an invite to the Clippers' training camp in 2015 and impressed the team enough to give him a guaranteed 1-year contract. He re-signed with the Clippers last offseason on a 2-year deal which held a player option for the second season. After declining his $2.3 million option last month, he has agreed to join a Rockets squad that has been busy this offseason in their title pursuit.

Luc Mbah a Moute became a catalyst for the Clippers' defense the past two seasons.  Kyusung Gong (Zuma Press)

                 Inking the defensive-minded Mbah a Moute to a veteran minimum deal is a steal for the Rockets, who are building one of the league’s strongest benches. While Mbah a Moute is a limited offensive player unable of creating his own shot, the 6’8” forward is capable of defending the likes of Durant and Iguodala. 

                Mbah a Moute joins the 2016-17 Sixth Man of the Year, Eric Gordon, among the Rockets reserves—along with Nene Hilario and the newly-signed P.J. Tucker. Tucker is another forward who prides himself on his tenacious defense. Tucker provides more on the offensive end than Mbah a Moute, however Mbah a Moute might be Houston’s best option to guard Durant because of his length.

                Rockets general manager Daryl Morey believes his team has "closed the gap" on the Warriors. Coming off a 55-win season, the Rockets do appear, on paper at least, to be the biggest threat to Golden State. They have two of the 10 best players in the league with MVP runner-up James Harden and superstar point guard Chris Paul in the backcourt. The team has also been linked to trade rumors for 10-time All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony all offseason. If Houston is able to land Anthony, they would feature three All-Stars in the starting five and potent backups. 

With James Harden and Chris Paul, the Rockets have arguably the NBA's most talented backcourt. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

                         The NBA Finals underscored the importance of a deep bench. The Warriors exposed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lack of depth as Golden State’s reserves dominated their counterparts all series long.

                 In order to take down the Warriors, a team not only needs star power in the starting unit, but also capable, gritty role players off the bench who are willing to sacrifice individual accomplishments and do the little things on the court that the Warriors’ backups—Iguodala, Shawn Livingston, JaVale McGee and David West—did in their championship campaign last season. With Tucker and Mbah a Moute on board in Houston, the Rockets are following the most practical blueprint to go head-to-head with the Warriors and now serve as the most-feared challenger to dethrone the reigning champions.