Shooting for the stars

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Andrew Wiggins and a few other possibilities. The Lakers threat will depress the trade market, barring some hush-hush advance agreement from Westbrook's camp.

Either way, the Durant-Westbrook Thunder take their place as the NBA's great dynasty that wasn't. They made one precocious Finals run and never returned, undone by injuries, bad luck, the rise of Golden State and one trade that reduced their margin for error. If Westbrook stays, they will rebuild from the middle, and we will see if Presti can appeal to free agents who might take them from 40-plus wins back into the 50s. If Westbrook leaves, the climb will be long and painful.

Golden State has reached the top, and the Warriors are primed to seize the throne back from Cleveland. It's too soon to pencil in a dynasty. They have no bench right now. And crazy things can happen -- just ask the Thunder. But the Warriors will enter next season as favorites, with the chance again to be an all-time team.