Ranking Contenders in the Pacific Division: Kings, Clippers Rise

1. Los Angeles Clippers

While the Los Angeles Clippers were a skeptical team heading into the season, right now, they are possibly the best team in the West. The James Harden saga resulted in the superstar guard being shipped to Los Angeles. While it was a questionable move for the Clippers at first, the trade seems to have worked unbelievably thus far.

Despite their nine-game win streak snapping on Thursday, that hot streak showed the league that they should not be messed with. Superstar Kawhi Leonard was inactive for Thursday's loss, but the 32-year-old forward has been playing out of his mind. Leonard averaged 29.3 points on 61/50/95 shooting splits through their nine-game win streak.

The biggest concern around the Clippers is no surprise, as everyone wants to see what this team can do without injuries getting in their way. The Clippers must worry about Leonard and Paul George staying healthy while ensuring Harden stays happy. 

If the superstar trio continues to play at this level, the Clippers will undoubtedly be the most dangerous team in the division.

2. Sacramento Kings

The Kings sit in first place in the division after taking the crown in the 2022-23 season for the first time in 20 years. Led by All-Star duo De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, with reigning Coach of the Year Mike Brown on the sideline, the Kings will go as far as those three can take them.

Fox has been playing at an MVP level this season, averaging 29.7 points and 6.2 assists on 48.2/39.8 shooting splits. Despite not being in the NBA MVP conversation, Fox has proven to be one of the top point guards in the league and will likely defend his title of NBA Clutch Player of the Year as he leads the league in fourth-quarter points (min. ten games).

Sabonis is currently one of the most underrated players in the NBA, as he has nearly mirrored his All-NBA numbers from last season. The big man is third in the league in rebounds and eighth in assists while scoring 19 points per game. When Fox and Sabonis are playing at their best, the duo seems unstoppable.

The rise of sophomore Keegan Murray has elevated the Kings to another level, giving them a go-to third option on the perimeter. Along with Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Monk, Sacramento has built one of the most electrifying lineups in basketball.

While the Kings have work to do to be seen as serious championship contenders, they have all the necessary pieces to get to that level, and they likely will sooner than people think. 

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have all the star power in the world with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but their time at the top might be coming to an end. The Lakers are just one game above .500 and are an abysmal 5-11 on the road. They are on an active four-game losing streak, including a loss to the four-win San Antonio Spurs. 

While people can look at their wins and losses all day long, the only thing keeping the Lakers' championship hopes alive is one of the best duos in league history. The Lakers can finish the season as the eighth seed, and they will still be feared because of James and Davis.

James, 38, has shown no signs of slowing down in year 21. As long as James is playing at a high level, the Lakers will be contending for a championship.

The question around the Lakers is the pieces around James and Davis. While L.A. is expected to make a trade before the deadline, they are not in shape to take down the league's best teams until they upgrade their lineup. The emergence of Austin Reaves has been promising, but the downfall of D'Angelo Russell guarantees a point guard upgrade will be made.

The Lakers will be sitting in the middle of the division until they make moves to build around James and Davis. Still, they are not a team anyone would want to play in a seven-game series.

4. Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have all the talent in the world, but injuries have held them back 28 games into the season. Starting their championship-minded 2023-24 season 14-14 was not the plan for the Suns, but it is also not the end of the world. Their All-Star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal have played just one full game together due to injuries, so nobody knows what the potential of this team is yet.

If the Suns can get their lineup together for at least a 20-game stretch, it will be easier to judge where they stand. For now, the Suns are just a disappointing superteam that will not pan out as hoped.

The 2023-24 Suns have given off the same vibes as the 2021-22 Brooklyn Nets, where Durant teamed up with Kyrie Irving and James Harden, but the star trio never amounted to anything. Durant is an all-time talent, and the duo of him and Booker is dangerous, but they traded for Beal to complete the lineup. Without Beal, the Suns are an incomplete team with false championship hopes.

Outside of their star trio, the depth is questionable. Still, Durant is having one of the best statistical seasons of his career, and the Suns go as far as the superstar takes them. 

5. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have had trouble this season, and if it weren't for superstar Stephen Curry, this team could be 0-28. Thankfully, the Warriors have their point guard and have gone 14-14 to start the year. Golden State, after being at the top of the pyramid for a decade, is beginning to slip with an aging core.

The trade for 38-year-old Chris Paul was questionable when it happened and is still questionable five months later. Paul, Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins have all regressed this season, even though the Warriors desperately need a spark. 

Everyone knows about the Draymond Green suspension, but not everyone realizes how much this team needs him. Without Green, the Warriors lack a leader, a defensive anchor, and his on-court connection with Curry. The Warriors would not have won four championships without Green, and they will not come close to winning another one unless he gets his stuff together.

No Western Conference team would want to face Curry and the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, but the main concern for Golden State will be if they can make the playoffs. Being .500 with 54 games left in the season should not make them panic, but they cannot sit back and play it safe. 

The Warriors will likely not hang a banner in 2024, and they could be in trouble long-term if they do not figure it out soon.