EVERY MLB HOME RUN DERBY WINNER

The Home Run Derby is one of the marquee events of the MLB season and certainly the highlight of the All-Star break. There have been amazing showings over the years, including surprise winners and favorites putting on a show. Here, we chronicle every Home Run Derby winner since its inception in 1985.

2017: AARON JUDGE, YANKEES

The fans in Miami were hoping for a repeat from Mike Stanton or at least a showdown in the finals with rookie phenom Aaron Judge. Only Judge held up his end of the bargain, blasting 23 homers in the first round and never looking back, while Stanton was knocked out in the opening round. The Yankees slugger launched bombs all over the field and awed the crowd, easily taking home the Home Run Derby title and continuing his remarkable rookie season.

2016: GIANCARLO STANTON, MARLINS

Todd Frazier made it three straight trips to the finals, but he could not make it a repeat victory performance. This time, he was bested by Giancarlo Stanton, who launched 20 home runs in the finals to beat Frazier at Petco Park in San Diego.

2015: TODD FRAZIER, REDS

Frazier made it back to the finals but won this time, edging rookie Joc Pederson 15-14. He won at his home stadium, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

2014: YOENIS CESPEDES, ATHLETICS

Cespedes won back-to-back contests, beating out Reds slugger Todd Frazier in the finals. Of course, Cespedes barely got out of Round 1, battling in a swing-off with teammate Josh Donaldson at Target Field.

2013: YOENIS CESPEDES, ATHLETICS

Cespedes launched 17 home runs in Round 1 and beat young Bryce Harper 9-8 in the finals to win his first Home Run Derby. He came up big at his future home of Citi Field.

2012: PRINCE FIELDER, TIGERS

Fielder won his second Home Run Derby, this time with the Tigers. He beat out Jose Bautista in the finals at Kauffman Stadium.

2011: ROBINSON CANO, YANKEES

Cano just edged out Adrian Gonzalez in the finals 12-11, and the pair had an even total of 20 home runs going into the last round at Chase Field.

2010: DAVID ORTIZ, RED SOX

Big Papi was clutch in the finals vs. Hanley Ramirez at Angel Stadium, beating Hanley 11-5. He had 32 home runs for the entire contest.

2009: PRINCE FIELDER, BREWERS

Fielder edged out Nelson Cruz at Busch Stadium, winning 6-5 in the finals. He had 23 home runs for the Home Run Derby.

2008: JUSTIN MORNEAU, TWINS

Despite Josh Hamilton's 35 home runs for the entire contest, Morneau beat out a worn-down Hamilton in the finals at Yankee Stadium. Hamilton hit 28 home runs in Round 1, a single-round record.

2007: VLADIMIR GUERRERO, ANGELS

Vlad beat Alex Rios in the finals at AT&T Park to win the Derby. He had 17 home runs in three rounds.

2006: RYAN HOWARD, PHILLIES

Howard made it two Phillies winners in a row, edging David Wright in the finals 5-4 at PNC Park.

2005: BOBBY ABREU, PHILLIES

Abreu set a record with 41 home runs, launching an incredible 24 long balls in Round 1 at Comerica Park. He easily topped Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez in the finals.

2004: MIGUEL TEJADA, ORIOLES

Tejada parlayed 15 home runs in the semis into a head-to-head battle vs. hometown favorite Lance Berkman in the finals at Minute Maid Park. Tejada won 5-4 in the finals.

2003: GARRET ANDERSON, ANGELS

Anderson caught fire in the finals at U.S. Cellular Field, beating Albert Pujols by one home run. Pujols had more home runs for the contest with 14 in the semis.

2002: JASON GIAMBI, YANKEES

Giambi apparently learned to pace himself after wearing down after Round 1 in 2001. He easily beat Sammy Sosa in the finals at Miller Park.

2001: LUIS GONZALEZ, DIAMONDBACKS

Jason Giambi hit an incredible 14 home runs in Round 1 but failed to make it to the finals. Gonzalez beat Sammy Sosa in the finals at Safeco Field in Seattle.

2000: SAMMY SOSA, CUBS

Sosa dominated in the new three-round format, hitting a total of 26 home runs. His competitor in the finals, Ken Griffey Jr., hit only 11 for the entire contest at Turner Field.

1999: KEN GRIFFEY JR., MARINERS

Griffey Jr. made it back-to-back Home Run Derby wins, hitting a total of 16 home runs at Fenway Park. Mark McGwire's mammoth shots are a lasting memory of the contest, but he failed to win.

1998: KEN GRIFFEY JR., MARINERS

Griffey Jr. won his second Home Run Derby with 19 home runs, beating out hometown favorite Vinny Castilla at Coors Field.

1997: TINO MARTINEZ, YANKEES

Martinez beat out Larry Walker in the finals at Jacobs Field, though Walker hit more homers (19) for the Home Run Derby compared to Martinez's 16.

1996: BARRY BONDS, GIANTS

Bonds edged out Mark McGwire in a home run battle that foreshadowed the pair's record-breaking futures. Bonds hit 17 home runs for the contest, while McGwire hit 15 at Veterans Stadium in Philly.

1995: FRANK THOMAS, WHITE SOXS

The Big Hurt hit 15 homers for the Home Run Derby at Arlington. While Albert Belle actually had more homers with 16, Thomas won in the finals against Belle as the contest evolved into multiple rounds.

1994: KEN GRIFFEY JR., MARINERS

After losing in the head-to-head playoff in 1993, Griffey Jr. won his first Home Run Derby in 1994 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh with seven home runs. Fred McGriff finished second.

1993: JUAN GONZALEZ, RANGERS

Gonzalez and Ken Griffey Jr. tied with seven home runs, necessitating a head-to-head playoff at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. Juan Gone claimed victory in the playoff.

1992: MARK MCGWIRE, ATHLETICS

Big Mac claimed his first Home Run Derby victory, hitting mammoth shots at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. He launched 12 homers, while Ken Griffey Jr. came in second place with seven.

1991: CAL RIPKEN JR., ORIOLES

Ripken dominated the field with a record-breaking 12 home runs at the Sky Dome in Toronto. Paul O'Neill finished in second place with five homers.

1990: RYNE SANDBERG, CUBS

Sandberg hit three home runs at Wrigley Field to win the contest on his home turf. He beat out fellow future manager Matt Williams and future Padres bench coach Mark McGwire.

1989: ERIC DAVIS, REDS

After the 1988 Home Run Derby was rained out, Davis won the contest at Anaheim Stadium with three home runs. The field was back up to four participants per league after participation decreased the prior two years.

1987: ANDRE DAWSON, CUBS

With only three opponents, Dawson won the Home Run Derby in 1987 with four home runs. He beat out George Bell, Mark McGwire and Ozzie Virgil Jr.

1986: WALLY JOYNER AND DARRYL STRAWBERRY

Both Joyner (Angels) and Strawberry (Mets) tied with four home runs at the Astrodome in 1986 in Houston. In the second Home Run Derby, the field shrunk to just six participants, three from each league, and ended in the aforementioned tie.

1985: DAVE PARKER, REDS

Parker won the Home Run Derby with six long balls at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. There were 10 participants in the inaugural derby, five from each league, with Parker's six homers taking the crown.

STRUGGLING HITTERS LOOK FOR SECOND-HALF REBOUND

As the dog days of summer approach, some high-priced MLB talent currently resides in the dog house.

Batting average on balls in play (BABIP) can account for a low batting average. Batters tend to establish their own rate that stabilizes over the years, so if it’s low after a few months, there’s a fair chance BABIP and batting average will normalize over the rest of the season. But sometimes, problems go deeper.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

What’s eating at the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper (.212 BABIP)? Could the possibility of a nine-figure free-agent contract be weighing him down? He’s striking out more than usual, with whiffs in close to 40% of his June plate appearances. Other than that, the profile’s fine – plenty of fly balls with a high launch angle and exit velocity consistent with years past. With three month-plus DL stints in the past five years, Harper will always carry some health risk. But if he stays on the field and starts making better contact, he’ll produce in the second half.

Ryan Braun (.260 BABIP) of the Milwaukee Brewers will always be tied to steroid use. But when he got back from that suspension, he produced $30-plus seasons in 2015 and 2016. Lately, though, his launch angle’s been pretty low, contributing to a lot of ground balls. He's also striking out more than usual.

Age catches up with everyone, and at 34, don't count on a lot from Braun — especially now that he’s on the disabled list for a second time this season with a back issue.

After spending the first eight years of his career in Cleveland, NL-only owners were happy to see Carlos Santana (.216 BABIP) move to Philadelphia. Talk about a tough start, he hit .153 with two home runs through the end of April. While he’s picked up the power pace, his batting average still lags behind. Santana’s another guy who makes fine contact; the hits will start falling. Plus, the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park mean there’s likely to be plenty of power to come.

When the front office calls you out publicly for lack of effort, it’s not a good look. John Mozeliak, the St. Louis Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, recently noted that Dexter Fowler (.201 BABIP) would lose playing time until he reversed his plate woes.

With a batting average well south of .200, who can blame him? Some encouraging trends exist: Fowler is making contact as usual and putting the ball in the air a lot. But while a boost in launch angle looks good, a decrease in exit velocity makes many of those fly balls easy pop-ups. Fowler will hit for better average in the second half — how could he not? — but until he starts squaring the ball up, his production will be limited.

With 64 home runs in 201617, there’s no doubt the Cincinnati Reds’ Adam Duvall(.233 BABIP) is a power hitter. But his batting average was only .245 over that span. A history of big strikeout numbers means he’s never going to hit for a high average. But after a horrid April and May (.181 average), Duvall has turned it around in June (.263). Look for more production as his BABIP stabilizes.

While the Colorado Rockies’ Ian Desmond(.244 BABIP) has only a .214 average, he’s clubbed 17 home runs. So he’ll remain productive, right? Not so fast. Desmond struggles to get the ball airborne, as more than 60% of batted balls go on the ground.

Plus, over 40% of the fly balls he’s hit have left the yard — an unsustainable percentage given his typical 15-18% rate. Sure, Coors Field helps, but there’s no way Desmond keeps this up. While his batting average may rise a bit, he won’t keep hitting homers at the same pace.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Earning at least $20 in three of the last four years made the Minnesota Twins’ Brian Dozier (.243 BABIP) a popular middle infield choice in 2018, rarely lasting until the end of the third round. Those lofty expectations only make his 2018 performance more disappointing. Perhaps looming free agency is in his head, also.

Dozier’s plate approach remains unchanged – he takes plenty of walks and strikes out at a league-average pace. But there’s been a power outage of sorts, with fewer fly balls leaving the yard. With a five-year track record of solid contact and strong power, look for Dozier to make a statement in the second half.

As if the early season slump wasn’t enough to discourage New York Yankees fans, Gary Sanchez (.194 BABIP) now sits on the DL with a groin strain. Sanchez's plate approach looks similar to last year, striking out a tad too much, but with plenty of power. His launch angle leads to plenty of fly balls and home runs. Plus, at 22, there’s plenty of room to grow. When Sanchez gets back into the lineup, look for a big contribution to New York's playoff push.

High batting average and 32 home runs in 2017 made Jonathan Schoop (.228 BABIP) of the Baltimore Orioles a popular target on draft day. Sure, he’s missed time this year with an oblique injury, but he’s disappointed when he’s been on the field. There are reasons for concern: Schoop isn’t making hard contact, and he’s lost a bit of exit velocity. A drop in launch angle also saps some power. Schoop has some swing mechanics to iron out before he can be counted on for a second-half surge.

Watch Jackie Bradley Jr. (.254 BABIP) patrol center field for Boston, and you understand his real-life value. And he’s produced at the plate before, with a .267 average and 26 home runs in 2016. But since the midpoint of 2017, Bradley hasn’t produced much offensive value.

With a batting average hovering around the Mendoza line, he’s striking out in roughly 30% of his plate appearances. It doesn’t help that Bradley puts the ball on the ground frequently with below-average power. While Bradley is fun to watch in the outfield, don’t count on a big contribution at the plate.

In 2017, the Oakland A’s Matt Joyce (.235 BABIP) hit the most home runs in his 10-year career, which was a bit of a surprise in the pitcher’s paradise of Oakland Coliseum. He’s been unable to sustain his gains this year, and losing time to a back injury hasn’t helped. Although launch angle and exit velocity remain consistent with years past, Joyce’s power remains MIA. Strikeouts limit any batting average upside, and his home park puts a cap on power, so don’t expect Joyce to pick up the pace much over the rest of the year.

AL EAST NEWS AND NOTES

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Outfielder Colby Rasmus has stepped away from baseball for the second consecutive season. Rasmus, who played for five organizations over 10 seasons, homered off Washington’s Max Scherzer in his first at-bat June 21 after being sidelined since April 7 because of a left hip injury. That started a four-game hitting streak, but he then went hitless in his last 11 at-bats and was batting just .133 when he stepped away.❚ Right-hander Dylan Bundy returned from the disabled list July 6 after recovering from a left ankle sprain and gave up six runs, five earned, in 3 1 / 3 innings against Minnesota. Bundy, who did not make a rehab start, was 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA in four June starts before the injury.

BOSTON RED SOX

Left-hander Chris Sale did more than just earn his 100th career victory July 6. He also reached a milestone.

His 12 strikeouts against the Kansas City Royals, who had fewer whiffs than any team in the majors, gave him a streak of 66 strikeouts without allowing a homer over his last six starts. The only other American League pitchers with 65 or more strikeouts and no homers over a six-start span are Nolan Ryan (1972, 1973), Rogers Clemens (1998), and Pedro Martinez (1999, 2001).

It was Sale’s eighth double-digit strikeout game of the season (two behind leader Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals), fourth straight and fifth in six starts. Sale threw 99 pitches in six innings.

❚ Mookie Betts led off that game with the 100th home run of his career. It was his 16th career homer leading off a game and his fifth this season, matching George Springer for most in the majors. The only other Red Sox hitters to hit 100 homers before their 26th birthday were Tony Conigliaro (160), Jim Rice (133) and Ted Williams (127).

NEW YORK YANKEES

Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge opened the July 7 win at Toronto with back-to-back homers, the second time this season and ninth time in team history the Yankees had back to- back homers to start a game. The pair also hit consecutive leadoff homers May 26 against the Los Angeles Angels.

It was Gardner’s 14th career leadoff homer, tied for sixth in Yankees history, and third this season. Five of his six homers this season and 11 of his last 14 had either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead.

Judge is the second Yankees hitter with at least 25 homers in consecutive seasons before the All-Star break, joining Roger Maris (1960, 1961).

❚ Right-hander Luis Severino has allowed three or fewer runs in 16 consecutive starts, passing Ron Guidry (1978) for the longest such streak by a Yankees pitcher in the live ball era (since 1920).

TAMPA BAY RAYS

Even though he isn’t considered a starting pitcher, rookie right-hander Ryne Stanek has made 10 starts this season as one of manager Kevin Cash’s “opening” pitchers. In those games, Stanek has allowed two runs in 14 2 ⁄ 3 innings for a 1.23 ERA, with 19 strikeouts, six hits and seven walks.

In his most recent start, June 6 against the Mets at New York, Stanek went two scoreless innings in his third appearance over four games.

❚ The Rays were tied with three other teams for the AL lead in shutouts with eight through July 8. All of Tampa Bay’s shutouts came over 38 games since May 28, most in the majors in that span, after the Rays didn’t have a shutout win in their first 51 games.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Justin Smoak’s three-run homer against the Yankees on July 6 was his third home run in seven games after he hit just one in his previous 24 games. In his last 13 games through July 8 he was hitting .325 with a 1.113 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

Although he began the week with only a .241 batting average for the season, he led AL first basemen with 52 walks and a .362 on-base percentage.

❚ Gibbons’ mother, Sallie, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to her son July 6. She told SportsNet throwing out a first pitch had been on her “bucket list” for a long time, and on her 80th birthday last month she told her son, “John, I won’t be here forever. Better do it now.”

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

MANNY MACHADO, ORIOLES: In the nine games through his 26th birthday July 6, Machado hit .394 (13for-33) with two doubles, two home runs and five walks (two intentional). Still, the Orioles went 1-8.Machado was second in the league through July 8 with 11 intentional walks, trailing only the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout (16). Machado’s 963 hits before turning 26 are the most in Orioles history.

AL CENTRAL NEWS AND NOTES

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

First baseman Jose Abreu became the first White Sox player in 22 years to be voted by the fans into the American League starting lineup for the All-Star Game. The last was Hall of Famer Frank Thomas, also a first baseman, for three straight years from 1994 to 1996.

Abreu was hitting .259 with 12 home runs through 88 games. He was selected as a reserve to the 2014 All-Star Game, the same year he won AL Rookie of the Year honors.

There has been speculation the White Sox might trade the 31-year-old Abreu to obtain more prospects for their youth movement. However, Abreu does not want to leave.

❚ Left fielder Nicky Delmonico began a rehab assignment July 6 with Class AA Birmingham (Ala.). He has been on the disabled list since May 19 because of a broken right hand.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Left-handed reliever Andrew Miller will remain sidelined through at least the All-Star break. Miller is making progress in his recovery from patellar tendinitis in his right knee, an injury that has sidelined him since May 26. He threw 31 pitches during a bullpen session July 5.

However, because the Indians have a sizable lead in the American League Central, they do not want to rush Miller back.

Miller began the season by pitching 10 scoreless innings before going on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring. He then had a 14.54 ERA in 4 1 / 3 innings following his return before going back on the DL.

❚ Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (bruised right forearm) got the win in his return from the DL on July 6, allowing three runs in 5 1 /3 innings against the Oakland A’s.

DETROIT TIGERS

Niko Goodrum has been a big surprise for the Tigers. Goodrum spent eight seasons in the Twins’ farm system before getting called up to the major leagues last September. The Tigers signed him as a minor league free agent in the offseason after Minnesota dropped him from its 40-man roster.

Now, Goodrum is Detroit’s primary second baseman after Dixon Machado was designated for assignment July 5. Goodrum was hitting .251 with eight home runs and seven stolen bases through July 8 and compiled a .464 average and two four-hit games during the first seven days of the month.

Machado began the season as the starting second baseman but hit just .206 with one homer in 67 games.

❚ Closer Shane Greene (shoulder) likely will be ready to be activated from the disabled list July 12, the first day he is eligible. He has converted 19 of 22 save opportunities and has a 4.03 ERA in 39 games.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Alcides Escobar’s streak of 421 consecutive games started, which dated to 2015, ended July 8 when the utility player was not in the lineup against the Boston Red Sox.

Escobar, 31, was removed as the everyday shortstop last month and started playing other positions.

❚ Right-hander Jason Hammel was demoted from the rotation to the bullpen after going 211 with a 6.16 ERA in 18 starts. Rookie right-hander Burch Smith will move from a relief role and make his first career start July 11 at Minnesota. Smith is the second Rule 5 Draft pick in the Royals’ rotation along with righty Brad Keller.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Jorge Polanco got off to a solid start after sitting out the first 80 games of the season while serving a suspension for testing positive for a performance- enhancing drug.

The 25-year-old shortstop was reinstated July 2 and went 7-for-26 (.269) with two doubles and a stolen base in his first seven games. Last season, Polanco batted .256 with 13 home runs and 13 steals in 133 games to help the Twins reach the AL wild-card game.

Manager Paul Molitor’s advice: “Be yourself. Don’t worry about trying to make an extreme impression or whatever it might be that you might try to make up for lost time. Just be the player that we know that you can be. That’ll be plenty good enough.”

❚ First-round draft pick Trevor Larnach, a right fielder from Oregon State, received a $2.55 million signing bonus after helping the Beavers win the College World Series. He was the 20th overall selection.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

MIKE MOUSTAKAS, ROYALS: The 29-year-old third baseman has spent his entire career in the Kansas City organization; he was the second overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft, and then made his major league debut four years later. However, with the

Royals in rebuilding mode, Moustakas could be dealt by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. He was batting .254 with 17 home runs through 85 games.

AL WEST NEWS AND NOTES

HOUSTON ASTROS

Last season, Kyle Tucker was named Houston’s Minor League Player of the Year. This season, he’s going to try to help the Astros win their second consecutive World Series.

Tucker, the team’s latest sizzling prospect, was called up July 7 and figures to become a fixture in left field, especially against right-handed starters. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter, whose brother Preston played for the Astros in 2015-16, had checked all the boxes against minor leaguers.

Tucker, who was hitting .306 with 14 homers and 66 RBI for Class AAA Fresno (Calif.), can play either corner-outfield spot. But with the Astros rotating through five starters in left this year, Tucker, the fifth overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, likely will land there.

❚ All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa, who was placed on the disabled list June 26, still is slowed by a stiff back. He could return this week, but Correa and Hinch aren’t pinpointing an exact date. “I want to be sure I’m right when I get back out there and can play all the way to late October,” Correa said.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

With Zack Cozart out for the season and Luis Valbuena scuffling, rookie David Fletcher has been a pleasant surprise at third base. Fletcher hit .281 in his first 57 at-bats and flashed a glove that turned in numerous solid, and critical, plays. A former sixth round pick, Fletcher was quickly winning over Manager Mike Scioscia.

While Fletcher has opened eyes, Scioscia warned against dismissing Valbuena. Scioscia noted that Valbuena got hot in the second half last year.

❚ Shohei Ohtani has proved to be among the fastest Angels, and Scioscia speculated that the part-time pitcher could steal 15-20 bases a season. Ohtani was perfect in his first two attempts, including one that helped beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6. “It’s not always how many you’re stealing,” Scioscia said. “If you’re stealing them at the right time, you can influence the game.”

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Count the A’s among this year’s surprise teams. While Oakland doesn’t figure to push the Astros for the division title, it is playing some of its best baseball in years.

When the A’s took two of three games from the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, it was their six series win in their last seven and pushed their record to a season-best 10 games over .500. They hadn’t reached that standard since 2014.

❚ The A’s were encouraged by left-hander Brett Anderson’s first start in nearly two months. He blanked the Indians on three hits in five innings July 8 after recovering from a strained shoulder.

❚ Right-hander Paul Blackburn, sidelined by a forearm strain through April and May, is back on the disabled list, this time because of a tender elbow.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Backup Chris Herrmann and David Freitas, who were summoned from the minors, will handle the catching duties with Mike Zunino out until after the All-Star break.

Zunino bruised his left ankle while running the bases July 4. His work with the pitching staff will be a greater loss than his bat — he’s hitting just .189 although he does have 12 homers.

Herrmann will have to get up to speed quickly in connecting with the pitchers. He didn’t join the Mariners until a week into the season after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and spring training is where catchers and pitchers usually bond.

❚ General manager Jerry Dipoto got a multiyear contract extension. Now he’ll turn his attention to keeping manager Scott Servais, whose deal expires at the end of the season.

❚ Second baseman Robinson Cano, suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball’s policy on performance- enhancing drugs, apologized to Seattle, his teammates and the fans in his first comments since the ruling was delivered. Cano can return on Aug. 14, but he would be ineligible for the postseason roster if the Mariners advance.

TEXAS RANGERS

Manager Jeff Banister said left-hander Martin Perez likely will return this weekend when the Rangers face the Baltimore Orioles.

Perez has been on the disabled list after a nerve issue appeared following his offseason surgery to repair his right elbow, injured in an accident at his ranch in Venezuela.

Perez, who won 13 games last year, allowed just one run in 17 1 ⁄ 3 innings (0.52 ERA) over three minor league rehab starts.

❚ Shin-Soo Choo set a franchise record July 8 by reaching base in his 47th consecutive game, the longest streak in the majors this season, and he did it in dramatic fashion with an infield single in the ninth inning. The previous team mark was 46 by Julio Franco in 1993.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

LANCE MCCULLERS, ASTROS: The right-hander isn’t the biggest name in Houston’s impressive rotation, but he continues to be among the American League’s winningest pitchers. McCullers (10-3) struck out a career-high 12 and didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning in a win over the Chicago White Sox on July 6. His curveball/ changeup combo is a perfect complement to the team’s power arms.

FIVE NHL TEAMS THAT ATTEMPTED TO BUILD 'SUPER TEAMS'

Super teams have been the story of the NBA for the better part of the past decade, with the Golden State Warriors' current collection of All-Stars the greatest of them all. Is it possible to see such a thing in the NHL? Given the current NHL landscape, probably not. The presence of a hard salary cap limits what teams can do, and the very nature of the sport — the best players only play a third of the game, and having two or three superstars doesn't always guarantee success — makes it far more difficult to assemble that sort of team. That doesn't mean NHL franchises have avoided trying.

Currently, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning seem to be engaged in quite the arms race in the Atlantic Division with the former's addition of John Tavares in free agency — adding to a team that already has Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner and Patrick Marleau — and the quest of the latter to add Erik Karlsson in a trade. If the Lightning can pull that off, they'll add a two-time Norris Trophy winner who is perhaps the greatest defenseman of this generation and one of the best ever to a team that already has the reigning Norris Trophy winner (Victor Hedman), a Vezina Trophy finalist goalie (Andrei Vasilevskiy) and a couple of MVP contenders (Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos) at forward.

Given the hard cap structure of the league, these are probably be the two best examples — or at least closest examples — of "super teams" in the NHL.

The pre-cap NHL was a different story entirely. Let's take a look back at some teams that attempted to build monster rosters by assembling several All-Stars and future Hall of Famers in one place, as well as the success and failures of those teams.

Some of them succeeded. Some of them did not.

EARLY 1990S PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

The Penguins had a lot of good fortune in the NHL Draft with the opportunity to select Mario Lemieux in 1984 and Jaromir Jagr in 1990. Those two became not only two of the best players ever, but the foundation for a team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups and then a Presidents' Trophy from 1991-1993.

Management not only gave them help — they assembled a stunning collection of talent through trades and free agency by acquiring six different future Hall of Famers between 1988 and 1991. That list included Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, Larry Murphy, Joe Mullen, Bryan Trottier and Mark Recchi, whom the Pens drafted in 1988. That does not include starting goalie Tom Barrasso, who probably has at least a solid argument to get in, and Rick Tocchet, who scored 440 goals in his career. Add that group to the core of Lemieux, Jagr and Kevin Stevens, and it is no wonder they were the premier team of the early '90s.

They are one of only three teams to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in the past 30 years, while their quest for a three-peat came to end in 1993 when they were upset by David Volek and the New York Islanders. That Penguins team, which at one point won an NHL-record 17 consecutive games, was probably the best of the bunch.

EARLY 2000S DETROIT RED WINGS

By the early 2000s, the Red Wings were already back as an NHL superpower. They won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998, ending a championship drought that had gone back to 1955; had homegrown superstars in Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom; and were led by the greatest coach of all time behind the bench in Scotty Bowman.

For the 2001-02 season they assembled a monster.

Prior to that season, the Red Wings went all in on building another Stanley Cup winner by signing Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille in free agency and trading for Dominik Hasek to be their new starting goalie. This was all done in one offseason — added to a team that already had Yzerman, Fedorov, Lidstrom, not to mention previously acquired Hall of Famers Brendan Shanahan, Chris Chelios, Igor Larionov and a young, budding superstar just getting his feet wet in the NHL in Pavel Datsyuk.

They ended up winning the Presidents' Trophy by 15 points (finishing with 116 points) while the only team to give them any sort of a challenge in the playoffs was the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. The Avalanche, of course, were really the only team in the NHL at the time that had anything close to the talent the Red Wings had.

2003-04 COLORADO AVALANCHE

As mentioned above, the Avalanche were really the only team in the NHL in the early 2000s that could compare to the Red Wings in terms of talent. Their core was built around Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay, Ray Bourque and Rob Blake. Between 1996 and 2002, the Red Wings and Avalanche combined to win five of the seven Stanley Cups. They were powerhouses.

After seeing the Red Wings load up in 2002 with Hull, Robitaille and Hasek, the Avalanche attempted to do the same in 2003 when they added Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya in free agency. The two were very clearly a package deal given their prior history in Anaheim, while Kariya signed a laughably small one-year contract far below his market value to join the Avalanche. It did not produce the same result.

The Avalanche were really good but ultimately ended up falling short of a championship after losing in the second round to the San Jose Sharks. During the regular season, Selanne had one of the worst seasons of his career, while Kariya was limited to just 51 games due to injury.

EARLY 2000S NEW YORK RANGERS

We can put this one in the column of "super teams that failed." During the 10-year run between the mid-1990s and the 2004 NHL lockout, the league was a case of "the haves" and "the have nots": teams that had money to burn and could sign anyone they wanted (Detroit, Colorado, a handful of others) and the teams that, well, simply could not compete with them.

The Rangers attempted to be one of the haves and between 2001 and 2004 acquired some of the biggest stars in the league.

Prior to the 2001-02 season, they traded for Eric Lindros, the most dominant power forward in the league, after he missed the entire season before due to a concussion and a contract dispute with the Philadelphia Flyers. Later that same year they traded for Pavel Bure, the most dominant pure goal scorer in the league. In 2003, they finally acquired Jaromir Jagr after failing to get him in a trade a few years earlier and then reacquired Alexei Kovalev.

Do you know how many playoff games the Rangers played in during those seasons? Zero.

Do you know how many winning seasons the Rangers had in those seasons? Zero.

The problem the Rangers ran into was that even though they acquired all of these All-Stars, they were not quite getting the best versions of them. Lindros' career was beginning to spiral downhill due to concussions. Bure's career was coming to a premature end due to knee injuries. Kovalev only spent a season and a half with the Rangers before being traded.

The other problem: The rest of the team stunk.

The only one who saw any real success with the Rangers was Jagr, rediscovering his dominant form in the Big Apple following the 2004-05 lockout and nearly winning a scoring title and MVP in 2005-06. After helping lead the Rangers back to the playoffs between 2005-06 and 2007-08, he went to Russia for three years.

2008-09 DETROIT RED WINGS

Maybe this is a bit of a stretch, but it is the closest example we have in the salary cap era.

The Red Wings were coming off of a Stanley Cup-winning season in 2007-08 with a team that was, to this day, perhaps the best team of the salary cap era. They dominated. They made a Pittsburgh Penguins team that had Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa and Sergei Gonchar look almost helpless at times in the Stanley Cup Final.

They had the two best two-way forwards in the NHL in Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, a defense that was built around Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, and just a really good, solid team around them.

Their response after winning the Stanley Cup: signing Hossa away from the Penguins — the team they just crushed in the Stanley Cup Final — on a one-year deal in free agency.

Given the success they had already had, it seemed to give them an unbeatable roster on paper, and they had an amazing season with Hossa leading the team with 40 goals in only 74 games. The Penguins ended up getting the final laugh, though, in the Stanley Cup Final rematch, winning the series in seven games, leaving us searching for the next "super team" of the salary cap era.

MY OFFSEASON NEEDS FOR EVERY NBA TEAM

Basketball never stops. After last Thursday's draft sprinkled fewer free agency breadcrumbs than was initially expected, this Friday's player option deadline looms large before Sunday's free agent bonanza. Will LeBron James tip his hand and opt-in (likely signaling that a sign-and-trade is in the works)? Will Paul George opt-out and leave Thunder fans feeling the opposite of mellow (#stayme7o)? 

Regardless of what happens Friday, there is expected to be a lot of player movement this offseason. To get a better understanding of what teams might be looking to do this summer, let's take a look at the biggest "need" each team should address in the near future.

ATLANTA HAWKS

BIGGEST NEED: Veteran Leadership

Guess how many players the Hawks have over the age of 30 on their current roster? Zero. The front office did a great job rebuilding and bringing youth and excitement to the table by drafting the likes of John Collins and Trae Young; now, they need some adults in the locker room to show this group of kids how to be professionals. Youth movements are great, but if there aren't any veterans on a roster, young players tend to develop bad habits both on and off the court — this is essentially what got Sam Hinkie fired in Philadelphia. Look for the Hawks to maybe flip Dennis Schröder and throw some money at veterans like Amir Johnson and Jamal Crawford.

BOSTON CELTICS

BIGGEST NEED: Continuity

The Celtics are contenders today and should be contenders for the next 10 years. The NBA hasn't had a team with this promising of a future since the 2012 Thunder. Unless the Celtics can land Kawhi Leonard or Anthony Davis, they should focus on keeping this awesome core of Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward together for as long as possible. Team chemistry, after all, is an underrated factor in the NBA. If we're nitpicking, they could use a little 3-point shooting as well.

BROOKLYN NETS

BIGGEST NEED: A star forward

The Nets have some intriguing young pieces like Jarrett Allen, Spencer Dinwiddie and D'Angelo Russell, but none of them are moving the needle for a franchise. The Nets will finally have their own first round pick in 2019, but they should take a swing at one of the talented, but flawed restricted free agents about to hit the market this summer like Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle and Jabari Parker. Maybe sign Randle to a big offer sheet and see if the Lakers balk while they're trying to sign LeBron James and Paul George. Could Randle take his game to another level if an entire offense were run through him? It's not impossible to imagine.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

BIGGEST NEED: Franchise direction

Toiling in mediocrity. That sums up the sad state of Michael Jordan's franchise. Whether it's signing Nic Batum to a max contract or drafting Malik Monk over Donovan Mitchell or not trading Kemba Walker at the height of his value last trade deadline or passing on Michael Porter Jr. in last Thursday's draft, the Hornets appear to be content aimlessly fighting for the No. 9 or 10 seed in the East every season. As good as he is, they need to trade Walker for future assets (or use him as a way to dump Batum's contract) and unapologetically tank this season or else they'll be in the same sad position next season, and the season after that... and the season after that.

CHICAGO BULLS

BIGGEST NEED: Quality wings

What's a telltale sign that your team is pretty bad? When Justin Holiday is unequivocally your best wing player. The Bulls are another team that should throw some money at a younger restricted free agent — perhaps the homegrown Jabari Parker? Even Rodney Hood might be worth a gamble. Regardless of who they sign, the Bulls have at least another year or two of rebuilding before they'll contend for a playoff spot.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

BIGGEST NEED: What do you think?

Obviously, it's LeBron James. If he leaves, the Cavaliers essentially turn into the Hornets. If he stays, they need at least two of the following pieces to compete with the Warriors, Rockets, Celtics and 76ers moving forward: (1) 3-and-D wing depth; (2) a shot creator; and (3) a rim protector. If they could somehow get Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, it would certainly alleviate (1) and (2). If they can't get either of those guys, they'll have to get creative in the next week — could they acquire Kemba Walker and a serviceable wing before LeBron makes Decision 3.0? Cavaliers fans should certainly hope so.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

BIGGEST NEED: Center

What a great draft day for the Mavericks! They traded up for a franchise-changing stud in Luka Doncic without having to sacrifice much. Now, they have Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr. for the next 10 years manning their backcourt along with some quality 3-and-D wings (Harrison Barnes and Wes Matthews) and a great coach (Rick Carlisle). All they need is a good center and they could probably contend for a playoff spot this season. Do they take a huge risk and offer Boogie Cousins a max contract coming off a torn Achilles tendon? Does Mark Cuban swallow his pride and offer DeAndre Jordan another deal if he opts out? Or do they sign Clint Capela to a max offer sheet and pray that Houston doesn't match? 

DENVER NUGGETS

BIGGEST NEED: A true point guard

The Nuggets have an extremely deep and talented roster that is in need of some minor refinement, the most obvious area of refinement being a pass-first third guard behind Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. Fred VanVleet would be ideal. Rajon Rondo could be intriguing as well considering the engaged, leadership role he played with the Pelicans last season. Regardless of how they round out their roster, with Nikola Jokic, Murray and Harris all taking significant strides last season, the Nuggets are poised to potentially make a leap from a borderline playoff team to a pseudo-contender in the West depending on their young core's improvement. Imagine how good this team could be if the tantalizingly talented Michael Porter Jr. pans out. 

DETROIT PISTONS

BIGGEST NEED: Roster development

The Pistons are another team without any cap space or direction as a franchise (this is why it was a bad idea to give Stan Van Gundy dual power as head coach and team president). Their best bet is to let new coach Dwane Casey implement his system and hope that he can develop the ancillary pieces of the roster like he did in Toronto. Can he turn Stanley Johnson into an above-average 3-and-D wing? Can he turn Henry Ellenson and Luke Kennard into serviceable role players around Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson? Another Coach of the Year trophy is waiting for him if he can. 

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

BIGGEST NEED: Younger role players

Let's be honest - this team doesn't need anything, per se. Hell, they won a title this past season with six centers on their roster! On the Zach Lowe Podcast, Steve Kerr said he expects the team to fill out its roster with younger players next season. In other words, goodbye Nick Young! Goodbye Zaza Pachulia! After adding Jacob Evans in the draft, look for the Dubs to take a risk on a high-risk, high-reward big man like Nerlens Noel and maybe a bargain wing looking to win a ring like Rudy Gay.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

BIGGEST NEED: Continuity (retaining Chris Paul and Clint Capela)

The Rockets were an untimely Chris Paul-injury away from likely winning the NBA Finals last season. With the opportunity to essentially run it back with the same roster, it'd be a huge risk to not do so. Assuming they can't steal LeBron James or Paul George in free agency, the Rockets should do whatever it takes to re-sign Chris Paul and Clint Capela. If they can do that and add another shooter or two, they'll be contenders for the title once again.

INDIANA PACERS

BIGGEST NEED: Thad Young and Lance Stephenson upgrades

By declining Lance Stephenson's team option and with Thad Young apparently set to turn down his $13.8M  player option to become an unrestricted free agent (side note: what is he thinking!?!), the Pacers could be a major player in free agency this summer. The first thing they should look to find is a forward who can stretch the floor and give Victor Oladipo more room to operate. They could try to poach Trevor Ariza or Luc Mbah a Moute away from the Rockets. Or they could keep some cap room for other pieces and go after a cheaper option like Ersan Ilyasova. The second thing they should do is make a hard push for a rich man's Lance — Marcus Smart. He'd be perfect in Indiana.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

BIGGEST NEED: Youth development

The Clippers low-key made a killing in the Blake Griffin trade last season - adding a number of quality pieces on good, moveable contracts while simultaneously shedding Griffin's long-term cap hold. Unless Kawhi Leonard is made available to a Western Conference team, the Clippers are best off moving forward with their current roster, contending for the playoffs and waiting until next offseason to make a real splash in free agency. If DeAndre Jordan leaves, the team is a Danilo Gallinari trade away from having a blank slate heading into next summer.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

BIGGEST NEED: A superstar or two

The Lakers have been searching for a superstar to build a contender around ever since Kobe Bryant's Achilles tendon skipped town in 2013. At long last (at least in Lakers' time), they are favored to land a top free agent, or two — or three (let's not get too greedy). If they can sign LeBron James, Lakers fans will enjoy acceleration from bottom feeder in the West to a bona fide championship contender overnight. The roster overhaul that ensues will be fascinating as Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka will have to make decisions on whom to keep and trade out of their most promising prospects: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Kyle Kuzma.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

BIGGEST NEED: Wing production

As their owner recently made overtly clear, the Grizzlies plan to contend for the playoffs this year. The good news for the Grizzlies: They have a very good point guard (Mike Conley) and center (Marc Gasol), and they drafted two players who, at worst, should be impactful rotation players moving forward (Jaren Jackson and Jevon Carter). The bad news for the Grizzlies: they're paying $94 million to Chandler Parsons to essentially be a male Instagram model. More bad news: the Grizzlies are effectively capped-out the next couple years unless they can dump Parsons' contract or decide to break-up the Conley-Gasol combo. Thus, they're going to have to strike gold on an undrafted rookie or hope that Dillon Brooks or Wayne Selden Jr. develops into a high-end role player.

MIAMI HEAT

BIGGEST NEED: A superstar

Anyone who watched the Heat-76ers first round should have come away with two conclusions about the Heat. First, they're fun as hell to watch. Second, they don't have a true go-to guy that will get them tough buckets down the stretch — especially when Dwyane Wade can't summon the Flash from years past. Ever since LeBron left in 2014, the NBA world has been waiting for Pat Riley's swan song mastermind move, but it just hasn't happened yet. With a bunch of good-not-great players on moveable contracts, you get the sense that Riley is lurking, waiting for the right moment to roll the dice. Could they be the surprise team that makes an 11th hour push for Kawhi Leonard? 

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

BIGGEST NEED: Better guards

Unfortunately for the Bucks, Eric Bledsoe was never able to regain the form that once made him one of the league's top young point guards. Bledsoe is a cautionary tale of what happens to young players that develop losing habits while playing for crummy organizations — sometimes, they never recover. After watching Bledsoe this past season, it's safe to say he's a lost cause. Look for the Bucks to try to trade Bledsoe (Bill Simmons recently floated a Bledsoe for Dennis Schröder deal) to clear some cap space to sign a veteran, pass-first point guard and/or a professional shooter like Wayne Ellington.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

BIGGEST NEED: Depth - especially shooters who can play serviceable defense

With the T'Wolves drafting the hard-nosed Josh Okogie and then having projected first-rounder and reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Keita Bates-Diop fall into their laps late in the second round, it would not be surprising at all if the team shopped and traded Andrew Wiggins this summer. Unfortunately for Minnesota, the return won't be anything near the return the Cavaliers once got from the T'Wolves for Wiggins — especially with that 5-year/$154 million deal set to kick-in this year. Ideally, the team can get back some shooting in a Wiggins deal, but, if not, a deal should at least open up some cap room in the future to help address the team's lack of depth (at least in Coach Thibodeau's mind).

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

BIGGEST NEED: A high-end wing

The Pelicans for years have tried (and failed) to surround Anthony Davis with quality wings (Luke Babbitt, Quincy Pondexter, Solomon Hill, etc.). This past season, they found success foregoing the small forward position in favor of two point guards (Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday) and another guard (E'Twaun Moore and/or Ian Clark) alongside Nikola Mirotic and Davis. It'd be a lot easier if they didn't have to play Moore and Clark out of position all the time. The move that has gained some traction in the media is to sign-and-trade DeMarcus Cousins to the Wizards for Otto Porter. A move like that might move the needle and make the Pelicans a contender if Davis has another gear he can get to.

NEW YORK KNICKS

BIGGEST NEED: A good point guard

Let's see...Frank Ntilikina? Probably better-suited as a Marcus Smart/Tony Allen-type guard. Trey Burke? Probably better-suited as a sixth man. Emmanuel Mudiay? Probably better-suited in the G-League. Unless they can shed the Joakim Noah contract (good luck!) or make a trade, they'll probably have to wait another year to get the point guard they need. Lucky for them, the home-grown Kemba Walker hits the market that year - that's the Knicks' move. You heard it here first.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

BIGGEST NEED: Paul George 

Did Russell Westbrook and the Thunder do enough to convince the linchpin of free agency, Paul George, to stay in Oklahoma City? Stay tuned Friday. George is the Thunder's biggest need moving forward because he is the perfect second banana to Westbrook — he's an All-NBA level defender who can cover 1 through 4 and he's seemingly content being the Robin to Russ' Batman on offense. If George leaves, the Thunder should seriously consider calling the Lakers on September 28 to see what they'd offer for Westbrook. 

ORLANDO MAGIC

BIGGEST NEED: Literally everything - especially a point guard

The Magic are a dumpster fire. If they want to give their two most recent draft choices (Mo Bamba and Jonathan Issac) a fighting chance at developing into good players, they'll need to get them a legitimate point guard. Having Shelvin Mack lead your team in assists at 3.9/game in 2017-18 is a basketball travesty. Rajon Rondo and Fred VanVleet are two options in free agency. Dennis Schröder, Milos Teodosic and — if they wanted to make a big splash — Kyle Lowry, are some potential trade market targets.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

BIGGEST NEED: 1a) A superstar; or 1b) Markelle Fultz's jump shot to come back

After their savvy draft night trade where they picked-up the Heat's unprotected 2021 first round pick (possibly the first year high schoolers are eligible to be drafted again), the 76ers are in position to either clear cap space for LeBron James or trade for Kawhi Leonard... or both. If any of that happens, they'll need to fill-out the rest of their roster with shooting. 

If they don't land LeBron or Kawhi, they should re-sign JJ Redick and do whatever they can to get Markelle Fultz over his shooting yips. The athleticism and skills that made him the No. 1 pick in the draft all seem to have translated to the NBA. If he could ever regain his shooting form, the 76ers could have one of the most transcendent trios in NBA history.

PHOENIX SUNS

BIGGEST NEED: Playmaking

In a surprising twist, the Suns renounced their rights to starting point guard Elfrid Payton, making him a free agent and further exposing their lack of playmaking at point guard. With as much as $15 million in cap space, it's hard to believe that the Suns are just going to roll with Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis as their distributors next season. Many blue checkmarks on Twitter believe that the Suns are looking to be a player this offseason, yet there aren't many pass-first point guards on the market. Are they simply looking to sign a veteran like Rajon Rondo and retain their cap flexibility another year? Or are they positioning themselves for a big trade target like Kemba Walker?

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BIGGEST NEED: Frontcourt scoring

We are starting to see the limits of what a team led by two offensive-minded 6-3 guards can be in the NBA in Portland. Both Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are excellent, but unless they can acquire or develop some consistent scoring from their big men, they're going to top out as a non-threatening No. 3 seed in the West. One idea that's been floated since last year is a CJ McCollum for Kevin Love trade. Certainly an interesting deal, however, does it move the needle enough for either team to ultimately pull the trigger? Whether they deal McCollum or Lillard or not, they're really depending on Zach Collins developing into a high-level center. 

SACRAMENTO KINGS

BIGGEST NEED: Developing a star on their current roster

While they passed on a potential franchise savior (Luka Doncic) in the draft, the Kings still came away with an elite prospect in Marvin Bagley III. Now, they need to prioritize Bagley and De'Aaron Fox's development ahead of everything else. Even though the Celtics own the rights to their first round pick next season, the Kings cannot lose sight of the ultimate goal (developing their prospects into stars) and sign a bunch of "win-now" veterans to make a push for the No. 8 seed. They must allow their youngsters to work through mistakes and hopefully accelerate their learning curve in the process.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

BIGGEST NEED: A primary scorer

As well as LaMarcus Aldridge played (All-NBA Second Team) and as well as Greg Popovich coached last season, the Spurs' ceiling with Kawhi Leonard sitting out is a No. 7 seed. They can hang their hat on defense to remain competitive, but they desperately need a go-to scorer in order to get back into the contender sphere. Assuming the Kawhi relationship is irreparably damaged, it'll be interesting to see if whether they prioritize potential (Brandon Ingram? Jaylen Brown? Markelle Fultz?) or experience (Gordon Hayward? Kevin Love?) in a deal. With Popovich nearing the end of his career, it wouldn't be all that shocking if it was the latter.

TORONTO RAPTORS

BIGGEST NEED: Wing shooting

Talk about a team that wants to see LeBron James go West this offseason. The Raptors should offer to charter a private jet for LeBron to travel between Los Angeles and Akron if he agrees to leave the Eastern Conference. Regardless of what LeBron does, the Raptors will need more 3-and-D guys (with an emphasis on the 3) to remain relevant in the East with the likes of Jayson Tatum and Ben Simmons on the rise. OG Anunoby is a nice start at wing, but they need more. With no cap space and excellent depth at guard, a Kyle Lowry trade this offseason makes sense. Could they pawn off Lowry to Minnesota for an Andrew Wiggins (a/k/a the Maple Jordan) package? 

UTAH JAZZ

BIGGEST NEED: A reliable secondary option

The Jazz are positioned well for the present and the future after capitalizing on two of the biggest draft day steals in the past decade (Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell). They also have one of the best head coaches in the NBA in Quin Snyder and a group of solid veterans like Joe Ingles, Ricky Rubio and Jae Crowder. Thus, maintaining the status quo is an option. When they decide to take a swing at contending, they'll need a secondary scorer behind Mitchell. Could that swing be Jabari Parker (people forget he's a Mormon!)? Keep an eye out on this connection.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

BIGGEST NEED: Boogie!!

The Wizards seem to always be on the brink of being a serious contender in the Eastern Conference, but every time they seemed poised to break through, Bradley Beal or John Wall gets injured. They're the type of team that needs to take a big risk if they want to break through that artificial barrier keeping them from contending. That risk is trading Otto Porter for DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins, with the hope being that Kelly Oubre Jr. continues to develop into an upper echelon 3-and-D wing and Wall and Cousins bring out the best in each other. It's a huge risk to bet on a guy coming off an Achilles injury, but taking risks is better than tapping out in the first or second round every season.