Who is the WORST player or group of players you could add to every team in the league to make them favorites to win the title. That means you can't just add Lebron James or Kobe Bryant to every team and say "FAVORITE". We'll assume in this case that right now the Spurs and Heat are co-favorites, so they could still stand to improve.

I'll start with the Southwest Division:

Spurs -- Josh Smith -- athletic power forward that can finish and block shots on weakside help. Spurs struggle against teams with athletic power forwards like Amare, and Josh Smith would be a nice fit in the Spurs system. I know a lot of his accomplishments are usually in a more wide open system where he can run the court, but I think he could be adapted to the Spurs system.

Mavs -- Chris Paul. I know Jason Kidd is a good player and Hall of Fame player, but in order for the Mavs to win the finals, they'll have to get through stud PGs like Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook, etc. Paul would upgrade their athleticism at PG, he would still be able to setup guys like Marion and Chandler for easy baskets and detract attention away from Dirk. Most importantly though, he's a guy that can consistently get to the cup and help other guys get to the cup, to make Dallas a little less of a jump shooting team and hopefully get to the free throw line more.

Oklahoma City Thunder -- Dwight Howard. I feel like the Thunder need an improvement in defense, especially inside. I thought to myself whether a guy like Deandre Jordan, Birdman, Tyson Chandler, or Marcus Camby would make them FAVORITES -- but I couldn't do it. I think you have to go straight to Super Man to make it work. By the way, would that not be a dynasty to trump what the Miami Heat are doing? Best center in the game. Top 5 point guard in the game. Possibly the best perimeter player in the game going forward, definitely top 3. Holy crap.

Houston Rockets -- Ha, I'm tempted to say a healthy Yao Ming, but I won't go that far. I will say this team is built to play with a dominant center who passes well, so I'll say Pau Gasol for starters. The Rockets have an array of good shooters who can space the court, and Scola would be a perfect front court companion as a guy who could play the high post, score off double teams, etc. I think you'd probably still need a little more horse power in your back court though in terms of a guy who can shoot and defend and create off the dribble. Deron Williams. Deron Williams and Pau Gasol added to the current Rockets roster makes us a favorite.

Memphis Grizzlies -- A little bit tougher challenge... I'm down with Collison/Mayo/Gay at the 1/2. I'm happy with Marc Gasol at center. Zach Randolph gives you things at power forward, but he takes away in other important areas. I'd say they need a veteran player who can be paired with Gay who's more defensively minded and can create offense for others. Since it's the Grizzlies, let's say Lebron. Would Lebron alone make them finals favorites? I might like to see Chandler or someone like that added to the team too.

[This message has been edited by HotardAg07 (edited 1/14/2011 10:54a).]

I think the Mavs are hoping that Roddy can get healthy a be a very poor mans Chris Paul. A guy that can defend the speedy point gaurds and make the opponent work on defense.

He should struggle against bigger PG if they try to back him down in the paint and I'm not sold on his shooting ability and his decision making on offense. But we haven't seen him in a while and he is coming back from injury so he is still a huge question mark.

As far as who I would add from the outside:

I think we need a taller 2 or 3 gaurd that can score. Steven Jackson, Andre Igg....., Wallace, maybe even Vince Carter. Basically anyone who can create their own shot when Dirk is on the bench or having an off night.

Spurs- Ben Wallace & Thabo Sefalosha. The Spurs have gotten worse and worse over the years at 1) defending the rim and helping weakside and 2) locking down the other team's best player. Blair/McDyess/Bonner are all good players, but adding a defensive specialist at the 5 would improve the Spurs immensely. Adding Sefalosha would be like adding a young Bruce Bowen, and would give the Spurs more defensive options late in games.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 1/14/2011 11:35a).]

Lakers- DeAndre Jordan

Would keep Pau from having to slide to the 5, and allow Jordan to run with the younger bench players like Shannon Brown. Provide interior defense, get rebounds and interject life into an otherwise bored Laker team, and rest Pau/Bynum more.

Plus he only has to switch locker rooms.