NBA Team Needs: Pacific Division

ATLANTIC I SOUTHEAST I CENTRAL I NORTHWEST I SOUTHWEST

The NBA's Pacific Division houses the greatest regular-season squad of all time (Golden State Warriors), the worst iteration of one of the most storied franchises in professional sports (Los Angeles Lakers), their underachieving roommates (Los Angeles Clippers), a three-ring circus (Sacramento Kings), and a team looking to establish itself once again (Phoenix Suns).

Here's a look at what each team needs to add or improve upon to either maintain its spot atop the league's food chain, or claw its way back to postseason contention during the offseason:

Golden State Warriors

Biggest need: Keep the band together as much as possible

The defending NBA champions are by no means a perfect team. However, with a style of play no opposing side has been able to fully control, the personnel in place to make that brand of basketball next to impossible to stop, and 73 regular-season wins to back it all up, the idea of there being a glaring weakness seems absurd.

Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli will both be restricted free agents, with the Warriors able to match any offer sheets which comes their way. That doesn't apply to bench mob members Leandro Barbosa and Marreese Speights, though, who are both unrestricted.

A rising salary cap means most NBA teams should have adequate cap space to entice players. The Stephen Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green nucleus is locked in, but even such a star-studded trio needs supporting pieces to thrive. Golden State won't be able to keep everyone, but it'll do its best to try.

Los Angeles Clippers

Biggest need: A 3-and-D wing/small forward

Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and J.J. Redick were staples of the Clippers' starting lineup when healthy, but, for whatever reason, head coach Doc Rivers had to utilize a revolving door of talent at the three spot because he couldn't find a quality fit at the position.

The likes of Wesley Johnson, Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, Luc Mbah a Moute, Lance Stephenson, and Jeff Green all auditioned for the role, with some not even making it to the end of the campaign. Green was as good as it got offensively, but his defense left a lot to be desired, with the Clippers allowing 7.9 points per 100 possessions more when he suited up on that end of the floor during the postseason and 7.7 points during the regular season.

Green, Johnson, and Mbah a Moute can all walk as unrestricted free agents, so it will be of the utmost importance for the organization to not only find an answer at small forward, but also some depth as well.

Sacramento Kings

Biggest need: Help in the backcourt

Rajon Rondo made the most of his one-year contract with the Kings, leading the NBA in assists, notching six triple-doubles, and making himself relevant in the eyes of those who perhaps thought his best days were behind him.

His value is higher than it's been in quite some time, so the Kings should prepare themselves for Rondo finding greener pastures elsewhere as offers pour in. They'll be left with backup Darren Collison if that's the case, who's currently dealing with domestic violence charges. Seth Curry (restricted) also doesn't scream starter either.

The lack of consistency and stagnant progression in Ben McLemore's game also raises questions about what his role will be down the road, and whether or not he has a long-term future with the Kings.

Phoenix Suns

Biggest need: A power forward

A two-center lineup with Tyson Chandler and Alex Len playing alongside one another won't cut it. Mirza Teletovic is too valuable as a reserve, and Jon Leuer is too much of a mystery to hand over the keys to at power forward.

The Suns could always go small and move P.J Tucker to the four, or even hand over those minutes to Teletovic, but it would greatly hinder the team's wing and bench depth.

A PF who can put the ball on the floor, and consistently connect from 10-to-15 feet to help space the offense, would be perfect for Phoenix. The Suns don't need a game-changer. They just need a traditional, clear-cut upgrade over what they have.

Los Angeles Lakers

Biggest need: Veterans, a face of the franchise in a post-Kobe world

The Lakers have always been a star-driven team, with Kobe Bryant acting as their golden goose in recent memory. Now that he's no longer in the picture, the team is left picking up the pieces from a season which was devoted less towards developing talent and more towards sending the Black Mamba off properly.

The backcourt of Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell has promise, but they're probably another year or two away from striking fear in anyone's hearts. Along with forward Julius Randle, the intrigue of how well the Lakers' young core will fare sans Bryant is all fans currently have to look forward to.

That's why management needs to burn the midnight oil, pick up the phones next month, and start recruiting any high-profile names willing to become Hollywood's next big thing. Adding some veteran players to aid in bringing along the youngsters would also go a long way.