Draft Needs: Pacific Division

The balance of power in the Pacific Division has changed dramatically in recent years. The three teams in the division that didn't make the postseason have a chance to make up some ground on the two teams that did, be it through a high draft pick or several lower selections.

Here's a look at some of the positions and players the Pacific Division teams may be targeting come draft day.

Golden State Warriors

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: None

Area of need: Bench scorers

Potential targets: Jahii Carson, PG, Arizona State; C.J. Fair, SF, Syracuse

A call in to the Philadelphia 76ers, who hold five second-round picks, makes a lot of sense for the Warriors if they're hoping to add a player late in the draft.

The Warriors had trouble with bench scoring at times last season, and bringing in a sniper like Carson would help to solve that problem. He has the ability to break down a defense and score from the paint, and also developed an outside shot in his final season in Tempe.

Fair spent his senior season as Syracuse's go-to scorer. He's still fairly raw for a guy who used up his college eligibility, but he did use his time in school to develop his outside shot.

Los Angeles Clippers

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 28

Area of need: Frontcourt depth

The duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan make for a fine pair when they're on the court, but the Clippers also trotted out some real duds. Glen Davis and Ryan Hollins appear to be on their way out, which leaves head coach Doc Rivers with an unappealing group to choose from when he goes to the bench.

Potential targets: Cleanthony Early, SF, Wichita State; Jarnell Stokes, PF, Tennessee; Patric Young, C, Florida

Early projects as more of a small forward than a big man at the next level, but it's hard not to like the possibility of the Clippers adding his explosive athleticism.

Stokes played his way onto the first-round radar with a strong NCAA Tournament. He has good athleticism for a big man which would make him a good fit with the Clippers, and also has the ability to score the basketball from down on the block, an area that the Clippers sorely needed improvement in off the bench this past season.

Young really has what it takes to quarterback a defense from the interior at the next level. He is a big body who has the physical tools to step in and contribute from day one.

Los Angeles Lakers

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 7

Area of need: Power Forward, Guard

Pau Gasol has all but punched his ticket out of town. Mike D'Antoni had no use for him, but the team's incoming coach is going to need a power forward that can contribute right away to complement what's left of Kobe Bryant.

Additionally, the Lakers are a team that doesn't find itself in the lottery all that often, and it's hard to ignore the age and health of the team's star shooting guard. This could be their best chance to bring in a protege for the Mamba to groom and eventually take over the reins of the team.

Potential targets: Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State; Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

Smart could have been the top pick a year ago, but elected to return to Stillwater for his sophomore season. That didn't go so well, for him, but it could be great for a team that's able to snag him a few spots down the board.

While his inability to consistently knock down a jump shot was exposed this past season, that's something he can work on, and his strong court vision and decision making make him a guy teams would be lucky to have running the point.

Detractors have been quick to pick on even the tiniest of flaws in Randle's game, but it's hard to argue with the success he had in Lexington. He doesn't necessarily project to be the kind of transcendent star the team will be looking for, but he's going to be a heck of a building block.

Phoenix Suns

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 14, No. 18, No. 27, No. 50

Area of need: Star power

The combination of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and the Morris twins were highly effective last season, but no one's buying a jersey with those names on the back. The Suns need a guy who can grab the franchise by the throat and carry it into the next decade.

The team has three first-round picks, meaning it can go with some high-risk, high-reward kind of picks - though it seems more likely general manager Ryan McDonough will try to package some or all of those picks to move the Suns up the board.

Potential targets: Zach LaVine, SG, UCLA; James Young, SF, Kentucky

LaVine showed up at UCLA as Washington's Mr. Everything coming out of high school, but his time with the Bruins didn't instill a lot of confidence in what he will be able to do at the next level. Even still, LaVine has all the tools to be a star. In all likelihood, the Suns would need to trade up to get him, though there is a slim chance he falls to them at No. 14.

The Suns' biggest need is at wing. Young can play both the 2 and the 3, and projects as a potential sharpshooter at the next level. He'll offer good value to the Suns at 14, if he's still around.

Sacramento Kings

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 8

Area of need: A dominant big, an NBA-ready point guard

DeMarcus Cousins could be out of town in a week, or be a star for the team for the next 10 years. Who knows? One thing that's certain is that his defense needs a lot of work right now. Partnering him with another dominant big could be all it takes to transform the Kings into contenders in a hurry.

Potential targets: Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona; Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana; Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State

Playing in a division with Blake Griffin in it for the foreseeable future, having a power forward with the athleticism to match Griffin would be a great boon for a Kings team desperate to keep up with the "haves" in the Pacific Division. Gordon is their best bet from this draft class, with all the athletic tools and potential to match Griffin's high-flying ways. He still needs a lot of polish on his post game, but pairing him with DeMarcus Cousins would make for a potentially dominant pairing of bigs.

Vonleh has quietly crept up draft boards after a pretty forgettable year at Indiana. He certainly has a lot of raw talent, and the Kings are a team that can wait for him to come around.