Take away the top player from every team...

[They Won]

Which team is the favorite to win the championship?
Which teams are contenders?
Which teams does this impact the most? The least?

[TylerOO]

i aint got time fo dat

[They Won]

i aint got time fo dat

Well, it ain't a requirement to answer every question. I'm thinking Spurs become favorites, with Thunder right behind them (whether you consider Westbrook or Durant their best). Hawks stay a competitor because of the overall balance of that team. Blazers too.

Current terrible teams change very little (their stars aren't good enough to get them to many wins anyway). Heck, if anything the bad teams probably look better because other teams are more likely to drop to their level.

[Top Gun]

You would have to look at the most balanced squads. Atlanta or the Bulls off the top of my head as they wouldn't take as much of a hit.

[VengefulAngel]

Clearly this affects the Cavs the most, Lebron is the best scorer and facilitator on his team. In addition he's a decent rebounder and a decent defender, we've seen what this team is without Lebron and it isn't pretty.

Lebron contributes to winning in a multitude of manners and this culminates in his ability to impact the game in so many ways.

I also agree that the Spurs and Warriors would still be quite competitive given how they flourish through team-ball concepts.

[outbreak]

Imagine this current knicks team without Hardaway. They wouldn't win a game.

Like They Won said I think spurs and OKC still do well.

[kshutts1]

The top teams, in general, remain the top teams.

Last I checked, basketball was a team sport. So if we're taking away the top player from EVERY TEAM then relative team strength is still largely unchanged.

Biggest drops will be Wizards, Mavericks.
Largest climb will be Nuggets, Suns.

[bdreason]

Chicago

Atlanta

Dallas

San Antonio

Memphis

Golden State

[JebronLames]

Heat would drop big without whiteside

[QuebecBaller]

Could you imagine what the Sixers look like without... hum ... who's their best player?

[bdreason]

Could you imagine what the Sixers look like without... hum ... who's their best player?

Robert Covington.

[JT123]

The Cavs would fall off the most, while the Hawks, Bulls, Spurs, and Blazers would still be threats.

[Dro]

I would say OKC, or any team with multiple stars. If you take Durant off the team, you still have Westbrook, they would still be competitive. I agree with Atlanta, maybe the Spurs....

[IncarceratedBob]

The Cavs would fall off the most, while the Hawks, Bulls, Spurs, and Blazers would still be threats.

Yup... Cavs without Kyrie are a lottery team

[JimmyMcAdocious]

I think Portland would take a pretty big hit without Aldridge. Especially when you consider who is backup is and the lack of depth on that team in general. Also, imo, he makes Lopez more valuable than he actually is because of their fit with one another. And obviously having a lost post scorer like him opens up the perimeter shots for everyone else. They don't have a substitute for that, unless you want to make Kaman that player.