What gift does each NBA team want for Christmas? Our experts are getting into the holiday spirit to break down what each franchise is wishing to see under the tree.
Throughout the regular season, our panel (ESPN's Kevin Arnovitz, Tim MacMahon and Andre' Snellings, The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears, and FiveThirtyEight's Chris Herring) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which are looking most like title contenders.
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1. Golden State Warriors
Record: 23-11
The Warriors wish they had a fully healthy DeMarcus Cousins under their Christmas tree. Cousins actually had a fun one-on-one half-court game Friday in which he dunked on Kevin Durant. But Cousins still seems a long way from being able to play to be his All-Star self and return to action. With Cousins and Damian Jones out, the Warriors are in need of an athletic rim-protecting big who can catch alley-oops. -- Spears
2. Toronto Raptors
Record: 25-10
I just want you for my own more than you could ever know. Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is you -- "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
The Raptors have a short but substantial Christmas wish list: the long-term commitment of Kawhi Leonard. The likelihood of Leonard gifting the Raptors his services for the foreseeable future will increase exponentially with the Eastern Conference title -- the small box inside the big box. -- Arnovitz
3. Denver Nuggets
Record: 21-10
The Nuggets simply need to find health under the tree this holiday season. They have missed a combined 45 games from their starting shooting guard, small forward and power forward yet still find themselves with the best winning percentage in the Western Conference. If they get healthy and on the same page before the season ends, the Nuggets have the talent to make a lot of noise in the playoffs. -- Snellings
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Record: 21-11
The Thunder would like a fast-forward button to the playoffs, with health guaranteed. They've struck a balance between their two superstars and the role-playing shooters and defenders. Russell Westbrook and Paul George utterly believe that they can lead this team over anyone, including the Warriors, and just want the chance to prove it this season. -- Snellings
5. Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 22-10
The Bucks wish for Khris Middleton to turn the clock back to October, when he was one of the hottest shooters in the league. No one can keep up the numbers he had that month -- 55 percent from 3-point range, while averaging 21 points on just 13 shot attempts per game -- but he has been uncharacteristically cold for a while now. He has shot 35 percent in the Bucks' losses this season, down from 45 percent in the club's victories. -- Herring
6. Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 22-12
I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need. I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree -- "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Christmas came early for the Sixers when they landed Jimmy Butler in November. They could use a little depth behind their superstar core in the form of shooters, but what the Sixers really need is a chemistry set. Because the big pieces are there in Philadelphia -- they just need to cohere. -- Arnovitz
7. Indiana Pacers
Record: 22-12
The Pacers wish to get back last season's version of Tyreke Evans. Indiana signed him away from Memphis this past summer on what looked like a solid deal, but his play has fallen off drastically since then. His shooting percentage is down nine points from last season, and his assist-to-turnover ratio -- 2 to 1 last year -- is basically 1 to 1; not good for a ball handler. -- Herring
8. Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 19-14
Everyone dancin' merrily in the new old-fashioned way -- "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."
After several years of finding lumps of coal in their stocking, the Lakers want nothing more than to restore Lakers glory of old, with LeBron James assuming his place in the pantheon of Lakers greats. Unwrapping a high seed, preferably one that avoids a potential second-round matchup with the Warriors, would be a handy gift. -- Arnovitz
9. Boston Celtics
Record:19-13
The Celtics need to find a definite hierarchy and team structure that their entire roster can buy into this holiday season. They are one of the most talented teams in the NBA from top to bottom, with incredible depth and playoff proven young talent just about everywhere. However, they have not shown that they can consistently get everyone on the same page, producing to the team's needs, when everyone is healthy. If they find that under the tree, they instantly resume their expected role as the team to beat in the East. -- Snellings
10. Houston Rockets
Record: 17-15
Could signing Austin Rivers have been an early Christmas present? The Rockets really need some bench scoring, ranking last in the NBA in that category with 27.3 points per game. If Rivers can perform as well as he did last season for the Clippers, it will be much easier to keep James Harden's minutes reasonable and reduce Chris Paul's workload when he returns from his strained hamstring. -- MacMahon
11. LA Clippers
Record: 19-14
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze, for the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home! -- "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays."
This year, the Clips would be happy to defer their gifts in favor of Christmas in July. They're after the biggest free-agent signing in franchise history. All eyes in the Clippers' organization are on L.A.-native Kawhi Leonard, toiling away in the We The North (Pole). They're also after Gold(en State) Rings, those belonging to Kevin Durant. -- Arnovitz
12. Portland Trail Blazers
Record: 19-14
The Blazers need ... drumroll please ... Carmelo Anthony. Portland has had its struggles with bench scoring. If Anthony is fine with the role, he could fit the bill as the Blazers' leading scorer off the bench and take pressure of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The problem is, however, that Melo turned down the Blazers twice previously. -- Spears
13. San Antonio Spurs
Record: 18-16
San Antonio wishes for some consistency from six-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. The Spurs are 14-3 when Aldridge scores at least 20 points, and 4-13 when he doesn't. His roller-coaster production is one of the primary reasons the Spurs have been one of the league's most erratic teams -- suffering three 30-plus losses in a span of four games, and going 5-1 with all the victories coming by at least 25 points within a few weeks. -- MacMahon
14. Sacramento Kings
Record: 18-15
The Kings need to give Buddy Hield a present for his birthday, for Christmas and for the way he has been playing in a breakthrough season. The Bahamian is averaging a team-high 20.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists. -- Spears
15. Charlotte Hornets
Record: 16-16
The Hornets are wishing for another scorer under their Christmas tree to take some pressure off of Kemba Walker. And no, it is not owner Michael Jordan. Walker is averaging 25 points and the Hornets do not have any other player who can score over 15 points per game. There has been hope that Malik Monk and rookie Miles Bridges can fill that bill, but they have not stepped up their game consistently. Maybe the Hornets should have gone after Austin Rivers before he signed with Houston. -- Spears
16. Utah Jazz
Record: 16-18
Utah's perfect gift? The first extended groove of the season for slumping sophomore Donovan Mitchell. The hope was that Mitchell would become more efficient on the heels of his sensational rookie season. His efficiency has instead dipped, as his field goal percentage (40.6) ranks 29th among 30 players who average at least 20 points. He has proven that he's capable of going on weeks-long scoring binges, and the Jazz could certainly use one soon as they try to climb up the West standings. -- MacMahon
17. Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 17-16
Memphis wishes Marc Gasol could return to his dominant form from November, when he averaged 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds with a 60.1 true shooting percentage. But he also averaged 37.2 minutes, and that workload looks as if it has taken a toll. His December stats: 12.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game with a 45.2 true shooting percentage. The Grizzlies went 9-6 in November and are 4-8 in December. -- MacMahon
18. Miami Heat
Record: 16-16
The Heat would love to find the Justise Winslow from Dec. 7-10 under the tree, and be able to deploy that healthy player for the entirety of 2019. During that three-game stretch, Winslow averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 3.7 3-pointers and 1.3 steals before injuring his ankle the next game. The Heat need another strong wing opposite Josh Richardson, and if Winslow can become that, with their elite defense, the Heat become a healthy point guard away from competing. -- Snellings
19. Detroit Pistons
Record: 15-16
The Pistons wish for Ish Smith to be healthy again, or to trade for another creator on offense. The Pistons have been awful of late, and you can almost trace the struggles back to when Smith first went down because of a groin strain. Detroit, which doesn't have a ton of ballhandling outside of Blake Griffin and the highly inconsistent Reggie Jackson, doesn't have the depth to withstand ailments like this one. Jose Calderon, at 37, shouldn't be the answer. -- Herring
20. Dallas Mavericks
Record: 15-17
Dallas wishes for an unofficial farewell tour that allows Dirk Nowitzki to go out on the respectable note that he deserves. Dallas is 0-5 when Nowitzki has played, a fact that he's painfully aware of. He certainly isn't the sole cause of their recent downswing, but Nowitzki has unsurprisingly struggled after a difficult eight-month recovery from left ankle surgery. He's averaging only 2.2 points per game in very limited minutes (8 per game) while shooting 30.8 percent from the field. His net rating: minus-30.2 points per 100 possessions. -- MacMahon
21. Brooklyn Nets
Record: 16-19
So call on your angels, your beaten and broken. It's time that we mend them, so they don't fade with the season -- "A New York Christmas."
The Nets have rebounded nicely over the past couple of weeks, but to succeed going forward, they desperately need a healthy Caris LeVert to mend his dislocated foot. Despite the gruesome injury, LeVert did not require surgery and could return this season. That would give the Nets a boon in their quest for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. -- Arnovitz
22. New Orleans Pelicans
Record: 15-19
How about some good fortune in the health department? The starting five the Pelicans used to start the season has a net rating of plus-26.6 points per 100 possessions. The problem: That lineup has played a grand total of 65 minutes because of injuries, especially an ankle sprain and fractured finger that have limited point guard Elfrid Payton to only six games. New Orleans needs Payton and power forward Nikola Mirotic (ankle) to get on the floor and back in form soon to have any hope of getting back in the West playoff mix. -- MacMahon
23. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 15-18
The Wolves are wishing for a jersey to retire Kevin Garnett's old No. 21 in the rafters. It was good to see KG back on good terms with the Timberwolves as he attended a recent game after being at odds. The future Hall of Famer is the greatest player in franchise history as he ranks No. 1 in points, games played, minutes, field goals, free throws, assists, steals and blocks. -- Spears
24. Orlando Magic
Record: 14-18
The Magic will eventually need to bring in perimeter help, particularly an elite point guard, to complete their rebuild. That is the future, though. For now, their biggest holiday wish would be for young bigs Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac to progress from talented prospects to impact pros. If Bamba and Isaac become elite defenders to complement Nikola Vucevic's and Aaron Gordon's strong offense, the Magic would be a perimeter player or two away from seriously competing. -- Snellings
25. Washington Wizards
Record: 13-21
The Wizards wish for a healthy, much better version of Otto Porter Jr. for the rest of the season. At 25, he is still young enough to show improvement at this stage of his career, but the second year of his max contract hasn't been encouraging yet. He has been underwhelming on both ends of the floor and hasn't been healthy of late. The struggling Wizards will almost certainly need more consistent production from Porter to turn their season around and make a late run at a playoff berth. -- Herring
26. Atlanta Hawks
Record: 9-23
Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow. Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow -- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (original Judy Garland lyrics).
The Hawks aren't looking under the tree for a glitzy present that offers instant gratification. They'd be happier with a savings bond, a gift they can stash away for future payoff. And if you happen to have the winning lottery pingpong ball combination for the 2019 NBA draft, they'd happily accept that too. -- Arnovitz
27. Phoenix Suns
Record: 8-26
What do the Suns need most? A few hundred DVDs to give to media members to let them know how well the No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton is playing. Much respect has gone toward Dallas rookie Luka Doncic on his outstanding start, but Ayton is also off to a strong start averaging a double-double of 16.3 points and 10.6 rebounds while also dishing 2.3 assists per game. The Suns' West-worst record is working against Ayton, but they are playing better of late. -- Spears
28. New York Knicks
Record: 9-25
The Knicks want to find a "repeat-this-month-indefinitely" button under the Christmas tree that they can use for Emmanuel Mudiay's shooting. Mudiay has averaged 20.3 points (47.6 field goal, 76.8 free throw, 36.0 3-point percentages) during the month of December, and has upped that to 25.4 PPG on 54.1 shooting during the past five games. With rookie Kevin Knox also balling (20.3 points and, 6.6 rebounds per game during his past seven), an improved Mudiay would give them another legitimate future piece on the contender they're trying to build in New York. -- Snellings
29. Chicago Bulls
Record: 9-25
The Bulls just want a healthy core group of young players. It's hard to imagine this group becoming special at some point if its best young players never develop true chemistry. Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine have logged a total of 11 minutes together this season (and just 255 last season) because of injuries. Those three and Wendell Carter Jr. badly need consistent simultaneous reps at some point so Chicago can assess how they fit together. -- Herring
30. Cleveland Cavaliers
Record: 8-26
The Cavs are wishing for a team willing to send over a good asset for Kevin Love's enormous contract, and then to eventually win yet another No. 1 pick during the draft lottery. Despite Cleveland's losing, the club is still in an awkward no-man's land: Cleveland is stuck in a rebuild, yet is giving considerable minutes to middle-aged vets who might not be part of the long-term answer. Something needs to shake them out of that middle ground. -- Herring