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By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider

While the NBA All-Star Game might no longer enamor everyone, GMs still love their all-stars.

I was sitting in Jerry West's office in Memphis last week and the topic turned to the differences between his Grizzlies and the team he built in Los Angeles, the Lakers. The Lakers had the two best players in the NBA – Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are a collection of talented players. But with the possible exception of Pau Gasol, they have no all-stars.

While West raved about how gratifying it was to see the Grizzlies play team basketball, when pressed on the issue of whether he'd have a team full of good, but not great players, or a couple of superstars, West didn't hesitate in his answer.

"It's more fun with [an all-star] than without," West told Insider.

"It brings a definite enthusiasm. Fans can't wait to go see the darn game because of those guys because they know they're going to do one or two things. People are going to be waiting on the edge of their seat waiting for it. It brings value to a team. It allows you to make trades because you can put people around them easier. That's why I think it's easier to build teams around a guy like that.

"Kids can grow up with a player like that. If you have someone of that magnitude here in Memphis, Elvis would be in second place."

For years, the conventional wisdom behind building a championship team consisted of finding two all-stars, preferably one big and one guard, and surrounding them with role players. Not only could players like that help you win basketball games, they also helped you win over fans at the box office.

The Pistons challenged that model last year, winning the title with just one all-star, Ben Wallace, on the roster. The Pistons were lauded for playing team basketball, and many GMs went out of their way this summer to pass over stars for veteran role players who knew their role.

But maybe too much is being made of this. If you actually watched the Pistons in the playoffs last season, you knew that Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups played like an all-star.

The bottom line?

"Talent is the key in the NBA," West said. "We can talk all we want about coaching, style of play, rule changes and chemistry. But at the end of the day, the team with the best talent usually wins."

Who has the all-stars? Who doesn't? And what teams look to restock the all-star pool in the future? As coaches prepare to select the all-star reserves this week, Insider breaks down where the all-stars are and aren't in Week 14's the Good, the Bad and the Upside.

THE GOOD

San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are no longer a one-trick pony. While Tim Duncan remains one of the best two or three players in the league, this year their backcourt has matured to the point that you can credibly claim that the Spurs have three legit all-star candidates on their roster.

Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have both taken their games to the next level. While neither player puts up gaudy numbers, both have the ability to take over a game when Duncan is struggling.

Ginobili is a guy who can do it all. He can score by hitting a long jumper or by getting to the free throw line. He's a frantic defender who ranks among the league leaders in steals and can deliver the spectacular assist whenever it's needed.

Parker has improved to the point that, at the age of 22, he's ready to be considered among the elite point guards in the league. He's improved his perimeter shot so much that he's now a dangerous threat almost anywhere on the court. While his assist numbers aren't as high as other top point guards in the league, that has as much to do with the system the Spurs run as it does with Parker.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns are one of two teams in the league that could make the credible argument that four of their starting five deserve a spot on the all-star team.

Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire are givens. Both players are putting on MVP-caliber performances this season.

Shawn Marion also will get a lot of votes from the coaches. While nothing in the Matrix's game is especially spectacular, he does so many things well that he's almost impossible to shut down. He can score inside and out. He ranks sixth in the league in rebounds, fourth in steals and shoots 47 percent from the field.

Joe Johnson has turned into one of the league's elite three-point shooters, nailing 45.4 percent of his triples this season. He also is a triple-double threat on any given night. He's one of the few 6-foot-8 players who gets consistent minutes playing point guard for his team and has 10 games this season where he's dished out six or more assists in a game.

Sacramento Kings: The Kings are the other team that can credibly claim that they have four all-stars on their squad this season.

Start with Chris Webber, who has found a way to produce despite playing with a bum leg. He's averaging 21.6 ppg, grabbing nearly 10 rebounds per game and handing out 5.1 apg. Only one big man, Kevin Garnett, is averaging more assists per game.

Brad Miller is also making a strong case for his third consecutive all-star bid. Miller leads all centers in the league in assists, ranks third in rebounds and is fifth in scoring. Lately, he's been on a tear, averaging more than 24.4 ppg, 11 rpg and 4 apg in his last five.

Mike Bibby is having, statistically speaking, the best year of his career, averaging 18.4 ppg and 6.3 apg for the Kings. He, too, has been on fire lately, averaging 27.6 ppg and 7 apg for the Kings in their last five.

Ironically, the fourth guy on the list was last year's MVP candidate, Peja Stojakovic. While Stojakovic's numbers are still very good (20.2 ppg), his season has been a bit of a disappointment after last year's breakout campaign.

Miami Heat: For years, the best one-two punch in the league played for the Lakers. When Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Heat, conventional wisdom said that the combo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady would now be the best twosome in the league.

Not so.

The combo of Shaq and Dwyane Wade is better, and here's the scary part. Wade is having a better season than Shaq. Wade's numbers, 23.6 ppg, 7.3 apg, 5.2 rpg while shooting 48 percent from the field, aren't just good – they are MVP numbers.

Shaq's numbers are equally as impressive: 23 ppg, 10.6 rpg and 2.5 bpg on 60 percent shooting from the field.

Detroit Pistons: As we stated earlier, much has been made about how the Pistons don't really have any all-star-caliber players on their team. That's just silly. What the Pistons lack are any real superstars, with the possible exception of Ben Wallace.

Wallace doesn't have the offensive numbers that you normally equate with an all-star, but like most of the elite players in the league, he has the unique ability to change the course of the game without shooting the ball.

Chauncey Billups never got much all-star consideration before he led the Pistons to a championship and walked away with the Finals MVP trophy. He's turning in his best season ever for the Pistons with career highs in assists (6.3 apg) and three point shooting (40.3 percent) and his second-best scoring average (16.3 ppg). While a few other point guards in the East have better numbers – Gilbert Arenas, Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury – none of them are as good as Billups on the defensive end of the court.

Richard Hamilton is averaging 20.2 ppg and 4.2 apg, yet most people agree that he's having an off year. Hamilton doesn't get the recognition he deserves in part because his game is a little one-dimensional. However, he remains one of the best mid-range scorers in the game.

Washington Wizards: Of the elite teams in the league, the Wizards are the darkhorse here. We knew Antawn Jamison was capable of putting up 20 and 8 this season, and he's delivered. But the Wizards have watched the backcourt of Gilbert Arenas and Larry Hughes absolutely elevate this season.

Both players deserve all-star bids, though only Arenas is expected to get one because Hughes is currently on the injured list.

Arenas has been amazing, averaging 24.3 ppg, 5.2 apg and 4.2 rpg. It's hard to believe he just turned 23 one month ago. Arenas has improved in almost every aspect of the game. His shooting percentage is up, he's getting to the free-throw line more and his turnovers are way down from previous seasons. It will be a crime if he doesn't make the all-star squad.

The amazing thing is that Hughes was even better before fracturing his thumb last month. Hughes was averaging 25.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.9 apg and 2.9 spg in January before his injury.

If the Wizards can ever figure out a way to get Kwame Brown to join this trio, they have a chance to be a dominant team in the league for the next five or six years.

THE BAD

Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks might be the only team in the league that can't make a credible claim to having an all-star-caliber player on its roster.

The best the Hawks can do is claim Antoine Walker. His numbers, on the surface, anyway, look all-star worthy. He's averaging 19.9 ppg and 9.4 rpg. But, when you factor in that he's shooting just 41 percent from the field, 31 percent from three-point range and nearly averages as many turnovers (3.4 per game) as assists (3.8 per game), the wind falls out of the sails pretty quickly.

When you factor in that Walker ranks last on the team in plus/minus, the argument is over.

Josh Smith looks like the only guy on the team with all-star potential down the road. But it's going to be a while.

New York Knicks: You'd think that a $103 million payroll would buy you at least a couple of all stars, but as it stands, the last-place Knicks don't look like they'll be getting any invites to the party.

Stephon Marbury is the one guy with the numbers to get the nod. He's averaging 20.2 ppg and 8.2 apg this season while shooting 47 percent from the field.

However, since he declared that he was the best point guard in the league, the Knicks are 2-16.

If that doesn't squash his campaign, nothing will.

Golden State Warriors: The good news is that the Warriors have their first legitimate all-star candidate since Latrell Sprewell called Oakland his home.

Jason Richardson is having the best year of his career, averaging 22.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg and shooting 45 percent from the field. In a guard-starved West, you could make a credible argument that Richardson deserves to make the all-star team more than bubble candidates like Manu Ginobili and Mike Bibby.

The problem for Richardson (and the Warriors) is that he plays on a terrible team. Producing great numbers on a bad team always hurts you in the end (just ask Elton Brand).

But it should hurt the Warriors even more than it hurts Richardson. How can a team that won 37 games last year spend nearly $200 million in contracts in the offseason and be this bad? The Warriors have won just 13 games this year and are on a pace to win just 25.

With Richardson, and to a lesser extent, Troy Murphy, having breakout years, they should be better. The fact that they're terrible better be keeping Chris Mullin up at night.

Utah Jazz: Were it not for an early season injury, Andrei Kirilenko would be a lock for the all-star game. With the exception of Kevin Garnett, there isn't a more versatile forward in the league. The Jazz realized his worth right away, dropping 21 of their 27 games they played without Kirilenko in December and January.

Now that he's back, the Jazz have been a little better. but not much. That's partly because their two big free agent acquisitions, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, have been good, but not all-star worthy. After getting off to a red hot start, Boozer's numbers have decreased every month of the season.

Okur has been solid when coach Jerry Sloan agrees to play him, but the Jazz are paying for more than just "solid." We all, Insider included, were quick to jump on the Jazz bandwagon this season, but now it's become apparent that they really lack the talent they need to be an elite team in the West.

Milwaukee Bucks: The good news is that the Bucks have a legit all-star candidate in Michael Redd.

Redd is averaging a career his 22.2 ppg while shooting 45 percent from the field. Those are better numbers than what he did last year, when he earned an all-star berth.

The difference is that last year, the Bucks were a Cinderella story ... this year they're back to scrubbing the floors.

The bad news is that their one legit all-star candidate is an unrestricted free agent this summer. While Redd continues to maintain publicly that he'd like to re-sign with the Bucks, there's a good chance that he bolts this summer for either the Cavaliers or Nuggets.

With Redd possibly gone and T.J. Ford possibly never fully recovering from a spinal injury, that could leave the Bucks in the same company with the Hawks – a team without an all-star caliber player.

New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets actually have two legit all-star players, Baron Davis and Jamaal Magloire. The problem is that both have been hurt for most of the season.

That could be good news in the long run for the Hornets. Without both players, the team has played poorly enough to earn a very high pick in the draft next year. If they can hit a home run in the lottery, they can add a potential all-star to the mix and take a dramatic leap in the standings next year.

And if that doesn't work, the Hornets can always re-sign Dan Dickau – a guy who has played at nearly an all-star level the past month in New Orleans.

Charlotte Bobcats: No one can expect an expansion team in its first year in the league to assemble an all-star roster. Amazingly, the Bobcats have one already in Emeka Okafor. He's played as well as you would expect any rookie to and should make the first of many all-star appearances this year.

There isn't anyone else on the roster with his potential. Primoz Brezec, Jason Hart and Kareem Rush might be good players, but none of them look like they'll rise to that status.

But don't fear, Bobcats fans. The team will have a top pick in the draft next year and tons of cap room. In another two years, they could be a force to reckon with if they play their cards right.

THE UPSIDE

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs might have only one all-star on their roster, but when it's a superstar like LeBron James, you don't need much else.

"How many players are like that?" Grizzlies GM Jerry West told Insider last week. "Maybe four in the league? Not very many. They come along very rarely. That rascal....I don't know where he's going to go with his career, but my god. A guy that big and that gifted? He might be the fastest big guy in the league.

"Suddenly everyone wants to play in Cleveland. You can bring in players and all the sudden they get better playing with a guy like LeBron. It's the dynamic of having a player like that. What's a guy like that worth to a franchise?"

James is worth about $100 million, if you take into account how much the value of the Cavs' franchise rose in the past year.

Now let's see if LeBron can help the recruiting process. He wasn't able to convince Carlos Boozer to stick around for less money. But if he can lure a guy like Michael Redd to Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will be instant contenders for the crown.

Los Angeles Lakers: Obviously the Lakers (and Kobe Bryant) are starting to feel the heat in the aftermath of dumping Shaquille O'Neal this summer. Shaq makes everyone's job easier on the court and Kobe, if he was being honest, would have to be the first to admit it.

However, all is not lost in Los Angeles.

Kobe has another four or five years worth of all-star caliber play in him.

Lamar Odom should have been an all-star last season with the Heat. He can rise to that level again if interim head coach Frank Hamblen finds a better way to incorporate him into the offense.

Caron Butler also has shown signs that he has what it takes to be an all-star someday. He's averaging nearly 20 ppg and 5 rpg since Kobe has been sidelined by injury.

If the Lakers could ever get their hands on a legit starting point guard and a little more size up front, they have a chance to be an elite team again soon.

Indiana Pacers: Normally, the Pacers would have two players who are locks for the all-star team, Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest. Unfortunately for Indiana, Artest is suspended for the season and at some point they're going to have to decide whether he's worth keeping around.

As good as Artest is on the court, he's unreliable. How can the Pacers count on him, given all the issues that have come up over the past few seasons? Even if you throw out the Nov. 19 brawl as an isolated incident, don't forget that just weeks before that, Artest flirted with taking the season off to focus his attention on his family and his music producing career.

He's flaky. It's partly what makes him great and partly what scares everyone to death.

The good news is that in Artest's absence, Jamaal Tinsley has blossomed into a legit all-star candidate for the Pacers.

New Jersey Nets: Losing Kenyon Martin was a huge blow to the franchise, but Jason Kidd has to take some solace in the fact that Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson (before he was injured) are playing at very high levels.

Had Jefferson been healthy, he would've been a lock for the all-star team this year averaging 22.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 4 apg before he ruptured a ligament in his wrist.

Carter has been spectacular since being traded from the Toronto Raptors, averaging 24.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg and 5.2 apg since joining the Nets.

However, the question folks in New Jersey have to ask is 'How long is Kidd going to be able to keep up with them?' Statistically, he's having one of the worst seasons in his career. At the age of 31, how much does he have left in the tank? He's averaging 19.4 ppg and 9.6 apg over his last five games. But he's going to have to sustain that level another year or two if the Nets have serious thoughts about returning to the Finals.

Los Angeles Clippers: While many people are anointing the Bulls as the best young up and coming team in the league, my vote is for the Clippers.

They are anchored by Elton Brand, a guy who puts up all-star performances every season but always gets ignored, in part, because his game is unsexy and his team is struggling.

And in three or four years, Shaun Livingston has the potential to own the starting point guard position on the Western Conference all-star team. "He's going to be amazing," coach Mike Dunleavy told Insider last week. "He does stuff on the court that we've never seen before. It's just a matter of time."

Chicago Bulls: The Bulls likely won't have any all-stars this year, but their future looks very bright.

Four young players on their roster – Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Eddy Curry and Luol Deng – all look like they have a shot at all-star bids down the road. Even Tyson Chandler and Andres Nocioni might have a shot as they continue to improve.

Given the way Scott Skiles has gotten the Bulls to play together of late, the future in Chicago hasn't been this bright since MJ played here.

Toronto Raptors: Losing Vince Carter hurt. Watching him play as well as he's ever played in New Jersey hurts even more. But Raptors fans can take solace in the fact that Chris Bosh has gone from an interesting prospect into a legit all-star candidate with Carter off the roster.

Since January 1, Bosh is averaging 20.5 ppg, 11 rpg and is shooting 49 percent from the field. In a conference devoid of legit power forwards, Bosh has been so good that Insider put him ahead of several higher-profile players on our ballot for the reserves.

At the ripe old age of 20, Bosh has superstar written all over him. Now, if the Raptors can just find the right players to surround him with.

THE REST

The Denver Nuggets are the All-Star Game hosts, but it's tough to make an argument that they deserve an all-star. Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Marcus Camby and Andre Miller all have the talent to make the team, but none of them have produced what they are capable of this season.... There was a time when Mark Cuban would lobby the league to have three Dallas Mavericks in the All-Star Game. Now with Steve Nash gone and Michael Finley on the decline, they're down to just one – Dirk Nowitzki. While the team has a lot of depth, no one else in Big D is even close....The Seattle SuperSonics know that Ray Allen is a lock as an all-star, but what about forward Rashard Lewis? Every year, he falls just short of making the team. If he was in the East, he'd be in for sure ... The biggest problem that the Minnesota Timberwolves are facing this year is that they've gone from two all-stars down to one. Kevin Garnett is still rolling, but it's unlikely that Sam Cassell will ever duplicate his numbers from last season.... Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming make up a formidable duo for the Houston Rockets but their next best player is Bob Sura. ... Allen Iverson still carries the torch for the Philadelphia 76ers, but the future of the franchise will be determined by whether Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert live up to their potential....Speaking of the future, it's getting to the point that Paul Pierce is no longer the most important player in Boston. Sure, Pierce is still leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else on the roster, but insiders believe that the fate of the Boston Celtics really hinges on the development of Al Jefferson. That's a lot to ask of a high school kid.... Then again, the same could be said in Orlando. Steve Francis and Grant Hill are both having all-star seasons, but if the Orlando Magic are ever going to challenge for a championship, it's going to have to be on the back of rookie Dwight Howard.... Pau Gasol is the closest thing the Memphis Grizzlies have to an all-star, but the most important person in the franchise remains Jerry West....Last year some people believed that Zach Randolph was snubbed from the all-star game. This year, the Portland Trail Blazers are praying he gets snubbed again. Apparently that huge contract extension he's gotten has gone to his head.