Who could be a first-time All-Star this year?

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 05: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on December 5, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 8: Tobias Harris #34 of the LA Clippers reacts against the Miami Heat on December 8, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Tobias Harris, Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers don’t have a single top-25 player, but they entered Christmas Day tied for the fourth-best record in the cutthroat Western Conference. If they avoid a prolonged slump between now and the end of January, it’ll be difficult for coaches to keep Tobias Harris out of the All-Star Game.

With all three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan no longer in Los Angeles, Harris has taken up the mantle as the team’s top offensive weapon. He’s averaging a career-high 21.6 points on 50.9 shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 triples in 34.6 minutes per game, making him one of only four players to clear those thresholds this season. (The other three—LeBron James, Paul George and Blake Griffin—are All-Star locks.)

During Harris’ 1,142 minutes on the floor to date, the Clippers have outscored opponents by 3.0 points per 100 possessions. With him on the bench, they get outscored by 4.2 points per 100 possessions. That 7.2-point differential is second only to Lou Williams among all Clippers rotation players.

“He just keeps getting better,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said about Harris at the end of November, per Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register. “… He’s becoming more than a scorer, he’s becoming a playmaker for us as well. And I think it’s going to benefit him in the long run.”

Harris turned down an $80 million extension offer from the Clippers this past summer, according to David Aldridge of The Athletic, which is looking wiser by the day. As he braces himself for a feeding frenzy in free agency, Harris may well be making a mid-February pit stop in Charlotte first.

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