We’re ripping open the mailbag as we head toward the crowning of a new NBA Cup champion…

Mannix! What do you think of LeBron James’ start to the season? He’s still great, but this is the first time I’ve seen signs of decline. –Charles, Naples, Florida.

So I looked at one much by LeBron James this season. I went to a few Los Angeles Lakers games and saw the rest on TV. The short answer to your question is that James, who is approaching 40, is still one of the 25 best players in the NBA. But a quarter into the season, you can definitely see signs, or in some cases continuation, of the decline.

I see some erosion defensively. James can still do it in spurts; I watched him do it a few times against the Oklahoma City Thunder when he was switched to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But he’s not the same defensive player from possession to possession.

I see him relying more on physicality than athleticism on offense. Again, he can still improve – last month’s poster of Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is a good example – but he doesn’t play above the rim with any regularity. It kind of reminds me of an aging boxer. Think of George Foreman, who won a heavyweight title in his 40s. Or more recently, Vasiliy Lomachenko, one of the most talented boxers of my life, who in his mid-30s is no longer quite as bouncy as he used to be. Both guys are still great, but they are a level below what they once were.

Recent three-point woes are a problem – James has missed 24 straight threes and hasn’t made a single one in his last four games. James told reporters after Monday’s loss in Minnesota that he felt “out of rhythm” in recent games. These numbers are likely to rise again. And as a reminder, the fact that we are talking about James in this context, almost 40 years old, is remarkable.

How serious are the Cavs and will that translate into postseason success? –gman4720, via threads

I love everything about what I see in Cleveland. The offense is ruthlessly efficient. First in the league in scoring, first in field goal percentage, first in three-point percentage. Donovan Mitchell is a bona fide MVP candidate, Darius Garland is having a career year, and Kenny Atkinson was the ideal choice to oversee the continued development of a great young roster.

With Garland, I’m really impressed with his start. There were a lot of questions last year about whether Garland was a good fit for Cleveland. He responded this season with the best three-point numbers of his career (45.2%), bringing his scoring average back up to over 20 points per game.

Will that lead to playoff success? The two games the Cavs have played against the Boston Celtics – a narrow loss in Boston last month and a win over the Jaylen Brown-less C’s at home on Sunday – suggest that will be the case. There are still concerns about offensive point defense, and while the depth is great in the regular season, it is less valuable in the playoffs. Right now, Cleveland appears to be a real threat.

Is this the year of Oklahoma City? This is the strongest team since 2012 and this one is even stronger. Perhaps the bigger question is how long can they keep this group together? —Mark, Reno, Nev.

A few things to unpack, Mark. The Thunder are clearly the strongest team in the Western Conference. The defense is elite. Oklahoma City has the best defense in the NBA and this is one physically Defense. They push you up and off the ball and come at you in waves. They force turnovers (almost 19 per game), collect steals (11.6) and defend the rim (6.6 blocks per game). There is no defense like it outside of Boston.

This team is Really well, and I think the favorite comes from the West. In the long term, however, the squad will be expensive. Alex Caruso can be extended in a few weeks. I expect a deal to happen – no Away Thunder general manager Sam Presti acquired Caruso without knowing what it would take to keep him long-term. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are eligible for extensions next summer. In my opinion, both are (rookie) max players.

I have long believed that Oklahoma City would finish the season with this group. But the offseason will be interesting. The Thunder are loaded with young talent and could have as many as four first-round picks in June’s draft, which is expected to be one of the best in years. No team in recent memory is better positioned for a big trade.

There are signs that they are preparing for a big thing. A general manager from a rival team pointed to the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein as an example. Yes, Hartenstein fixes a forecourt that needed help on the glass. But he also has a thick, moveable contract that could be useful in a future deal, which is one of the reasons this manager believes Oklahoma City signed him.

Read your column about Cooper Flagg. Is he the obvious number 1 (like Victor Wembanyama)? Or will there be a debate in the next few months (about someone like Ace Bailey)? –Marcus, Brooklyn

You won’t find a scout who isn’t positive about Cooper Flagg. He’s athletic, an elite shot blocker on the weak side and a strong defender with some emerging playmaking ability on offense. In my opinion, he is the winger who will benefit from better guard play in the NBA. He will thrive in transition (he will accomplish a lot). tonne of fast break points) and in the pick-and-roll. He has good height (1.90 meters) and the ability to defend multiple positions.

Still – he is not Wembanyama. He was somehow ehh against the Kansas Jayhawks, an experienced team that threw a number of different defenses at him. I haven’t seen enough of Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey, another 6-foot-4 winger who’s off to a great start, but I can certainly see there being a debate in the coming months becomes.

Thoughts on the proposed All-Star Game format? –Thomas, via Instagram

I don’t care. The All-Star Game cannot be saved. There is also no killing.

Which team is causing the most controversy around the league when it comes to trades? –Elvin, Portland, Oregon.

Simply. Washington. The Wizards have several veteran pieces (Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Jonas Valanciunas) that will draw interest from suitors. Valanciunas has been linked to the Lakers, which makes sense for a team in desperate need of a frontcourt infusion. There’s been a lot of interest in Kuzma in recent years – including the Dallas Mavericks targeting him last season – and it’s likely Washington will be even more receptive to offers now. They are a team to keep an eye on.