Don’t say we didn’t warn you. The Denver Nuggets stand alone at the top of the Western Conference. A stumbling Grizzlies team is second and a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in 16 seasons is third. This was always going to be an arms race in the West.

Dallas struck first when they acquired Kyrie Irving to pair with Luka Doncic. The next shoe to drop came when the Lakers pulled off a blockbuster fleecing of the Utah Jazz that landed them D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley. When added to the Rui Hachimura trade from a week ago, the Lakers have now added four rotational players, including at least two starters.

With the Mavs and Lakers jumping into the race, the Phoenix Suns took the biggest swing imaginable late Wednesday night, dealing Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a pick swap for NBA legend Kevin Durant.

Welcome to the wild wild West.

How do the Kings respond? Will Monte McNair even try to jump in on the action or has he already been priced out of a market that has completely gone off the rails?

The NBA trade deadline isn’t for the faint of heart, but to quote an old Latin proverb, “fortune favors the bold.”