4 players who will fill the LeBron-shaped void in the East

There's something missing from the Eastern Conference playoff picture this year. Or more accurately, someone.

Yes, for the first time since the Dubya administration, LeBron James isn't contending for a spot in The Finals, a destination he's reached in each of the past eight Junes.

With a wide-open conference bracket this spring, who can fill the void left by King James' abdication to the Los Angeles Lakers? There are four main candidates this year, and each reflects an aspect of what's made LeBron's postseason appearances so special.

The Freak: Giannis Antetokounmpo

By default, every single NBA player qualifies as a world-class athlete. Then there are the true physical specimens who belong to the upper echelon - men who can seemingly jump right out of the building.

And then, in a league unto himself, there's Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, unmatched in his ability to make those world-class athletes look inanimate by comparison.

Appearing in 72 games (the Bucks went 4-6 without him), Antetokounmpo averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Is he a point guard, defensively minded wing, or old-school big man? The answer: Yes.

If LeBron provided the template for a point forward with absurd physicality, the Greek Freak has taken it to a new level, roasting defenses with his "Gyro steps" and spins from the 3-point arc before thundering home unstoppable dunks or kicking out to open shooters in the corner. Like the Lakers star, Antetokounmpo demands the suspension of disbelief; for 48 minutes, pretty much anything is possible on the basketball court.

The Philosopher: Kyrie Irving

If there was an award for the player most likely to be spotted reading "The Alchemist" before a postseason press conference, LeBron would normally be a shoo-in. Regretfully, no such award exists.

But James' old Cleveland Cavaliers running mate Kyrie Irving should be able to carry the torch as the playoffs' preeminent press conference Zen master. The Boston Celtics star has a penchant for eschewing direct responses in favor of waxing philosophical about the nature of dreams, the law of attraction, and the curvature of Earth.

As the NBA becomes an all-encompassing entertainment product, few have been better at capturing the spotlight away from the hardcourt than Kyrie, though he occasionally decries the media's role in disseminating his messages. We won't have an opportunity to witness James spout spiritual wisdom, don Angus Young-style suit shorts, or haul luxury baggage to the postgame podium, but Irving should oblige fans with his usual mix of theatrics, both on and off the court.

The Terminator: Kawhi Leonard

Each of the Toronto Raptors' last three playoff runs offered a window into what "The Terminator" films would've looked like had they started from a place of hope, then slowly been overtaken by a sense of certain doom at the hands of a merciless automaton.

But with LeBron watching the playoffs from home and the Cavaliers in shambles, the Raptors don't have to worry about their heart being ripped out by that particular foe. What's more, it's now the Raptors who possess the NBA's resident Terminator - the steely Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard's ability to pick up his defensive assignment 60 feet away from the hoop and literally pluck the basketball out of their grasp is unrivaled. With little in the way of elite ball-handlers, the feel-good vibes that accompanied the end of the Orlando Magic's six-year playoff drought could quickly give way to the sort of misery Raptors fans grew accustomed to in recent years.

The Hotshot: Joel Embiid

LeBron has appeared in 239 playoff games since 2006, a span that includes nine trips to the Finals. Joel Embiid has appeared in 158 regular-season games and eight postseason ones. That minor discrepancy will do little to deflate Embiid, who already enjoys the unshakable self-confidence of a three-time champion.

When healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers' star center possesses the outsize bravado needed to go toe to toe with anyone, be they veteran, youngster, champion, or legend. Like James pretending to drink beer during the Cavs-Raptors series in 2017, Embiid will find ways to twist the knife once his team is in control of a game or series.

It won't be long until he's loudly proclaiming that he owns real estate in the opposing center's head (the Nets' Jarrett Allen should probably start brainstorming comebacks now). While James was never especially bullying in his trash talk (save for mocking Dirk Nowitzki's illness during the 2011 Finals), Embiid's fearlessness is a welcome addition to a LeBron-less Eastern Conference bracket.