Shit....I didn't even realize that Splitter and Bayne were gone. I missed those moves.
Personally I wouldn't put them ahead of OKC or GS either. As I mentioned, the Spurs backcourt is suspect and as you mentioned, Duncan can't be counted on to be a force night in and night out.
A) Kawhi - Parker - Aldridge - Duncan
B) Curry - Thompson - Iguodala - Green
C) Durant - Ibaka - Westbrook - Kanters
Which Big 4 would you choose?
I may be biased but I'd rank them C, B, A.
There's too many question marks there to give any kind of credible ranking, like how healthy will Durant be? How will OKC's chemistry be/will Westbrook go rogue in critical moments? How much does Duncan have left? Will the Warriors have the same chemistry that allowed them to play a bit above their head?
The fact of the matter is that the Spurs were 1 game out of being the 2nd seed in the West, and they lost an epic 7 game series against a team that was 1 game away from the WCF. There was very little separating the Spurs from being in the WCF last year, and in a matchup that I like for them against the Warriors at that, and now they've added a legit All-Star, top 20 type of player who fits what they do with his ability to space the floor, pass and score in the post.
They, along with the Warriors, are the favorites in the West, anybody who says otherwise has something against them. I also wouldn't say that Memphis is top 3 necessarily but they aren't far from it, they were the Warriors toughest series outside of Cleveland despite Conley and Allen being hobbled.