The NBA Western Convention appears vast open, with seven groups having a stable case to win the title.
With coaching camps set to open in lower than a month, here’s a key query every Western Convention workforce faces.
Final season’s information are in parentheses.
Dallas Mavericks (50-32): What does Klay Thompson have left within the tank?
Even after an unlikely NBA Finals run, Dallas was lively this summer season, most notably including five-time All-Star Klay Thompson, who gained 4 championships with the Warriors. Though he’s not the player he once was — blame Father Time and the damage bug — Thompson can nonetheless present elite motion taking pictures. Flanking one of many NBA’s finest passers in Luka Doncic, with one of many technology’s finest shooters, is, theoretically, a recipe for fulfillment. How a lot increased Thompson can carry Dallas is dependent upon how his physique holds up.
Denver Nuggets (57-25): Does Russ transfer the needle?
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are a deadly sufficient duo to make Denver a competitor within the West. Nonetheless, the lack of Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in consecutive seasons has tanked Denver’s depth. The franchise hopes introducing Russell Westbrook can treatment a few of these second-unit struggles. In the event you say it sufficient occasions, you may begin to consider it, too.
Golden State Warriors (46-36): Can bench items exchange Thompson?
The summer season seemed tough after Golden State misplaced Thompson to Dallas, however including De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson and Buddy Hield eased some preliminary worries that Dubs followers had concerning the roster. Is Golden State a championship workforce? In all probability not, however the Warriors are unattainable to rely out so long as Steph Curry performs at an all-time stage.
Houston Rockets (41-41): Who’s making a leap?
Houston should depend on younger gamers greater than most different groups with playoff aspirations. Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason might be within the rotation on opening evening, and if any of them are forward of schedule of their improvement, Houston’s win complete is perhaps increased than some count on.
Los Angeles Clippers (51-31): What’s one of the best that may occur?
Paul George has gone to the 76ers. Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Kevin Porter Jr, Nic Batum and Mo Bamba are in (or again, in Batum’s case). Los Angeles misplaced a star, however as an alternative of changing him with one other star, it picked up function gamers. May these guys match higher and create a extra cohesive workforce than we noticed throughout George’s tenure in L.A.? Positive, they might. However it is a stretch to suppose this assortment of fellows — together with the remainder of the Clippers roster, which stays largely the identical as final season — might be an enchancment over Clippers groups of the previous.
Los Angeles Lakers (47-35): The place will they flip subsequent?
It doesn’t matter what sports activities discuss reveals can have you consider, the Lakers’ greatest query doesn’t contain Bronny James. As a substitute, their greatest uncertainty is whether or not this roster has one other stage it may attain. (The reply might be no, regardless of its hiring of recent head coach JJ Redick.) There might be occasions this season when L.A. appears like a contender as a result of the roster nonetheless is powerful, however there’s not sufficient versatility or offensive creation exterior of LeBron and AD to confidently name this workforce something greater than good. So, after a probable first-round exit, the place will the Lakers flip?
Memphis Grizzlies (27-55): Did we overlook how good Ja Morant is?
It seems like a very long time since we watched Morant play — and even longer since Memphis was a Western Convention energy — however the Griz gained 107 video games in two seasons from 2021-2023, and the core of these groups remains to be intact. Plus, the Griz have discovered gems of their latest tank fests, that means Memphis will trot out a stable beginning lineup with a celebrity level guard and high quality backups. Memphis’ street to competition has been unusual, but when Morant is the Morant we bear in mind, this workforce’s ceiling is excessive.
Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26): Is Rob Dillingham a right away contributor?
Minnesota might be good once more, in all probability very good. This lineup’s two-way versatility might be one of the best within the league. It solely is smart {that a} workforce with this taking part in model added Dillingham, the guard from Kentucky who dominated on each ends in school. With Mike Conley getting into his 18th NBA season, Minnesota will probably lean on Dillingham to offer important minutes as a backup guard. If he contributes instantly, he offers the Wolves one other younger weapon so as to add to their record of younger weapons.
New Orleans Pelicans (49-33): Who’s Yves Missi?
Nicely, he is probably the beginning heart, so get acquainted. After shedding Jonas Valanciunas to the Wizards (for some motive), New Orleans picked the 20-year-old from Baylor twenty first total within the draft. Missi will not be requested to do a lot on offense (although that would develop down the road), however he’ll present size and lane-clogging on protection. He is a little bit of a wild card for a workforce with difference-makers all over the place else.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (57-25): Have they got one of the best protection within the league?
There are lots of questions on this Thunder workforce, none of which have something to do with whether or not they are going to be good. They are going to be. Simply how good is the query, and particularly, how good will they be on protection? Including Alex Caruso — among the finest guard defenders within the league — to an already-stout defensive backcourt is borderline unfair. Coping with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on protection and Alex Caruso on offense might be depressing for opponents.
Phoenix Suns (49-33): Is Tyus Jones the savior?
No stress, Tyus. Phoenix has primarily tried to run a workforce with out a level guard the previous few seasons. Devin Booker has made a fairly stable level guard impression (6.9 APG final season), however this workforce will profit from the addition of Jones, a distributor by nature. Will his presence vault the Suns to championship contender? Powerful to say. However it will not damage issues.
Portland Path Blazers (21-61): Are you able to lose… lots?
Issues had been bleak for Portland final season. They may get bleaker in 2024-25, however that is a constructive. Portland desires to see what it has in Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, and Shaedon Sharpe. The outcomes of this season’s video games are irrelevant. Develop the younger guys and hope for Cooper Flagg, the budding Duke star, within the 2025 NBA Draft — that is Portland’s MO this season. Sadly for Blazers followers, that includes loads of shedding.
San Antonio Spurs (22-60): Are you able to say Wem-VP already?
Victor Wembanyama’s affect final season can’t be overstated. He wasn’t simply good. He was dominant loads of the time throughout his rookie season. That seldom occurs within the NBA. When it does, it in all probability got here from a Corridor of Fame-caliber participant. And with Chris Paul now setting him up in San Antonio, it would not really feel loopy to say Wemby enters the season as an MVP contender. There isn’t any hyperbole relating to him.
Sacramento Kings (46-36): Does DeMar DeRozan do sufficient?
Sacramento did not overthink this summer season. A multi-time All-Star was obtainable, so the Kings acquired him. That is just about at all times the fitting name. DeMar DeRozan’s match on the workforce may be discovered later, however he brings a dynamic that any NBA workforce would fortunately add: constant scoring and clutch buckets. Whether or not he is sufficient of an element to place Sacramento within the tier of OKC, Denver and Minnesota is the query.
Utah Jazz (31-51): Is Danny Ainge affected person?
The Jazz CEO ought to be as a result of Utah has loads of younger expertise. It isn’t sufficient to compete in 2024, however there’s a lot for Jazz followers to be enthusiastic about what this workforce can accomplish in three or 4 years with just a few extra lottery picks. Lauri Markannen is already an All-Star stage participant, and three or 4 different gamers on this roster might attain that standing ultimately. It might pay dividends if Ainge is snug having a bad-to-mediocre workforce for just a few seasons.
