The NBA Western Convention appears large open, with seven groups having a strong case to win the title.
With coaching camps set to open in lower than a month, here’s a key query every Western Convention crew faces.
Final season’s data 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 time, most notably including five-time All-Star Klay Thompson, who received 4 championships with the Warriors. Although he isn’t the participant he as soon as was — blame Father Time and the damage bug — Thompson can nonetheless present elite motion taking pictures. Flanking one of many NBA’s greatest passers in Luka Doncic, with one of many technology’s greatest shooters, is, theoretically, a recipe for achievement. How a lot greater Thompson can carry Dallas depends 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 would possibly begin to imagine it, too.
Golden State Warriors (46-36): Can bench items change Thompson?
The summer time appeared 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 crew? In all probability not, however the Warriors are unattainable to depend 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 shall be within the rotation on opening evening, and if any of them are forward of schedule of their growth, Houston’s win whole is likely to be greater than some count on.
Los Angeles Clippers (51-31): What’s the perfect 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 a substitute of changing him with one other star, it picked up function gamers. Might these guys match higher and create a extra cohesive crew than we noticed throughout George’s tenure in L.A.? Positive, they may. However it is a stretch to assume this assortment of fellows — together with the remainder of the Clippers roster, which stays largely the identical as final season — shall 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 exhibits may have you imagine, the Lakers’ greatest query doesn’t contain Bronny James. As an alternative, their greatest uncertainty is whether or not this roster has one other stage it will possibly attain. (The reply might be no, regardless of its hiring of latest head coach JJ Redick.) There shall 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 crew 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 appears like a very long time since we watched Morant play — and even longer since Memphis was a Western Convention energy — however the Griz received 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 current tank fests, which means Memphis will trot out a strong beginning lineup with a famous person level guard and high quality backups. Memphis’ highway to rivalry has been unusual, but when Morant is the Morant we bear in mind, this crew’s ceiling is excessive.
Minnesota Timberwolves (56-26): Is Rob Dillingham a direct contributor?
Minnesota shall be good once more, in all probability very good. This lineup’s two-way versatility might be the perfect within the league. It solely is smart {that a} crew with this taking part in model added Dillingham, the guard from Kentucky who dominated on each ends in school. With Mike Conley coming into his 18th NBA season, Minnesota will doubtless lean on Dillingham to offer vital minutes as a backup guard. If he contributes instantly, he provides 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 doubtlessly the beginning heart, so get acquainted. After dropping Jonas Valanciunas to the Wizards (for some cause), 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 crew with difference-makers in all places else.
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (57-25): Have they got the perfect protection within the league?
There are numerous questions on this Thunder crew, 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 — probably the greatest 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 shall be depressing for opponents.
Phoenix Suns (49-33): Is Tyus Jones the savior?
No strain, Tyus. Phoenix has basically tried to run a crew with out a level guard the previous few seasons. Devin Booker has made a reasonably strong level guard impression (6.9 APG final season), however this crew 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… loads?
Issues have been bleak for Portland final season. They could get bleaker in 2024-25, however that is a constructive. Portland needs 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 a whole lot of dropping.
San Antonio Spurs (22-60): Are you able to say Wem-VP already?
Victor Wembanyama’s influence final season can’t be overstated. He wasn’t simply good. He was dominant a whole lot 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 is no such thing as a hyperbole on the subject of him.
Sacramento Kings (46-36): Does DeMar DeRozan do sufficient?
Sacramento did not overthink this summer time. A multi-time All-Star was accessible, so the Kings acquired him. That is just about all the time the suitable name. DeMar DeRozan’s match on the crew might be found out later, however he brings a dynamic that any NBA crew 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 lots for Jazz followers to be enthusiastic about what this crew can accomplish in three or 4 years with a number of extra lottery picks. Lauri Markannen is already an All-Star stage participant, and three or 4 different gamers on this roster may attain that standing ultimately. It may pay dividends if Ainge is snug having a bad-to-mediocre crew for a number of seasons.
