NBA Swing: A Question for Every Team: Western Conference

Read Time:16 Minute, 35 Second

The 2024 offseason saw big moves in the Western Conference. Paul George would leave the Los Angeles Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers, dealing a big blow to the Clippers. One of the most surprising moves of the offseason would see Klay Thompson leave the Golden State Warriors after over a decade of championship success, being a key member of the Warriors dynasty. As the 2024-25 season grows nearer, there are many questions to be asked as nearly half the conference can make a case to be a championship contender while several other teams are looking towards the 2025 NBA Draft.

Dallas Mavericks: Can they repeat last season’s success?

Finishing with a 50-32 record (fifth best in the West), hopes were high for the Dallas Mavericks. Nobody could’ve predicted the playoff run they would have. Eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, eliminating the first-seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, and beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, the Mavs reached the Finals for the first time since 2011.

The team would lose to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in five games but would have one of the best offseasons in the league. The biggest addition would be veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson. Other notable additions would include Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes, and Spencer Dinwiddie. Via FanDuel Sportsbook, the Mavs currently have the fifth-best odds of winning the 2025 NBA Championship. The West has only continued to get stronger, especially at the top, but as the Mavs just proved, they have what it takes to play in June.

Denver Nuggets: Are they still a legitimate championship contender?

Many thought the Nuggets would repeat as champions, but the team would be eliminated in the second round in seven games by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. would underperform, playing some of their worst basketball all season. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic would dominate as usual but was not able to carry the team alone.

This offseason, Denver would lose another key member of the championship roster in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, with Christian Braun expected to take his starting spot. The team would lose rookie DaRon Holmes to an injury, already affecting their depth going forward. The biggest addition of the offseason would be Russell Westbrook, but many have questioned his fit with the team. With other teams around the Nuggets getting better, do they have what it takes to remain a legitimate championship contender, or will Nikola Jokic once again have to carry the team to a deep playoff run?

Golden State Warriors: Will they make a big in-season trade?

No team had a worse offseason than the Golden State Warriors. The team would lose their second-best player and one-half of the splash bros in Klay Thompson. The Warriors would also miss out on multiple All-Stars and superstars in Paul George and Lauri Markkanen. Golden State would make several offseason moves, most importantly signing Stephen Curry to an extension. Roster additions would include Buddy Hield and Kyle Anderson. The Warriors spent much of the offseason trying to trade for Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen but would not land him. Reports would come out that the Warriors were not looking to give young star Jonathan Kuminga a rookie max extension, along with rumors the Warriors are looking to make a big trade this upcoming season to add another superstar next to Steph,

Recent rumors and reports have suggested the Warriors have an interest in Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler and Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. While Giannis joining the Warriors this season seems very unlikely unless he demands a trade to the team, a Butler trade might be possible. With Steph nearing the end of his prime, this may be the last chance for the Warriors to make a championship run with their superstar.

Houston Rockets: Which young star will be extended?

For the first time since James Harden left, the Houston Rockets are getting attention from the basketball world. The team would be led by their two young stars Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. Sengun would average 21.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 5.0 APG in 63 games while Green would average 19.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 82 games. While many are expecting the Rockets to take another step this upcoming season, there are questions about the futures of their young stars. Both young stars have tremendous potential, but can they play together?

When Sengun missed significant time late in the season due to an injury, Green would become the primary scorer, averaging 24.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 4.0 APG in the last 25 games of the season. With both players set to become restricted free agents next summer, the Rockets may have a tough decision to make regarding who to extend. Having drafted Kentucky guard Reed Shepard, who shined during the Summer League, many are questioning if the Rockets see him as the point guard of the future over Green. With the team running out of time to decide before the beginning of the 2024-25 season, the two star’s performances throughout the season may decide if one, both, or neither receives new contract offers from Houston.

Los Angeles Clippers: How many steps back do they take?

The Los Angeles Clippers would have one of the tougher offseasons, losing superstar Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers. The team would sign Kawhi Leonard to an extension and re-sign James Harden early in free agency. Losing PG would be a huge hit for them, losing one of the best forwards in the league. The Clips would make several additions during the offseason including Mo Bamba, Nicolas Batum, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr., but the team does not feel like the powerhouse it was once thought it could be.

It is expected that Kawhi Leonard will miss sometime during the season and Harden has been on the decline. Lacking that third star, the Clippers could be on the decline as well. Finishing as the fourth seed last season and teams around them getting better, could they be into Play-In range, or could they fall out of playoff contention completely? Fox Sports currently predicts the Clippers to win 41 games, 10 wins less than the 2023-24 season, and projects them to finish 11th in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers: Are LeBron’s final seasons being wasted?

Entering year 22, LeBron James is in the final couple of years of his career. Since the Los Angeles Lakers won the championship in 2020, the Lakers have not been able to reach the same heights. The Lakers would miss the playoffs one season, lose in the first round two seasons, and make the conference finals in 2023. Despite having Anthony Davis as a teammate, LeBron has not had much help at times. Players like Russell Westbrook would be traded to the Lakers to form a big three that would end up failing. After a first-round exit in the 2024 playoffs, the Lakers would fire head coach Darvin Ham and hire J.J. Redick. The team would make very few moves during the offseason, drafting Dalton Knecht, drafting LeBron’s son Bronny James, re-signed Max Christie, and signing Christian Koloko to a two-way contract. Expectations for the Lakers this upcoming season are like the 2023-24 season, landing around Play-In contention.

With the top half of the West stacked, it would be very difficult for the Lakers to land a legitimate playoff spot. While it’s unlikely LeBron will request a trade if the team has a bad start to the season, rumors and reports suggested the Golden State Warriors were trying to trade for James. If LeBron wants to win another championship before calling it quits on his career, requesting a trade may be a smart option when it’s highly unlike that he’ll win another championship in Los Angeles.

Memphis Grizzlies: Can they return to previous heights?

After a 51-31 finish in the 2022-23 season, the Grizzlies had a major fall off. Ja Morant missed the first 25 games of the season before returning to play only a handful of games before having a season-ending shoulder surgery. Demond Bane would miss 40 games and trade acquisition Marcus Smart would miss 60 games. In total, 33 players suited up for the Grizzlies during the 2023-24 season. Memphis would find a hidden gem for the team in GG Jackson Jr. who would average 14.6 PPG in 48 games. This season, the team is expected to be healthy. Ja Morant is expected to have put his past off-the-court issues behind him. Can the Grizzlies return to the level of play they were at just two seasons ago? With teams like Dallas, OKC, and Minnesota becoming legitimate contenders over the last couple of years, it may be difficult for Memphis to reach those heights again. At the same time, several conference foes taking a step back could allow them to finish in the top tier in the West.

On the court, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a breakout season, led by Anthony Edwards. The team would finish 56-26, the third-best record in the West. The Wolves would sweep the Suns in the first round before beating the defending champion Nuggets in seven games. They would lose to the Mavericks in five games in the Western Conference Finals, but they had a tremendous season overall. Heading into the 2024-25 season, the expectation is that the Wolves will only get better. Off the court, the Wolves are dealing with an ownership battle. The controlling owner of the team, Glen Taylor, is locked into a legal battle with Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore over ownership of the team. According to a report from Sportico, the two parties agreed on a deal of around $1.5 Billion but the deal reportedly fell apart. Taylor would claim that Rodriguez and Lore violated the agreement and it should be voided while the two claim they did not violate the agreement, and the deal should be finished. Although the NBA has stayed away from the conflict, they have been subpoenaed by Glen Taylor as the two parties are set to go to arbitration in November. With the ownership more likely to become public, could this affect the team’s play on the court?

New Orleans Pelicans: Is this Zion’s year or do the Pelicans begin to turn on him?

Since being drafted first overall in 2019, Zion Williamson has been seen as one of the future pillars of the NBA. Unfortunately for Zion, his career has been off to a very rough start. In his rookie season, he would play only 24 games, followed by 61 in his second season, no games in his third season, 29 in his fourth season, and 70 during the 2023-24 season. He would be injured during the Pelicans ‘ couple of playoff runs. Heading into the 2024-25 season, Zion is expected to be healthy, losing notable weight during the offseason. Averaging 24.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 4.1 APG throughout his young career, a healthy Zion could easily be one of the best players in the league.

His weight loss could be the key to a healthy season, putting less stress on his lower body, where almost all his injuries have taken place. With recent changes to the Pelicans roster and more expected to come with Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans success goes through Zion Williamson first and foremost. If the Pelicans get off to a bad start or completely fall apart, does Zion start to take most of the blame? Being labeled as injury-prone and even being named in rumors of the last couple of seasons, would the Pelicans have to consider a potential direction change if the 2024-25 season ends in disappointment?

Oklahoma City Thunder: Rebuilding to champions?

After a short rebuilding phase, the Oklahoma City Thunder would finish as the 10th seed with a 40-42 record. Last season, the Thunder would finish as the first seed in the West with a 57-25 record. The team would lose in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks but would immediately be seen as a legitimate championship contender. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would finish second in MVP voting, Chet Holmgren would finish second in Rookie of the Year voting and Jalen Williams would have a breakout sophomore year.

Having several young stars on rookie deals, the Thunder have been able to stack their roster in hopes of winning a championship. First, the Thunder would trade Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for two-time All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso. In free agency, the Thunder would sign big man Isaiah Hartenstein away from the New York Knicks. Many believe the Thunder to be the team most likely to come out of the West, with FanDuel Sportsbook giving OKC the second-best odds to win the championship behind the Boston Celtics. If OKC can win the 2025 championship, they will have gone from a rebuilding team to a champion in just five seasons.

Phoenix Suns: Will they be forced into a rebuild if they don’t succeed?

In an era where the “big three team” is no longer the best blueprint for winning a championship, the Phoenix Suns are in a difficult spot. The team would win 49 games last season but would be swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bradley Beal would miss 29 games and would also take a step back compared to his time in Washington. With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement going into effect, the Phoenix Suns are one of the teams most impacted by the new CBA. With teams around the Suns getting better and the team not able to do much, will they be forced into a rebuild if they fall short of expectations again?

Booker will be a free agent in 2028 while Durant will be one in 2026. Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause and has a player option for the 2027-28 season. If the Suns make a move, it would most likely be Kevin Durant. Set to be 36 by the team the 2024-25 season starts, Durant has not slowed down but is nearing the last chapter of his career. Many believed Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards could have been trying to recruit Durant during the Olympics, but that is not a guarantee. It is unlikely the Suns would trade Booker unless he requested a trade. Not being able to make many of the moves other teams can due to CBA limits and lacking future draft capital, trading away a superstar may be only choice chance for Phoenix to avoid a full rebuild.

Portland Trailblazers: A veteran fire sale to help rebuild?

Trading Damian Lillard just days before the beginning of training camp for the 2023-24 season, the Blazers committed to a rebuild. Receiving Jrue Holiday in return. They would end up flipping the vet to the Celtics for a package including. Robert Williams III, with the addition of Jrue Holiday pl,ayed a significant role in the Celtics 2024 championship. Now heading into the 2024-25 season, the Blazers are expected to be one of the worst teams in the league, hoping to land Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. Having multiple veterans on the roster who could help the team win games, could they trade those vets to lose more games? Names like Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, and Devonte Graham are all vets who could be valuable to contenders and teams looking to move into championship contention. With other teams looking to tank for the 2025 NBA Draft, it may be in Portland’s best interest to trade away as many vets as they can to better their draft lottery chances.

Sacramento Kings: How high does DeMar DeRozan raise the team’s ceiling?

Following a 48-34 finish (third in the West) and making the playoffs for the first time in nearly 20 years, the Sacramento Kings made the playoffs. Last season, they would finish with two fewer wins, finishing as the ninth seed in the West. The Kings would land in the Play-In Tournament, winning their first game and losing the second. In the offseason, the Kings would make two important moves, first re-signing Malik Monk, and second signing DeMar DeRozan via a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.

During his time in Chicago, DeRozan would be a two-time All-Star, averaging 25.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 5.1 APG. Joining a team featuring two other All-Stars in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, how much higher can the DeRozan elevate the Kings? With multiple teams in the second tier of the West getting better, it will be a tight race for the final playoff and Play-In spots. Losing two more games last season compared to the season before, the Kings went from playoff lock to Play-In exit. While DeMar could help the team reach the playoffs again, it’s not a guarantee it will happen in a stacked Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs: Are the Spurs playoff-bound?

In his rookie season, Victor Wembanyama took the league by storm, meeting all the expectations the basketball world had for him prior to being drafted. Despite finishing with a 22-60 record, the Spurs showed some promise. This offseason, the Spurs have made several smaller, but very notable moves. The biggest of those moves would be signing now 19-year veteran Chris Paul. While CP3 has been on the decline in recent years, the Chris Paul effect is real. Now having one of the best distributors in the league, Wemby is expected to take another leap. In addition, the Spurs also acquired veteran Harrison Barnes via a three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls. A solid wing who has averaged double-digit points, Barnes could be great addition for a rather young team. With young players including Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, and rookie Stephon Castle, the Spurs could be a surprise playoff hopeful this upcoming season.

Utah Jazz: Is a quick rebuild possible?

Currently in the middle of a rebuild, the Utah Jazz are expected to be one of the worse teams in the league this upcoming season. This offseason, the Jazz would make an important move, signing forward Lauri Markkanen to a four-year, $195 Million max extension, despite the multiple offers for Markkanen from the Golden State Warriors. Having locked in their centerpiece to a new deal, the Jazz are looking for another star to pair with him. There were rumors of a potential trade for Chicago Bulls guard Zach Lavine, but those were quickly dismissed.

Could the Jazz accelerate a rebuild with an unexpected trade for a star? Between 2025 and 2030, the Jazz have 14 first-round picks, with many of those picks coming from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers via the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades. Seeing the New York Knicks make a massive trade for Mikal Bridges this offseason (which included numerous first-round picks), could the Jazz do the same thing to accelerate their rebuild? While teams like the Chicago Bulls have failed at an accelerated rebuild, the Jazz have a war chest of assets, lowering the overall risk of a failed accelerated rebuild.