15. Houston Rockets
The Rockets and Spurs had the worst record in the Western Conference last season — maybe due to the battle for Victor Wembanyama — however, despite the additions of players like Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, it’s difficult not to bet against them finishing bottom of the west again.
New head coach Ime Udoka has been tasked with changing the culture of the franchise, as well as improvements on the hardwood but with the majority of the squad of the young side and a tough conference to navigate through, Tilman Fertitta and the rest of the Rockets leadership might have to be patient.
14. Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz and All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen were the surprise team of the first half of the last NBA season. For a team that was expected to be tanking, the Jazz finished just three games outside the play-in positions on the Western Conference standings thanks to outstanding performances from Markannen.
However, with a somewhat improved Western Conference and no Wembanyama to tank for, Will Hardy and his troops could go about their rebuilding mission without any interference. The team picked up John Collins from the Hawks during the offseason but his addition barely moves the needle for them in terms of improvement.
13. Portland Trail Blazers
It’s definitely a changing of the guard or a passing of the baton in Portland, as for the first time in 11 years, the team will be without their leader and superstar point guard Damian Lillard. It’s obvious the Trail Blazers are in a rebuild mode and Lillard wanted no part of it.
The 3rd overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft Scott Henderson is expected to be handed keys to the franchise and could end up creating an exciting backcourt partnership with Anfernee Simons. The Blazers have a somewhat experienced collection of players like Deandre Ayton, Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and Jerami Grant but with trade rumors surrounding some of those players, it's a tough task for the young core to ruffle some feathers in the West.
12. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs won the “tank wars” last season, getting the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and getting a generational talent in Victor Wembanyama in the process. However, expecting the 19-year-old Frenchman to push Gregg Popovich’s side up the ladder in rookie season is a steep task.
The lack of a good point guard in a very young roster leaves the team with less than they need to return to their glory days of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. But with Popovich at the helm of affairs and the team not expected to tank, you would expect them to be respectable and not finish at the bottom of the Western Conference like they did last time out.
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
Yes, they have Anthony Edwards, the new media darling of the American pundits and ex-NBA players. However, they also have a lot of flaws and lack leadership. This is meant to be Karl-Anthony Towns’ team but the former first overall pick has struggled to show leadership on and off the court, leading many to suggest the keys be handed to Edwards.
The Timberwolves made the playoffs last season but could struggle to repeat that feat (8th-place finish) due to a poorly constructed roster and the improvement of the other teams.
10. New Orleans Pelicans
The question surrounding the Pelicans remains, will Zion Williamson be healthy throughout the season? And will he provide Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum the required help to take this team to the next level? The 2019 number one overall pick can be the difference maker for the Pelicans in a competitive Western Conference, whether or not he wants the challenge remains to be seen. However, it’s obvious that Willie Green’s side needs him if they’re to become a team to be reckoned with in the conference.
9. Sacramento Kings
The Kings were the surprise package of the entire NBA last season, as they finished third in the Western Conference in Mike Brown’s first season as the team’s head coach. An exciting seven-game playoff loss to the Warriors followed, but fans of the team were finally excited to see their team being competitive after more than a decade of mediocre performances.
The disadvantage of last season’s progress means the California-based team won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time around and will likely have a target on their backs for each game. The team retains its excellent young core of players from last season but with the competition getting tougher in the West, it’s almost impossible to see them repeating last season’s third-place finish.
8. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies might have lost their tag as the “bad boys” of the NBA following the exit of Dillon Brooks however, they did make some impressive experienced additions this off-season with the acquisition of Derrick Rose and Marcus Smart. The return to full fitness of Steven Adams is also a huge boost to the team but with Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games, any chance of the Grizzlies repeating their second-place finish from last season is nigh-impossible.
Morant was suspended for conduct detrimental to the league and his influence on this Grizzlies team is not to be underestimated. And when you consider they play in the West, a lot can happen in 25 games.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder might have accumulated more first-round picks than the Lakers and Clippers combined would have over the next five years, but credit has to go to Sam Presti and the rest of the front office for how well they’ve drafted players over the last few years. Mark Daigneault’s side showed last season that you can win games whilst rebuilding your team and with the return of 2022 second overall pick Chet Holmgren from an injury that ruled him out of the entirety of last season, it’s easy to why OKC is a lot of pundits’ dark horse in the western conference.
6. Dallas Mavericks
Unlike the "big Aristotle himself" Shaquille O'Neal, I’m not buying into the idea that the Mavericks will end the upcoming season as NBA champions. Jason Kidd’s side willingly pulled out of —for lack of a better way to describe the debacle that happened— the playoffs at the end of the regular season to retain their first-round pick in the 2023 draft, leaving the duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic with early departures to Cancun.
The Mavs had no notable additions other than retaining the services of Kyrie —who traded for before the deadline last season. And with Doncic, they boast one of the best backcourts in the league that would’ve fans coming through the turnstiles whilst creating worries for rival fans.
5. Golden State Warriors
If there’s anything we learned from the 2022-23 season, it’s that you can’t bet against the Warriors. However, father-time remains undefeated, not that Steph Curry agrees with that but time looks to be closing on the big 3 of Curry, Klay, and Green.
A fit Chris Paul is definitely an upgrade on Jordan Poole but it's been ages since we last saw a fit Chris Paul in the playoffs. It's been interesting watching some of the young players on the team’s roster during the preseason, however, the Warriors’ failure to address their lack of size during the offseason will be a huge factor when they come up against some of the better teams in the western conference —especially during the playoffs.
4. Los Angeles Lakers
It was a shock to me when the Lakers refused to go after Kyrie Irving during free agency, opting to retain the majority of the team that made it to the Western Conference finals last season. Rob Pelinka’s decision to trade Russell Westbrook and shuffle the roster before the deadline back in February proved to be a genius move and the Lakers looked like a completely different side following the All-Star break.
LeBron James has once again reiterated that Anthony Davis is the face of the franchise and should the former Pelicans superstar stay healthy and play at the level we saw on most nights during the playoffs last season, the Lakers are expected to ride the momentum from last campaign into a top-four finish this season.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
You mention the Clippers in the NBA world and the question remains, will Kawhi Leonard and Paul George take the regular season more seriously? Head coach Tyrone Lue mentioned on the Barbershop show that he has demanded that his two stars show up and show out in the regular season, while Paul George said on his podcast that he plans to play “bully ball” this season.
The Clippers are in trade talks for James Harden as I write this but with or without the former MVP, the team has enough about itself to be one of the best teams in the league and not just in the Western Conference.
2. Phoenix Suns
Get the Suns a good point guard and I might have to reconsider my decision to rank them as the second-best team in the Western Conference. The lack of depth was a huge factor in their elimination at the hands of the Nuggets last season in the playoffs and with that addressed — thanks to the trade of Deandre Ayton — and the addition of Bradley Beal from the Wizards, the Suns have enough firepower in the league, when you put into consideration they still have Kevin Durant and Devin Booker on their roster.
The aim for the Suns this season is to win the title. Nothing else would satisfy team owner Mat Ishbia who has already shown his willingness to sacrifice the future to win now by making two huge trades for Durant and Beal. Ishbia has already fired Monty Williams, replacing him with Frank Vogel as the new head coach. Vogel knows only a title would satisfy his new boss and will be hoping to repeat his 2019-20 achievement of winning the championship as the Lakers head coach with the Suns this season.
1. Denver Nuggets
The defending champions might not be the bookies favorite to win it all this season but with an unstoppable Nikola Jokic and a bunch of impressive players around him, you can’t bet against the Nuggets coming out of the Western Conference.
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