Western Conference

Team outlooks in predicted order of finish

1. Golden State Warriors

2015-16: 73-9. Coming: Kevin Durant, David West, Zaza Pachulia, Damian Jones. Going: Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, Leandro Barbosa Brandon Rush.

After signing Durant to join All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Warriors could threaten the NBA record for regular-season wins they set last season. It will be considered a huge failure if all this talent doesn’t lead to a championship.

2. San Antonio Spurs

2015-16: 67-15. Coming: Pau Gasol, Joel Anthony, David Lee. Going: Tim Duncan, Boris Diaw, David West, Matt Bonner, Boban Marjanovic, Kevin Martin.

Life after Duncan begins. Kawhi Leonard is one of the league’s top players, LaMarcus Aldridge a tier below. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have many miles on their legs but will be relied on again. Gasol, 36, will feel the heat to help make up for Duncan’s absence.

3. Los Angeles Clippers

2015-16: 53-29. Coming: Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass, Alan Anderson, Raymond Felton, Brice Johnson. Going: Jeff Green, Pablo Prigioni, Cole Aldrich.

The Clippers are among a small group of teams that can challenge the Warriors on a given night. Their veteran core returns healthy — Blake Griffin and Chris Paul were injured in last spring’s first-round playoff exit — and DeAndre Jordan looked strong in the Olympics.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

2015-16: 44-38. Coming: Festus Ezeli, Shabazz Napier, Evan Turner. Going: Gerald Henderson.

The Blazers made solid moves to build around their talented backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Ezeli’s defensive presence at center was a big part of the Warriors’ 73-win season. Turner provides a big ballhandler who can free Lillard to play more off the ball.

5. Memphis Grizzlies

2015-16: 42-40. Coming: Coach David Fizdale, Chandler Parsons, Wade Baldwin IV, Troy Daniels. Going: Lance Stephenson, Matt Barnes, Beno Udrih.

It all depends on how Marc Gasol (broken foot) and Mike Conley Jr. (Achilles) recover from last season’s injuries. Parsons also missed the preseason after knee surgery. Fizdale moved Zach Randolph to the second unit to let him work against inferior post defenders.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

2015-16: 55-27. Coming: Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova, Domantas Sabonis, Ronnie Price. Going: Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Dion Waiters.

Russell Westbrook can say this season isn’t about revenge, but Durant left the Thunder for a team they nearly beat in the West finals. Westbrook welcomes Oladipo, 24, as his new backcourt mate and rookie Sabonis as a sound pick-and-roll option.

7. Utah Jazz

2015-16: 40-42. Coming: George Hill, Joe Johnson, Boris Diaw. Going: Trevor Booker, Trey Burke.

Gordon Hayward is out until mid-November with a fractured left ring finger. Frenchman Rudy Gobert, aka “The Stifle Tower,” will continue to defend the rim. Hill finally gives the Jazz a stable point guard, and Johnson and Diaw add experience.

8. Houston Rockets

2015-16: 41-41. Coming: Coach Mike D’Antoni, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Nene, Tyler Ennis. Going: Dwight Howard, Terrence Jones, Jason Terry, Josh Smith, Michael Beasley.

D’Antoni moved James Harden to point guard, and who knows what this offense will be capable of. It’s possible the Rockets will set the all-time record for 3-point attempts in a season. With Howard gone, though, any thought of rim defense will be a dim memory.

9. Dallas Mavericks

2015-16: 42-40. Coming: Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Seth Curry, Quincy Acy, A.J. Hammons. Going: Chandler Parsons, Zaza Pachulia, Raymond Felton, Charlie Villanueva.

In Barnes and Bogut, the Mavs welcome two players who started for the Warriors last season. Dirk Nowitzki averaged 18.3 points last season and shows few signs he’ll slow down in his 19th season. Barnes will be asked to be a dependable scorer for the first time in his career.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

2015-16: 29-53. Coming: Coach Tom Thibodeau, Kris Dunn, Jordan Hill, Brandon Rush, Cole Aldrich. Going: Kevin Garnett, Tayshaun Prince.

The Timberwolves added Dunn, considered the best point guard of the rookie class, to their young nucleus. If his development is speedy, they should see increased production from former No. 1 picks Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

11. Denver Nuggets

2015-16: 33-49. Coming: Jamal Murray, Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, Nate Wolters. Going: D.J. Augustin.

The Nuggets plan to play centers Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic together. Both can go off the dribble and are reliable rim protectors. A more mature Emmanuel Mudiay at point guard should keep them moving in a positive direction.

12. New Orleans Pelicans

2015-16: 30-52. Coming: Terrence Jones, Lance Stephenson, Buddy Hield, Solomon Hill, Langston Galloway. Going: Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Toney Douglas, Luke Babbitt, Kendrick Perkins.

Anthony Davis averaged 24.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in 61 games last season, but the Pelicans were 14th in scoring. Adding Stephenson and Jones doesn’t form the supporting cast Davis needs.

13. Phoenix Suns

2015-16: 23-59. Coming: Dragan Bender, Leandro Barbosa, Jared Dudley, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis. Going: Mirza Teletovic, Chase Budinger, Ronnie Price.

The Suns used lottery picks on Bender and Chriss to shore up the frontcourt. There is talent in the backcourt with Devin Booker, Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, but coach Earl Watson needs to figure out their minutes.

14. Los Angeles Lakers

2015-16: 17-65. Coming: Coach Luke Walton, Brandon Ingram, Luol Deng, Timofey Mozgov, Jose Calderon. Going: Kobe Bryant, Brandon Bass, Roy Hibbert.

Coming off a franchise-low win total, the Lakers should be better, even with Walton ready to accept the drawbacks of a rebuild. The nucleus of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Ingram offers a chance to grow together.

15. Sacramento Kings

2015-16: 33-49. Coming: Arron Afflalo, Georgios Papagiannis, Matt Barnes, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Tolliver, Ty Lawson. Going: Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli, Seth Curry.

Point guard Darren Collison will miss eight games after pleading guilty to domestic battery; Lawson and Farmar will help fill the void. It’s nearly impossible to keep DeMarcus Cousins happy for a whole season — or a whole game — and this roster won’t change that.