PACIFIC DIVISION
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
LAST SEASON: 58-24, NBA champions
COACH: Steve Kerr (fifth season) PROJECTED STARTING
FIVE: G Stephen Curry (26.4 ppg), G Klay Thompson (20.0 ppg), F Kevin Durant (26.4 ppg), F Draymond Green (11.0 ppg), C Kevon Looney (4.0 ppg)
KEY LOSSES: C JaVale McGee, C David West, C Zaza Pachulia
KEY ADDITIONS: C DeMarcus Cousins, G Damion Lee, G Jacob Evans, F Jonas Jerebko
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Once Cousins returns to full health after left Achilles tendon surgery, the Warriors could have an all-All-Star starting five. Jordan Bell and Looney will be more heavily featured in Kerr’s rotations given the departures of McGee, West and Pachulia.
OUTLOOK: With two straight titles and three in the past four years, Kerr has been stressing that his players must enjoy their time together because there are no guarantees of what could come after this season — with unsettled contract situations for Durant, Green and Thompson to name a few. Durant has captured the past two NBA Finals MVPs. With LeBron James now on the Lakers after four straight finals against Golden State with Cleveland, has the West made big enough offseason strides to keep up with the star-studded Warriors?
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
LAST SEASON: 42-40, missed playoffs
COACH: Doc Rivers (sixth season, 20th NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING
FIVE: F Tobias Harris
(18.6 ppg), G Patrick Beverley (12.2 ppg), C Marcin Gortat (8.4 ppg, Washington), F Danilo Gallinari (15.3 ppg), G Avery Bradley (14.3 ppg)
KEY LOSSES: C DeAndre Jordan, F Blake Griffin, G Austin Rivers
KEY ADDITIONS: Gortat, F Luc Mbah a Moute, F Mike Scott, G Shai Gilgeous Alexander, G Jerome Robinson
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Harris will look to build on the promise he showed after coming over in the Griffin trade. Gortat takes over from the departed Jordan in the middle.
OUTLOOK: With Jordan, Griffin and Chris Paul cleared out, the Clippers lack a star player. This group’s biggest priority will be to stay healthy after injuries decimated the roster last season and forced Rivers to start an NBA-leading 37 different lineups. Beverley has said the Clippers will hang their hat on defense.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
LAST SEASON: 35-47, missed playoffs
COACH: Luke Walton (third season) PROJECTED STARTING
FIVE: G Rajon Rondo
(8.3 ppg, New Orleans),
G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (13.4 ppg), F Brandon Ingram (16.1 ppg), F LeBron James, (27.5 ppg, Cleveland), C JaVale McGee (4.8 ppg, Golden State)
KEY LOSSES: F Julius Randle, G Isaiah Thomas, C Brook Lopez
KEY ADDITIONS: James, Rondo, McGee, G Lance Stephenson, F Michael Beasley
PLAYERS TO WATCH: The biggest star in basketball joined this glamorous franchise as a free agent. After appearing in eight straight NBA Finals and winning three titles, James accepted the challenge of starting over on the West Coast with several fellow veteran newcomers and a fairly talented young Lakers core.
OUTLOOK: James’ ability to carry a team is unquestionable, and he arguably succeeded with less help in Cleveland than he should get from these Lakers. No serious observers believe the Lakers can compete with Golden State or join Houston and Boston as true contenders for the Warriors’ throne, but ending the Lakers’ franchise-record fiveyear playoff drought would be a promising start to the LeBron era.
PHOENIX SUNS
LAST SEASON: 21-61, missed playoffs
COACH: Igor Kokoskov (first season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Devin Booker
(24.9 ppg), G Shaquille Harrison (6.6 ppg), F Trevor Ariza (11.7 ppg, Houston), F Ryan Anderson (9.3 ppg), C Deandre Ayton (rookie, 20.1 ppg at Arizona)
KEY LOSSES: F Marquese Chriss, C Alex Len, F Jared Dudley
KEY ADDITIONS: Ariza, Anderson, Ayton, G Mikhal Bridges
PLAYERS TO WATCH: First and foremost is Ayton, the 7-foot-1 big man chosen No. 1 overall in the draft. Kokoskov sees him as a rim protector on defense, and he possesses a soft outside touch to go with bruising, athletic inside moves. The question is how he handles the much tougher world of the NBA. Also, Booker. He underwent hand surgery and missed the preseason, although he did a lot of left-handed workouts. He wants to be back by the season opener and is anxious to prove he was worth the fiveyear, $158 million contract he signed in the offseason.
OUTLOOK: It’s been a long time since this franchise was relevant and there is more turmoil as this season begins. Nine days before the opener, Suns owner Robert Sarver fired GM Ryan McDonough. There is no true proven point guard on the roster and who knows whether the team can find one. It’s hard to see that eight-year absence from the postseason ending anytime soon.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
LAST SEASON: 27-55, missed playoffs
COACH: Dave Joerger (third season, sixth NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING
FIVE: G De’Aaron Fox
(11.6 ppg), G Buddy Hield (13.5 ppg), F Justin Jackson (6.7 ppg), F Marvin Bagley III (rookie, Duke), C Willie Cauley-Stein (12.8 ppg) KEY LOSSES: G George Hill, F Garrett Temple, G Vince Coleman
KEY ADDITIONS: Bagley, G Ben McLemore, F Nemanja Bjelica
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Joerger declared Fox to be Sacramento’s franchise player and is building the offense around the young point guard. Fox had flashes of brilliance during an up-and-down rookie season but has more scoring help this year. Bagley will start at power forward and may see significant time in the post when the Kings go with a smaller lineup. OUTLOOK: The Kings have a lot of work to do to end their 12-year postseason drought. There are question marks across the board, specifically regarding defense and rebounding.