SOUTHWEST DIVISION
DALLAS MAVERICKS
LAST SEASON: 24-58, missed playoffs
COACH: Rick Carlisle (11th season, 17th NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Dennis Smith Jr.
(15.2 ppg), G Wesley Matthews (12.7 ppg), F Harrison Barnes (18.9 ppg), F Luka Doncic (rookie), C DeAndre Jordan (12.0 ppg) KEY LOSSES: G Yogi Ferrell, F Doug McDermott KEY ADDITIONS: Doncic, Jordan
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Doncic, the third overall pick, is set to be the second straight teenager to start on opening night for the Mavs, following Smith. The former Euroleague MVP is also expected to contribute right away, perhaps even more than Smith did in a solid rookie season. Jordan’s rebounding is a component the Mavericks have lacked. They needed it badly enough that they happily welcomed the player who infamously agreed to join Dallas join three years only to change his mind before he could sign. That saga led to a two-year rebuilding job the Mavericks hope is over.
OUTLOOK: Carlisle is tired of losing coming off consecutive sub-.500 seasons for the first time in his 16-year coaching career. If Doncic makes the transition from Europe fairly smoothly and Smith continues to improve, the Mavericks should have a shot at a winning record. The playoffs might be a stretch.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
LAST SEASON: 6517, lost in Western Conference finals COACH: Mike D’Antoni (fourth season, 15th NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G James Harden (30.4 ppg), G Chris Paul (18.6 ppg), F P.J. Tucker, (6.1 ppg), F James Ennis (7.1 ppg), C Clint Capela (13.9 ppg)
KEY LOSSES: F Trevor Ariza, F Ryan Anderson, F Luc Mbah a Moute
KEY ADDITIONS: F Carmelo Anthony, Ennis, G Michael Carter-Williams
PLAYERS TO WATCH: A year after Anthony was not amenable to coming off the bench in Oklahoma City, the 10-time All-Star seems ready to accept a reserve role in Houston if it means helping the Rockets to a title. The addition of Anthony, along with Ennis to pick up the slack on defense Houston lost in Ariza, leaves the Rockets slightly better than they were a year ago when they lost to Golden State in the conference finals.
OUTLOOK: Harden, last year’s MVP, and Paul should be even better in their second year together, and Anthony adds a new dimension. Ennis will have to pair with Tucker to provide a defensive presence, and Capela must take another step this season after signing a $90 million contract this offseason if the Rockets hope to finally get past the Warriors and win their first title since back-to-back championships in 1994-95.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
LAST SEASON: 22-60, missed playoffs COACH: J.B. Bickerstaff (first season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: C Marc Gasol (17.2 ppg), G Mike Conley (17.1 ppg), F Kyle Anderson (7.9 ppg, Spurs), F JaMychal Green (10.3 ppg), G/F Dillon Brooks (11 ppg)
KEY LOSSES: G Tyreke Evans, G Mario Chalmers, G Ben McLemore, F Jarell Martin, F Deyonta Davis
KEY ADDITIONS: F/C Jaren Jackson Jr., Anderson, G/F Garrett Temple, F Omri Casspi, G Shelvin Mack
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Conley is healthy after surgery to fix his left heel, an injury that limited him to 12 games last season. Jackson just needs to follow up his summer league play that had people ready to re-rank the June draft order and move him up to No. 1 overall. Anderson must show he can do more after starting 67 games with the Spurs. And whether Chandler Parsons really, finally, is healthy is a big question.
OUTLOOK: A healthy Conley and Gasol gives the Grizzlies their key leaders and the chance to compete in the West. The goal is reaching the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons after snapping their franchisebest streak of seven straight berths last spring.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
LAST SEASON: 4834, lost in Western Conference semifinals
COACH: Alvin Gentry (fourth season, 16th NBA season) PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Elfrid Payton (12.7 ppg, Orlando/Phoenix), G Jrue Holiday (19 ppg), F E’Twaun Moore (12.5 ppg), F Anthony Davis, (28.1 ppg), C Julius Randle (16.1 ppg, Lakers)
KEY LOSSES: C-F DeMarcus Cousins, G Rajon Rondo KEY ADDITIONS: Randle, Payton
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Davis and Holiday played the best basketball of their careers last season and provide the Pelicans hope of returning to the playoffs. Holiday thrived last season when he was able to play more at shooting guard, allowing him to focus more on scoring and crunch-time defending than setting up the offense. The acquisition of Payton should allow Holiday to resume that role.
OUTLOOK: While it’s hard to replace Cousins and Rondo, general manager Dell Demps is hoping Randle and Payton wind up being better fits. Gentry has said he wants the Pelicans to play even faster than their NBA-leading pace last season.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
LAST SEASON: 4735, lost in Western Conference first round
COACH: Gregg Popovich (23rd season)
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE: G Patty Mills (12.0 ppg), G DeMar DeRozan (11.5 ppg, Toronto), F Rudy Gay (10.5 ppg), F LaMarcus Aldridge, (18.0 ppg), C Jakob Poeltl (7.2 ppg, Toronto)
KEY LOSSES: F Kawhi Leonard, G Manu Ginobili, G Tony Parker, G Danny Green
KEY ADDITIONS: DeRozan, Poeltl, F Marco Belinelli, G Lonnie Walker, C Chimezie Metu
PLAYERS TO WATCH: San Antonio’s backcourt will be key in determining how the team fares this season after PG Dejounte Murray tore his right ACL. DeRozan comes to San Antonio along with Poeltl after an unexpected trade by Toronto for Leonard and Green. DeRozan wanted to remain with the Raptors his entire career, so he felt betrayed and was upset by the trade initially. The 6-foot-7 guard has since embraced San Antonio and stated he will take his revenge out on the league this season.
OUTLOOK: The Spurs were third in the West most of last season despite not having their leading scorer and defender in Leonard for all but nine games. San Antonio adapted throughout the season in preparation for Leonard’s return, which never happened. In Leonard’s place is DeRozan, a four-time All-Star, who should provide Aldridge with the additional scoring punch the team lacked at times in the starting lineup.