La La landings
Clippers, Lakers lure star attractions as West loads up even with Warriors slipping
1. Clippers
Last season: 48-34, lost in first round. Key additions: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George. Key departures: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari. Outlook: Only a few seasons removed from the end of the Lob City era, the Clippers were rebuilt into a solid playoff team strong enough to lure the two-time Finals MVP to sign on, bringing Paul George with him. Kawhi Leonard took the Raptors to last season’s title, setting the bar for the Clippers this season, joining a spectacularly deep team with Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell coming off the bench. George, Leonard and Pat Beverley should give the Clippers a phenomenal defensive team. Maurice Harkless, JaMychal Green and Landry Shamet are solid role players. Leonard seems to want less load management time this season, but George will need time to get his shoulders right.
2. Bucks
Last season: 60-22, lost in Eastern Conference finals.
Key additions: Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez.
Key departures: Malcolm Brogdon, Nikola Mirotic.
Outlook: The Bucks could go either way after a 60-win season, though if things get any better that might mean a championship run. While MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo keeps getting better, the Bucks will need even more from Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton. The Bucks will miss Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic, though Wesley Matthews was a good pickup. The defense should remain among the NBA’s best.
3. Nuggets
Last season: 54-28, lost in second round.
Key additions: Jerami Grant, Michael Porter Jr.
Key departures: None.
Outlook: Nikola Jokic’s incredibly well-rounded game brings memories of Bill Walton leading the Blazers to the championship more than 40 years ago, but the Nuggets are deep and balanced around him. Jamal Murray might need to be a reliable second star, but the Nuggets have so many weapons, with Gary Harris, Paul Milsap, Will Barton, Monte Morris, Malik Beasley and Torrey Craig they score consistently. To that they add Michael Porter Jr. coming off his rookie redshirt season and Jerami Grant, perhaps the most underrated offseason addition in the league.
4. Lakers
Last season: 37-45.
Key additions: Anthony Davis, Danny Green, Dwight Howard.
Key departures: Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram.
Outlook: The Lakers might not drive hard to get to 60 wins but belong in the argument as a team to beat for the championship. A rare short season for LeBron James could benefit him this season, and Anthony Davis has a great deal to prove after years considered among the league’s best players, though without the postseason success to prove it. For all it took to get Davis, the Lakers can keep their superstars surrounded by Danny Green, Avery Bradley and Kyle Kuzma, with Dwight Howard in a role limited enough for him to go from celebrated to reviled and back again in Staples Center.
5. Rockets
Last season: 53-29, lost in second round.
Key additions: Russell Westbrook, Tyson Chandler, Thabo Sefolosha, Ben McLemore.
Key departures: Chris Paul.
Outlook: Getting everything out of Russell Westbrook that he can bring could take time, but the freedom Mike D’Antoni gives players to do what they do best should allow the reunion of Westbrook and Harden to work. The Rockets’ top five players — with Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela joining the MVP guards — rivals any in the league, but they will need the second unit to step up the way it did in the 65-win 2017-18 season.
6. Jazz
Last season: 50-32, lost in second round.
Key additions: Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jeff Green.
Key departures: Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, Jae Crowder.
Outlook: The Jazz combination of elite defense and execution of Quin Snyder’s offense made them a solid playoff team. But aspiring to more, they made two shrewd additions. Mike Conley could be the perfect point guard to play next to Donovan Mitchell. Bojan Bogdanovic, who took off in Indianapolis after Victor Oladipo’s injury, should excel with the Jazz. No one protects the rim better than Rudy Gobert, but more will fall on his shoulders with the departure of Derrick Favors.
7. 76ers
Last season: 51-31, lost in second round.
Key additions: Al Horford, Josh Richardson.
Key departures: Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick.
Outlook: The trades for Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris appeared to give the Sixers a championship starting five, but Philadelphia still seemed destined to go only as far as Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can take them. That is even more so now, but Al Horford solidifies everything around him. Harris and Josh Richardson will likely need to give the Sixers the shooting to make up for the departure of J.J. Redick, but they will have to find answers to close games, particularly in the postseason, along the way.
8. Trail Blazers
Last season: 53-29, lost in Western Conference finals.
Key additions: Kent Bazemore, Hassan Whiteside.
Key departures: Al-Farouq Aminu, Evan Turner, Myers Leonard.
Outlook: In many ways, the Blazers demonstrate how loaded the Western Conference has become. They could be better than last season when they were the third seed and reached the conference finals and still could slip in the standings this season. Though the Blazers still happily rely on their elite backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the change-of-scenery play of Hassan Whiteside and continued growth of Zach Collins is crucial. Evan Turner’s playmaking off the bench will be missed, but Kent Bazemore’s shooting was needed.
9. Warriors
Last season: 57-25, lost in NBA Finals.
Key additions: DeAngelo Russell.
Key departures: Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala.
Outlook: It has been a while since anyone doubted a team with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. They seem to like it this way, if only for a change. Eventually Klay Thompson will return. By then, DeAngelo Russell should have had enough time to adjust. That will give the Warriors four All-Stars as usual. But until then, the Warriors will need Curry to make a run at another MVP and Green at another Defensive Player of the Year.
10. Celtics
Last season: 49-33, lost in second round.
Key additions: Kemba Walker, Enes Kanter.
Key departures: Al Horford,
Kyrie Irving, Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris.
Outlook: For all the attention devoted to the departure of Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker should provide ample scoring along with a sunnier presence. Losing Horford, however, forces the Celtics to count on some combination of Enes Kanter, Daniel Theis and Robert Williams. Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown provide more than enough on the perimeter, but all the retooling of the roster and roles will take time to work through.
11. Raptors
Last season: 58-24, won NBA championship.
Key additions: Rondae HollisJefferson, Stanley Johnson.
Key departures: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green.
Outlook: The champs might not be expected to repeat, but they are not likely to fall off too far. As much as Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green will be missed, the Raptors were exceedingly deep with prospects at their positions and had ample experience playing without Leonard last season, going 17-5 when he sat. While Pascal Siakam might need to step up to an All-Star level with Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol, some combination of Norman Powell, OG Anunoby and perhaps Rondae Hollis-Jefferson or Stanley Johnson will have to help on the wings. The depth, with Serge Ibaka and Fred Van Vleet, is still outstanding.
12. Spurs
Last season: 48-34, lost in first round.
Key additions: DeMarre Carroll, Trey Lyles.
Key departures: Davis Bertans.
Outlook: Perhaps this is the season the Spurs’ playoff streak, now at 22 seasons, ends. Don’t bet on it. The Spurs are easy to overlook because their key addition did not play last season. The Spurs return a healthy Dejounte Murray to a backcourt with Derrick White and Bryn Forbes. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge remain solid, productive former All-Stars, with Rudy Gay fitting in well with them.
13. Nets
Last season: 42-40, lost in first round.
Key additions: Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Durant, Garrett Temple.
Key departures: DeAngelo Russell.
Outlook: Kyrie Irving could flourish in the Nets’ high-paced style, especially with the freedom (with Kevin Durant out) to go one-onone where he excels. Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie already have produced in that system, with Joe Harris providing the range shooting and needed spacing. DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen should split time at center, but the Nets need Allen to develop into a rim-protection, rimrunning force.
14. Pelicans
Last season: 33-49.
Key additions: Zion Williamson, J.J. Redick, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Derrick Favors.
Key departures: Anthony Davis, Julius Randle.
Outlook: The Pelicans feel much like the Clippers when their signature stars departed. The difference is that with Zion Williamson, the Pelicans will not be overlooked. Williamson could pile up numbers even while finding his way. He will benefit from the shooting of J.J. Redick, E’Twaun Moore and Brandon Ingram. Derrick Favors will take care of the dirty work. Lonzo Ball will keep the pace at the Pels’ usual levels and maybe even faster. To all that, theys have Jrue Holiday to be the team’s best player so the celebrated first pick of the draft does not have to be.
15. Pacers
Last season: 48-34, lost in first round.
Key additions: Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren, Jeremy Lamb.
Key departures: Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic.
Outlook: Nothing can be as important as the return of Victor Oladipo, but the Pacers made some nice, under-the-radar moves, adding Malcolm Brogdon, T.J. Warren and Jeremy Lamb. The departures of Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic create voids to fill, but the Pacers were ready to rely on the combination of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis anyway. If they can excel when playing together, the Pacers might again surprise, the way they did when Oladipo went down last season.
16. Heat
Last season: 39-43.
Key additions: Jimmy Butler, Myers Leonard, Tyler Herro.
Key departures: Dwyane Wade, Josh Richardson, Hassan Whiteside.
Outlook: After years searching for a star since the end of the Big Three era, the Heat landed Rockets target Jimmy Butler and decided his celebrated if sometimes grating drive is a perfect fit for their cherished culture. The Heat will need Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow to step up into their roles. While Tyler Herro learns the ropes, it would not hurt if Goran Dragic and maybe even Dion Waiters have bounce-back seasons.
17. Magic
Last season: 42-40, lost in first round.
Key additions: Al-Farouq Aminu.
Key departures: Timofey Mozgov.
Outlook: The Magic rode a huge second half to a playoff appearance where things did not go so well. All-Star center Nikola Vucevic had a difficult first taste of the postseason, but the Magic thought enough of their potential to keep the nucleus of Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, D.J. Augustin and Terrence Ross intact. The hope for improvement comes from the expected growth of Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac.
18. Mavericks
Last season: 33-49.
Key additions: Kristaps Porzingis, Delon Wright, Seth Curry.
Key departures: Dirk Nowitzki.
Outlook: It is not difficult to see what Kristaps Porzingis was doing when he did not play last season, returning bulked up the way Giannis Antetokounmpo did last season. The timetable on Porzingis’ return to form, however, remains unpredictable. Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic looks to be a can’t-miss star. Delon Wright, Maxi Kleber, Seth Curry and Jalen Brunson are good fits that seem likely to grow with the Mavs’ young stars as Dallas moves on from the long Dirk Nowitzki era.
19. Thunder
Last season: 49-33, lost in first round.
Key additions: Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari.
Key departures: Russell Westbrook, Jerami Grant, Paul George.
Outlook: The Thunder began a massive rebuilding project by moving stars and collecting draft picks. More could come. But it is best not to doubt Chris Paul with something to prove. Unless other deals clean house, Paul should enjoy running pick-and-roll with Steven Adams and Danilo Gallinari, Terrence Ferguson will appreciate the shots Paul gets him, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder should benefit from playing with Paul.
20. Kings
Last season: 39-43.
Key additions: Trevor Ariza, Dewane Dedmon, Richaun Holmes.
Key departures: Willie CauleyStein.
Outlook:
The rapid growth of De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield brings greater hope than the Kings have had in years as they have wisely put shooting around Fox’s explosive quickness. In addition to Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Harrison Barnes and Trevor Ariza provide ample catch-and-shoot threats. Marvin Bagley III adds inside scoring. But as much as Luke Walton will have the Kings running and playing an entertaining style, they will have to improve defensively to keep up in the West.
21. Pistons
Last season: 41-41, lost in first round.
Key additions: Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris.
Key departures: Ish Smith.
Outlook: The Pistons broke through to reach the playoffs with Blake Griffin having an outstanding season while playing 75 games. He carries a heavy load, but the bench could be stronger with the additions of Derrick Rose and Markieff Morris. Andre Drummond remains a force on the boards and Luke Kennard showed potential to give the Pistons the range shooting they have badly needed. But it is difficult to see the Pistons making significant strides while depending on the core of Griffin, Drummond and Reggie Jackson.
22. Timberwolves
Last season: 33-49.
Key additions: Jarrett Culver.
Key departures: Taj Gibson, Derrick Rose, Dario Saric.
Outlook: General manager Gersson Rosas started rebuilding behind the scenes, giving the returning core time to show whether it can be the foundation of a winner. Karl-Anthony Towns will be a sensational offensive player, and there is still a chance for Andrew Wiggins to become efficient enough to grow into some of his potential. But the Wolves’ improvement must come on the defensive end. Robert Covington’s return from last season’s injury could help in that area as would the continued growth of Josh Okogie.
23. Hawks
Last season: 29-53.
Key additions: Evan Turner, De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Allen Crabbe.
Key departures: Kent Bazemore.
Outlook: The Hawks have been smartly rebuilt around Trae Young and John Collins, bringing hope that the latest additions De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish can be similar wise choices. Allen Crabbe and Evan Turner offer some depth, but the Hawks’ rebuild is still about the young talent. That means they will be fun and entertaining but not likely to defend well enough to secure a playoff spot.
24. Knicks
Last season: 17-65.
Key additions: Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, R.J. Barrett, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, Bobby Portis.
Key departures: Emmanuel Mudiay, Noah Vonleh, Mario Hezonja, DeAndre Jordan.
Outlook: Few could blame the Knicks for cleaning house after another horrible season. But after setting themselves up to bring in their future in free agency, they missed on the stars and instead brought in a busload of role players, most who play the same position. The players added are all solid veterans, so the Knicks should be improved. But the hope to fight for something more than cap space and lottery position remains with the young talent R.J. Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and perhaps Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr.
25. Bulls
Last season: 22-60.
Key additions: Tomas Satoransky, Thaddeus Young, Coby White.
Key departures: Robin Lopez.
Outlook: The Bulls made some solid, subtle additions in the offseason with Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young, but their potential is still tied to their former No. 7 picks, Wendell Carter, Jr. and Lauri Markkanen, and perhaps Zach LaVine. Otto Porter has shot exceedingly well since coming over from the Wizards, but the defense had been dreadful. Young should help with that, but Jim Boylen will have his hands full making significant strides.
26. Suns
Last season: 19-63.
Key additions: Ricky Rubio,
Dario Saric, Aron Baynes, Frank Kaminsky.
Key departures: Josh Jackson, T.J. Warren.
Outlook: The Suns finally have a reliable, veteran point guard. Ricky Rubio has some limitations, but he will happily work as a playmaker, freeing Devin Booker to do what he does best, not that he ever was shy about piling up numbers. Kelly Oubre and Tyler Johnson played well down the stretch, but much of the hope for the Suns to rise rests on Deandre Ayton. He was overshadowed by Luka Doncic and Trae Young last season but was a solid center to build around, enough for Booker to eventually have more 50-point games than 50- and 60-loss seasons.
27. Grizzlies
Last season: 33-49.
Key additions: Ja Morant, Jae Crowder, Brandon Clarke.
Key departures: Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons.
Outlook: The Ja and Jaren combination is a very good place to start, but the Grizzlies are making just their first steps in rebuilding. Jaren Jackson Jr. demonstrated his potential last season. Ja Morant appears to be a worthy successor to Mike Conley at the point. Jonas Valanciunas exceled after the trade deadline, and Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks and Bruno Caboclo could be worth keeping through the rebuild. The Grizzlies had Dwight Howard stop by in the summer to gain a few draft picks and hope to do the same with Andre Iguodala. That demonstrates the rebuilding mindset, but even if the Grizzlies are just chasing the most ping pong balls, there is already reason for optimism.
28. Cavaliers
Last season: 19-63.
Key additions: Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr.
Key departures: J.R. Smith.
Outlook: Collin Sexton quietly had a strong second half of the season, particularly showing promise to become a reliable scorer in the final two months. Darius Garland could duplicate some of what Sexton brings, but they also could form a strong backcourt for the future. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson remain from the championship team, and Cedi Osman shows signs of potential. It will be a long climb back, but the Cavs might he turning toward that direction.
29. Wizards
Last season: 32-50
Key additions: Isaiah Thomas, Rui Hachimura, Ish Smith, Davis Bertans.
Key departures: Tomas Satoransky, Trevor Ariza, Jeff Green.
Outlook: With John Wall to miss the entire season, it will be difficult for the Wizards to avoid tearing things down to rebuild. That would mean dealing Bradley Beal, but new general manager Tommy Sheppard has said the Wizards have no intention of trading their remaining star. Isaiah Thomas will have a chance to resurrect his career, but will not do anything for the Wizards’ awful defense. Ish Smith and Davis Bertans are solid role players, but the priority could be on developing Rui Hachimura while biding time before Wall’s return or a complete rebuild.
30. Hornets
Last season: 39-43.
Key additions: Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington.
Key departures: Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb.
Outlook: The Hornets could go either way, from dreadful but hopeful to in the chase for the worst record in the NBA. They are asking a lot of Terry Rozier to replace Kemba Walker, the leading scorer in franchise history. Comparisons will be unavoidable. But there are talented, young players to start the rebuilding process with a season to get a better idea of what Malik Monk, Mikal Bridges, P.J. Washington and Dwayne Bacon can become.