2021-22 NBA TEAM PREVIEWS WESTERN CONFERENCE
In most circumstances, when LeBron James is on a team, that team is expected to at least be in the hunt for a title. And when he is paired with superstar talent, those expectations can soar.
● So you can imagine the case this season. The Lakers are loaded with talent, starting with James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. Then there are veterans Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard. No wonder the Lakers are the clear-cut favorite to emerge from the Western Conference.
● But the West being the West, it won’t be a cakewalk. The Suns advanced to the NBA Finals last season and think they can return and finish the job. The Jazz believe they have a legitimate shot at a title as well.
● Here’s a look at what each team in the Western Conference can expect.
Dallas Mavericks
2020-21: 42-30 (first, Southwest) Lost to Clippers in Western first round
Coach: Jason Kidd – First season
What’s different? Dallas returns most of the top of its rotation intact, with Josh Richardson the most notable departure. He was dealt to the Celtics for 21-year-old Moses Brown, a lengthy 7-foot-2 center who showed promise late last season with the Thunder. The Mavs signed Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown in free agency, both of whom bring size and shooting to the wing spots and should see significant minutes. Bullock will be in the mix to start.
How good can they be? With Luka Doncic as a leading MVP candidate and question marks with several other Western Conference contenders, the Mavericks should be in the hunt for a top-four seed.
Denver Nuggets
2020-21: 47-25 (second, Northwest) Lost to Suns in Western semifinals
Coach: Michael Malone – Seventh season (266-207)
What’s different? Star point guard Jamal Murray will likely miss most, if not all, of the regular season after tearing his left ACL in April. Beyond his absence, the Nuggets experienced little turnover, with nine of their top 10 playoff rotation players returning. Paul Millsap and JaVale McGee, who had 34 playoff minutes, departed in free agency, while veteran Jeff Green was brought in on a two-year deal.
How good can they be? The Nuggets might take a small step back from last season’s third seed, but even with Murray out for an undetermined length of time, they should be in the playoff race with a shot at a top-four seed.
Golden State Warriors
2020-21: 39-33 (fourth, Pacific)
Coach: Steve Kerr – Eighth season (376-171)
What’s different? After missing two seasons with injuries, Klay Thompson is expected to be back around Christmas in one of the league’s most anticipated returns. The Warriors added lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, plus veterans Andre Iguodala, Otto Porter Jr. and Nemanja Bjelica to bolster the bench unit. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kent Bazemore departed.
How good can they be? Depending on how long it takes Thompson to regain form, the Warriors should be back in the middle of the Western playoff picture, with a chance at a top-four seed. Swinging a trade for a fourth star would make them title contenders again.
Houston Rockets
2020-21: 17-55 (fifth, Southwest)
Coach: Stephen Silas – Second season (17-55)
What’s different? After trading James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Victor Oladipo during the season, the Rockets went into full rebuild mode with four first-round picks: Jalen Green (No. 2), Alperen Sengun (16), Usman Garuba (23) and Josh Christopher (24). They acquired Daniel Theis on a four-year contract to supplement the young core; Kelly Olynyk and Sterling Brown left. Houston is looking to trade John Wall.
How good can they be? The Rockets will face plenty of growing pains and be back in the lottery next spring. But with development from Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Company, they likely won’t be the worst team again.
Los Angeles Clippers
2020-21: 47-25 (second, Pacific) Lost to Suns in Western finals
Coach: Tyronn Lue – Second season (47-25)
What’s different? The Clippers’ biggest loss came during the playoffs in June when Kawhi Leonard suffered a partially torn right ACL. He is out indefinitely and could miss the entire season and playoffs. Los Angeles then swapped point guards Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo for Eric Bledsoe in a trade and signed Justise Winslow.
How good can they be? The Clippers face a tough road to a top-four seed. They will compete for the West’s top six and a guaranteed playoff spot, but they could fall to the play-in tournament.
Los Angeles Lakers
2020-21: 42-30 (third, Pacific) Lost to Suns in Western first round Coach: Frank Vogel – Third season (94-49)
What’s different? LeBron James and Anthony Davis are back, but the Lakers overhauled the rest of the roster. Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell, Marc Gasol, Markieff Morris, Wesley Matthews and Andre Drummond are out. Russell Westbrook, Wayne Ellington, Carmelo Anthony, Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn, Kent Bazemore, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo, DeAndre Jordan and Trevor Ariza are in.
How good can they be? As long as James and Davis are healthy, the Lakers are title contenders. The window is perhaps smaller given the roster’s age, but the experience can be the deciding factor in many series.
Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21: 38-34 (second, Southwest) Lost to Jazz in Western first round
Coach: Taylor Jenkins – Third season (72-73)
What’s different? Memphis traded for Steven Adams in a swap of centers to replace Jonas Valanciunas. Beyond that, most of the Grizzlies’ core rotation returns from a playoff team. As part of the Adams deal, the Grizzlies moved up to draft Stanford forward Ziaire Williams. They also acquired Kris Dunn, Carsen Edwards and Jarrett Culver and dealt Grayson Allen.
How good can they be? The West will be tough, but the Grizzlies remain on track in their development and should be in the middle of the play-in race again. With some breaks, they could push for a top-six spot.
Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21: 23-49 (fourth, Northwest)
Coach: Chris Finch – First full season (16-25)
What’s different? With no draft picks and little cap space, the Wolves made small changes, trading Ricky Rubio for Taurean Prince and acquiring Patrick Beverley for Jarrett Culver and Juancho Hernangomez. The front office was upended with the firing of GM Gersson Rosas before training camp.
How good can they be? If things break their way and key players make a big enough leap, the Wolves could potentially compete for one of the last spots in the play-in tournament. However, the West is likely too deep, and the Wolves are still a year or two away.
New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21: 31-41 (fourth, Southwest) Coach: Willie Green – First season What’s different? The Pelicans have a new coach in Willie Green. At point guard, they allowed Lonzo Ball to leave and replaced him with Devonte’ Graham in a sign-and-trade. Then they swapped centers, acquiring Jonas Valanciunas for Steven Adams in a deal that also sent Eric Bledsoe out. New Orleans also acquired Tomas Satoransky and Garrett Temple in the Ball deal and drafted Trey Murphy III.
How good can they be? The Pelicans likely have a shot at the play-in tournament. Their moves likely aren’t enough to boost them into the top six.
Oklahoma City Thunder
2020-21: 22-50 (fifth, Northwest)
Coach: Mark Daigneault – Second season (22-5)
What’s different? GM Sam Presti remained committed to the rebuild. The Thunder slipped to sixth in the lottery and selected Australian wing Josh Giddey while taking Tre Mann (No. 18) and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (No. 32) later. OKC acquired a first-round pick to take on veteran center Derrick Favors and traded Al Horford and Moses Brown.
How good can they be? The Thunder will be one of the worst teams in the league again, and that’s largely by design. But they might be forced to make a move with all of their draft capital sooner rather than later.
Phoenix Suns
2020-21: 51-21 (first, Pacific) Lost to Bucks in NBA Finals
Coach: Monty Williams – Third season (85-60)
What’s different? Not much has changed for the defending Western Conference champs as the Suns brought back most of the roster that came within two wins of the title in July. Phoenix added an experienced backup center in JaVale McGee and guard depth with Landy Shamet and Elfrid Payton; the notable departures were deep rotation pieces Torrey Craig and Jevon Carter.
How good can they be? The Suns won’t catch anyone by surprise, but they should be one of the West’s top teams again. There is enough uncertainty surrounding other West contenders that the No. 1 seed isn’t out of the question.
Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21: 42-30 (third, Northwest) Lost to Nuggets in first round Coach: Chauncey Billups – First season
What’s different? The offseason was marked by the moves the Blazers didn’t make. Portland kept star guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (for now) and made several changes around them. Chauncey Billups replaced Terry Stotts as coach. Carmelo Anthony, Enes Kanter, Derrick Jones Jr. and Zach Collins left via free agency or trade. The Blazers traded for Larry Nance Jr., signed Tony Snell, Cody Zeller, Dennis Smith Jr., Ben McLemore and Marquese Chriss and drafted Greg Brown III.
How good can they be? The Blazers might have the highest variance of any West contender, though, with anywhere from a top-four seed to the play-in tournament possible.
Sacramento Kings
2020-21: 31-41 (fifth, Pacific)
Coach: Luke Walton – Third season (62-82)
What’s different? After a major deal with the Lakers for Buddy Hield fell through, the Kings pivoted to smaller changes. They brought in Alex Len and Tristan Thompson to bolster the center rotation behind re-signed Richaun Holmes. Sacramento used the ninth pick to take Davion Mitchell, who was co-MVP of the Summer League. The only notable departures were Hassan Whiteside and Delon Wright.
How good can they be? The Kings face a tough road to snap a 15-year playoff drought that’s tied for the longest in NBA history. They will have to break the drought as one of the last play-in teams because ninth or 10th in the Western Conference is likely their ceiling.
San Antonio Spurs
2020-21: 33-39 (third, Southwest)
Coach: Gregg Popovich – 26th season (1,310-653)
What’s different? It’s a new day, with an exodus of veterans leaving the Spurs with just two players 30 or older. DeMar DeRozan was dealt in a signand-trade. Rudy Gay, Patty Mills, Trey Lyles and Gorgui Dieng left in free agency. LaMarcus Aldridge agreed to a buyout in March. The Spurs acquired Thaddeus Young and Al-Farouq Aminu in the DeRozan deal, brought in Doug McDermott and Bryn Forbes, took a flier on often-injured Zach Collins and drafted 18-year-old guard Joshua Primo.
How good can they be? They nearly returned to the playoffs but lost in the play-in tournament. The ninth or 10th seed is likely the ceiling. After a 22-year playoff run, San Antonio could be facing a third straight missed postseason.
Utah Jazz
2020-21: 52-20 (first, Northwest) Lost to the Clippers in Western semifinals
Coach: Quin Snyder – Eighth season (323-231)
What’s different? Little has changed for last season’s best regular-season team, with much of the top of the rotation returning. Derrick Favors was traded in a cost-cutting move and Georges Niang left in free agency, but Utah found affordable replacements in Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall and Hassan Whiteside.
How good can they be? A small step back is possible just because it’s the only way for Utah to go. But the Jazz figure to be one of the top teams in the West again, with as good a chance as anyone to claim the No. 1 seed.