The NBA’s Western Conference has had a lot in common with DFW International Airport this summer.
There were a lot of comings and goings.
Virtually all of the 15 Western Conference teams were busy with roster movement. It’s like reading departure signs in the big airport and wondering who’s on time, who’s behind schedule and who’s sitting at the top of the runway, ready to take off to greatness.
And this summer, the movement around the entire league and the West in particular has been amplified by a new collective-bargaining agreement.
“Everybody’s trying to improve, understanding that the new CBA has inspired an all-in mentality or for some teams it might be a transition to position yourself for the future,” new Maverick Grant Williams said Wednesday. “So you see some teams that might take a step back first (to get better in the future).
“And other teams have to go for it – like the Suns, who have an all-in investment. It’s exciting. It shows it’s going to be a competitive season. Last year, we had a lot of parity and I think we’re going to continue with that.”
The Mavericks are hoping for an upgrade to their seat in the standings. They missed the playoffs last season after a run to the West finals in 2021-22.
Williams said teams like the Phoenix Suns, who have sent off significant future assets for Bradley Beal to team with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, are trying to maximize their chances for a championship this season and next, that also has made it interesting for everybody else, including the Mavericks.
“It’s one of those things that they’re trying to compete now and take advantage of people’s prime (years),” said Williams, who arrived in a sign and trade with Boston last month. “And honestly, part of those deals is that when you sign someone or have four guys like that, if you need to acquire capital later down the line, those players are never going to lose their value. They might not necessarily bring that value that you gave out. But they’ll be able to return something beneficial. These next two years, they’ll try to go all in and make a big splash.”
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are hoping to benefit from the last two months of the 2022-23 season, when they got a feel for what playing with Irving is like.
Typically, a team can make the move from economy to first class in the second season after securing a valuable ticket like Irving.
“For sure,” Williams said. “For the first year, I remember when Miami first got LeBron (James). It’s always going to be a year of getting used to playing with one another because you’re so used to playing in a certain environment with a team. And you got to get used to competing and understanding the people around you.
“So the second year is where you should expect that growth to really spike pretty fast. Maybe not at the beginning of the season, but toward the end, you ought to see it come to fruition.”
That’s the Mavericks’ hope.
And with that, here’s a quick rundown of what each Western Conference team has done so far this summer. Teams are listed in order of their rank from last season.
Denver Nuggets (53-29 in 2022-23, first in the west, won NBA championship).
Key arrivals: Justin Holiday (Dallas), Braxton Key (Detroit), Julian Strawther (rookie, 29th overall pick),
Key departures: Bruce Brown (Indiana), Thomas Bryant (Miami), Jeff Green (Houston).
Still on board: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson.
Flight pattern: When you win the championship and have a relatively young team, you don’t need a lot of add-ons. The Nuggets retained virtually all of their heavy lifters except for sixth man Bruce Brown. The hope is that Braun, Holiday and maybe the rookie Strawther can pick up the slack. The Nuggets top five scorers from last season all still are under 30 years old. And they all played at least 62 games last season. If the Nuggets’ run of good health continues this season, it’s hard to envision them not making a serious run at a repeat. And as long as Jokic is sitting in the front of the cockpit, they are in capable hands.
Memphis Grizzlies (51-31 in 2022-23, second in the West).
Key arrivals: Marcus Smart (Boston), Derrick Rose (New York).
Key departures: Dillon Brooks (Houston), Tyus Jones (Washington).
Still on board: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, Xavier Tillman, Steven Adams. Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama.
Flight pattern: The Grizzlies have had more turbulence than just about anybody in the West. Much of it coming from inside the plane. They still remain Morant’s team, but he’s had trouble staying on the court for disciplinary reasons. Until he becomes more reliable, it’s hard to see the Grizzlies making a huge impact come playoff time. However, if the air gets smoother, there is no denying Memphis’ surplus of talented players. Also, the Grizzlies expect more this season from bulky forwards Kennth Lofton Jr. and David Roddy. They perhaps can rekindle the “grit and grind” Grizzlies of the past.
Sacramento (48-34, third in the West).
Key arrivals: Chris Duarte (Indiana), Nerlens Noel (Brooklyn), Colby Jones (rookie).
Key departures: Richaun Holmes (Dallas.), Chimezie Metu (Phoenix),
Still on board: Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, Davion Mitchell.
Flight pattern: They broke through last season to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006. They have talent and now they have a taste of winning. But as we all know, taking that next step is not easy. Sabonis is a flat-out stud, a triple-double threat nightly, probably as much so as anybody in the league short of Jokic and Luka. The elephant in the room, of course, is their defense, or lack thereof. They were a prolific scoring team last season, but until they start stopping some folks, it’s going to be hard to improve on last season. They can’t afford to finish 25th again in total defense rating.
Phoenix (45-37, fourth in the West).
Key arrivals: Bradley Beal (Washington), Eric Gordon (LA Clippers), Chimezie Metu (Sacramento), Jordan Goodwin (Washington), Keita Bates-Diop (San Antonio), Drew Eubanks (Portland), Yuta Watanabe (Brooklyn).
Key departures: Chris Paul (Golden State), Torrey Craig (Chicago), Cameron Payne (San Antonio), Landry Shamet (Golden State).
Still on board: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton, Josh Okogie, Damion Led.
Flight pattern: The Suns are in now-or-never mode. They are clearly on the tarmac that leads to the title. As long as they don’t run out of runway before they get there. The next couple years are their window to win it all. They traded away a slew of first- and second-round draft picks to get Beal. They now have had Durant in their system, sort of like the Mavericks have had Kyrie Irving in theirs and expect better times ahead. The Suns have lots of good, new ancillary parts, too. But they also must find chemistry after the departure of Paul, who moved on in his quest to latch onto a title team. The Suns also have a new coach with a championship pedigree in Frank Vogel.
LA Clippers (44-38, fifth in the West).
Key arrivals: Kenyon Martin Jr. (Houston).
Key departures: Eric Gordon (Phoenix).
Still on board: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington.
Flight pattern: The Clippers are hoping that a run of good health and improved chemistry among their big three is in their future. And to be fair, the hoop gods owe them a season of health. But since when have the hoop gods played fair? The Clips are getting older by the season and their estimated time of arrival seems to always get pushed back. With both Leonard and George missing time in the first-round series against Phoenix last season, the Clippers never had a real shot. And just about everybody likes their team if everybody is functioning physically – and mentally.
Golden State (44-38, sixth in the West).
Key arrivals: Chris Paul (Phoenix), Dario Saric (Oklahoma City), Cory Joseph (Detroit), Brandin Podziemski (rookie).
Key departures: Jordan Poole (Washington), Donte DiVincenzo (New York),
Still on board: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevon Looney, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga.
Flight pattern: Maybe the most intriguing team in the conference with the addition of Paul, essentially a new copilot for Steph Curry. How he meshes with a group that has won championships and proven their mettle time and again will be must-see entertainment. But there’s another part of this in-flight movie. Green is coming off a drama-filled year and the Warriors seem to have addressed whatever problems there may have been. But even they know that Draymond always keeps it interesting. But he’s also a stat-stuffing talent that simply helps a team win. And his defense is worth its weight in gold. They have won four of the past nine NBA titles and it would surprise nobody if they are in contention to do so again.
LA Lakers (43-39, seventh in the West).
Key arrivals: Jaxson Hayes (New Orleans), Cam Reddish (Portland), Gabe Vincent (Miami), Jalen Hood-Schifino (rookie).
Key departures: Dennis Schroder (Toronto), Lonnie Walker (Toronto).
Still on board: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, DeAngelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura,
Flight pattern: Any team with LeBron James is a threat. Tack on Anthony Davis and they showed last season with a trip to the conference finals that it matter not what they do in the regular season. If they are hitting on all cylinders come playoff time, they are dangerous. And a title threat. Who among us doesn’t think LeBron has at least one more run at a ring left in him? Didn’t think there would be many who would say that he doesn’t. This team is old. And things tend to go wrong with older teams. But if things go right, the rest of the West will be in a heap of trouble.
Minnesota (42-40, eighth in the West).
Key arrivals: Shake Milton (Philadelphia), Troy Brown Jr. (LA Lakers).
Key departures: None.
Still on board: Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Naz Reid.
Flight pattern: The Wolves may not be finished this summer. The rumors are abundant about several of their players. But for now, the combo of Towns and Edwards, along with Gobert, Conley and McDaniels, form a formidable group that could be really good if everything clicks. It’s astounding that they were not a good rebounding team considering they have Towns and Gobert. But that’s one area that needs attention. They also were in the bottom five in turnovers, which means that they lost a lot of possessions, when you add on the lack of rebounding. Going to be very interesting to watch this group develop.
New Orleans (42-40, ninth in the West).
Key arrivals: Cody Zeller (Miami), Jordan Hawkins (rookie), E.J. Liddell (rookie).
Key departures: Jaxson Hayes (LA Lakers), Josh Richardson (Miami).
Still on board: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Herb Jones.
Flight pattern: Nothing’s easy in the Big Easy. Or anywhere else in the NBA, for that matter. But the Pelicans were on the fringe of the playoffs last season and that was when Williamson only played 29 games. It’s hard to pin everything on Zion’s health, but it’s of course a big deal. Kind of like one of the engines on a 757. You can function without it, but things tend to go a lot slower when all you have to rely on is the other engine. Having McCollum is a great asset for the Pelicans. And Ingram and Valanciunas are terrific offensive players and good rebounders. There’s lots to like about the Pelicans. But the West is no joke.
Oklahoma City (40-42, 10th in the West).
Key arrivals: Chet Holmgren (injured last season), Cason Wallace (rookie), Victor Oladipo (Miami), Davis Bertans (Dallas).
Key departures: Dario Saric (Golden State).
Still on board: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Luguentz Dort, Jaylin Williams, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams, Tre Mann, Isaiah Joe.
Flight pattern: Nobody has stockpiled draft picks and promising young talent better than the Thunder. But the climb from the ground to the NBA’s preferred cruising altitude can be a rough one. It’s not automatic that the Thunder’s young talent will gel and become the new monsters in the West. Gilgeous-Alexander is a legitimate stud, and Giddey might be the next version of a triple-double machine, following in Luka’s footsteps. But the Thunder are going to have to prove their worth by becoming a consistent playoff team.
Dallas (38-44, 11th in the West).
Key arrivals: Grant Williams (Boston), Seth Curry (Brooklyn), Dereck Lively II (rookie), O-Max Prosper (rookie), Richaun Holmes (Sacramento), Dante Exum (Europe).
Key departures: Christian Wood (unsigned), Reggie Bullock (San Antonio), Davis Bertans (Oklahoma City).
Still on board: Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, JaVale McGee.
Flight pattern: Let’s hope it’s not a holding pattern. The Mavericks made the deal for Irving in February and did so knowing that it might not be a smashing success immediately. But the second season is when it’s supposed to come together. And with the addition of Williams, they have another tireless worker on the defensive end who will also knock down a three-pointer. The Mavericks have a well-thought-out team on paper. It’s true that the game isn’t played on paper. But the pieces they’ve put together have a real chance of fitting seamlessly. It will come down to the two stars, of course. And health. If the Mavericks get everything to line up for them, they can have a nice, long trip this season.
Utah (37-45, 12th in the West).
Key arrivals: John Collins (Atlanta), Omer Yurtseven (Miami), Kevonte George (rookie).
Key departures: Rudy Gay (Unsigned).
Still on board: Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn.
Flight pattern: The Jazz did a commendable job of moving on from the Rudy Gobert/Donovan Mitchell pairing. They didn’t fall off the edge of the NBA map last season. And they have some hope for the future. What they have to hope for is that Kessler takes the next step and becomes one of the league’s top big men. His defense is next-level. And the Jazz have some punch with Markkanen, Sexton, Clarkson and Dunn. But just like there’s no quick way to fly from Providence to Portland, neither is there a fast fix in the NBA. The Jazz are wise to build with a patient approach.
Portland (33-49, 13th in the West).
Key arrivals: Scoot Henderson (rookie), Kris Murray (rookie).
Key departures: Drew Eubanks (Phoenix), Cam Reddish (LA Lakers).
Still on board: Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Anfernee Simons, Kevin Knox.
Flight pattern: For the moment, it’s kind of a plane with no heading. The Blazers have toyed with the idea of trading the face of the franchise. But for now Lillard remains a Portland treasure. They have missed the playoffs the last two years under Chauncey Billups after making the postseason eight seasons in a row under Terry Stotts. The Blazers got the best years Lillard had. And most of them were pretty doggone good. But there comes a time when moving on is inevitable. To the Blazers’ credit, they are taking their time in this process.
Houston (22-60, 14th in the West).
Key arrivals: Fred Van Vleet (Toronto), Dillon Brooks (Memphis), Amen Thompson (rookie), Cam Whitmore (rookie), Jeff Green (Denver), Jock Londale (Phoenix).
Key departures: Kenyon Martin Jr. (LA Clippers), TyTy Washington (Oklahoma City).
Still on board: Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Jae’Sean Tate.
Flight pattern: The Rockets have been flat-out grounded for too long. They’re ready to start the engines and go somewhere. But after three seasons in the lottery, they still have a lot of unanswered questions. The talent is improving, which is a good start. But it’s hard to make a quantum leap after winning 17, 20 and 22 games the last three seasons. Coach Stephen Silas paid the price and new leader Ime Udoka steps in to continue the rebuild. The Rockets will be improved and could be dangerous. But their time in the sky remains off in the distance.
San Antonio (22-60, 15th in the West).
Key arrivals: Victor Wembanyama (rookie), Reggie Bullock (Dallas), Cameron Payne (Phoenix), Cedi Osman (Cleveland).
Key departures: Keita Bates-Diop (Phoenix).
Still on board: Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Devonte Graham, Khem Birch, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, Doug McDermott.
Flight pattern: They got a new navigator to run the show. The Spurs won the lottery and got Wembanyama and all the hype that comes with him. By all accounts, he has transcendent ability that should make the Spurs’ trip back from four seasons out of the playoffs a little quicker. They aren’t devoid of talent beyond their prized rookie. Vassell and Johnson both are proven scorers and Sochan would seem primed for a big step up in his second season. Patience is tough in the NBA, but expect the Spurs to see a lot of improvement in many areas this season.
Twitter: @ESefko
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