With top contenders such as the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder getting even better, expect another battle in a stacked Western Conference.
The Thunder, No. 1 seed heading into last season's playoffs, returns a strong core led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and the addition of defensive stalwart Alex Caruso.
The Mavericks' offseason addition of Klay Thompson adds another key component to one of the best offenses in the league as well as the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, both hungry to return to the Finals after last year's fumble against the Boston Celtics.
And don't forget the Denver Nuggets, who are one year removed from winning the title and remain a dangerous team under defending MVP Nikola Jokic.
For the first time in NBA history we'll see a father-son duo on the same team in LeBron James and Bronny James. However, the Los Angeles Lakers' lack of offseason moves and hiring of first-time head coach JJ Redick foretells another season of early growing pains for James and Anthony Davis.
Welcome to the 2024-25 Western Conference. Team by team, here's how our expert panel sees it breaking down.
Note: Our 2024-25 NBA Summer Forecast concludes on Friday with predictions for conference and Finals champion. On Wednesday, we revealed our predictions on how the Eastern Conference will unfold.
Western Conference standings
The contenders
1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 57-25
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: 54-28
3. Dallas Mavericks: 52-30
4. Denver Nuggets: 52-30
5. Phoenix Suns: 49-33
6. Sacramento Kings: 47-35
Which team is the biggest threat to the reigning conference champion Mavericks?
Take your pick, as the West once again is stacked with superstars and title contenders.
The Thunder, led by MVP runner-up Alexander and rising big man Holmgren, became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history in 2023-24. Our panel is predicting a repeat performance, but it won't be easy.
The Timberwolves and rising star Anthony Edwards will look to build off their run to the conference finals, while Doncic and Irving enter the season with the experience of a Finals berth and welcome a future Hall of Famer in Thompson to Dallas.
The Nuggets, despite tying the Thunder for the most wins in the West last season, are projected to slip just behind the Wolves and Mavs in the race for home court. But as long as three-time MVP Jokic is on the court, don't count out Denver making another run to the West's No. 1 seed.
Rounding out the top six are two teams who will have new looks in 2024-25 -- for different reasons. The Suns will hope for improved health from their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who shared the court for just 41 games last season. The Kings, meanwhile, added All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who joins guard De'Aaron Fox to create one of the most clutch backcourts in the league.
The play-in group
7. New Orleans Pelicans: 46-36
8. Golden State Warriors: 45-37
9. Memphis Grizzlies: 44-38
10. Houston Rockets: 44-38
The Grizzlies will hope for a full season from Ja Morant but are staring at a play-in spot amid a tough Western Conference race. Joining Memphis could be a Pelicans side who'd rather avoid the play-in tournament after three straight seasons. The Warriors, bounced in the play-in tournament last season, signed several players to lessen the blow of losing Thompson but that may not be enough to get Stephen Curry and Co. back into the playoffs.
The Rockets have missed the playoffs in four straight seasons, so reaching the play-in under second-year coach Ime Udoka could be a big step forward.
The bottom five
11. Los Angeles Lakers: 44-38
12. LA Clippers: 43-39
13. San Antonio Spurs: 35-47
14. Utah Jazz: 26-56
15. Portland Trail Blazers: 22-60
Could both Los Angeles teams miss the postseason? Our Summer Forecast panel is predicting a setback for both the Lakers and Clippers in 2024-25.
James and Davis' crew didn't make many roster moves this offseason, but they did hire Redick as head coach and select Dalton Knecht and Bronny James in the draft. The Clippers, meanwhile, will open the new Intuit Dome without superstar wing Paul George, who signed with the 76ers in July.
Elsewhere in the West's bottom tier, our panel is predicting a 13-win improvement for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the second-biggest jump in the league. Unfortunately for the reigning Rookie of the Year, that, plus the addition of veteran Chris Paul, wasn't enough to vault San Antonio into the playoff picture.
Joining the Spurs in our bottom three are the Jazz and Trail Blazers, who are in full rebuild mode after trading away their superstars over the past few seasons.