2024-25 NBA western conference Preview

By: Milith Batchu

With the NBA season underway, here are some narratives you should watch for out of the Western Conference during the 2024- 2025 season.

1. Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie and Luka look right at home next to each other, and the duo of Lively and Gafford form a wonderfully complementary frontcourt. However, the x-factor for the entire season is Klay Thompson, in what seems to be a double edged sword. If the former Splash Brother can rediscover his golden jumper and take on some of the defensive burden, the Mavs can take down any team in the league.

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2. Denver Nuggets
The depletion of what was once a championship-level roster continues, with young players like Peyton Watson and Christian Braun expected to take on increasingly larger roles. However, the biggest concern heading into the season is: what exactly happened to Jamal Murray in the Olympics?

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3. Golden State Warriors
The Dubs had a quietly strong off-season. Losing a franchise legend like Klay Thompson will always sting, but the relationship seemed untenable. Meanwhile, Buddy Hield helps mitigate the loss, De’Anthony Melton adds much-needed depth, and Brandon Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis should continue to improve. The question is: will it be enough for a postseason run in a crowded West?

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4. Houston Rockets
Jalen Green averaged 24.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists without Alperen Sengun, compared to 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists with Sengun. Finding a way to highlight both players' strengths is essential to maximizing this incredibly promising young core. A key part of that is keeping Green involved when he’s off the ball.

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5. Los Angeles Clippers
This could get rough. Kawhi Leonard was sent home from the Olympic team due to health concerns, Paul George left in free agency, and James Harden has declined over the last two seasons. Worst of all, OKC has the right to swap picks with the Clippers in the upcoming draft.  On the bright side, the new arena looks great!

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6. Los Angeles Lakers
When will the Lakers make their first move? This will not be the roster they end the season with. What will a J.J. What does the Redick-coached team look like? The preseason and opening game were encouraging, with a significant uptick in movement and deliberate offense, but will it hold up in the regular season—let alone the playoffs?

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7. Memphis Grizzlies
Is Ja Morant on thin ice? The emphatic star has endured a long tenure of hardships across suspensions and injuries, but if he can stay on the court, Memphis may have a shot at securing a top seed in the West. The roster is built for playoff basketball, and if Zach Edey can contribute in a limited role, the Grizzlies from a few years ago could make a comeback.

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8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Julius Randle has shot over 30% from three in five of his ten NBA seasons. If he can raise that to around 34%, his usual efficiency, the Wolves' gamble might just pay off. But if it dips below 30%, they could find themselves in a spacing nightmare. Additionally, they’ll need steady contributions from Rob Dillingham, who is projected to be the team’s backup point guard.

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9. New Orleans Pelicans
As usual, the fate of the season hinges on Zion Williamson health—a risky proposition, to say the least. Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum form an intriguing backcourt, but without a healthy Zion, it won’t matter. Lastly, will Brandon Ingram still be in New Orleans after February?

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10. Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti is a wizard, and he's getting worse at hiding it by the year. There's no reason OKC should have been able to add Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to a young core already on the verge of a Finals appearance. Add in the team-friendly long-term deals signed by Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, and it was an A+ off-season for a squad that only needed a B. The favorites in the West and their championship window hasn’t even started.

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11. Phoenix Suns
Acquiring Tyus Jones was a coup worthy of attention. Phoenix desperately needed a point guard last postseason, and Jones consistently ranks among the best in assist-to-turnover ratio. But with Kevin Durant recently turning 36, it truly is now or never. P.S. Please don’t make Bradley Beal play point guard again—thanks.

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12. Portland Trailblazers
Scoot Henderson's performance during his rookie season left many in Portland disappointed, but this offseason they took a step in the right direction. Beyond the obvious addition of Donovan Clingan, trading for Deni Avdija should help with floor spacing. With the unfortunate injuries to Shaedon Sharpe and Robert Williams, it’s sure to be a slow start in Rip City, but the future could be looking bright.

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13. Sacramento Kings
After the Kings failed to make the playoffs, they took advantage of the offseason and made significant changes. However, everything hinges on Demar DeRozan’s fit and performance in Sacramento. While adding a player of DeRozan’s caliber is always favorable, Sacramento sacrificed a lot of depth, replacing it with new signings like Jalen McDaniels and Jordan McLaughlin. If the team chemistry is strong and DeRozan leans into his playmaking and passing, as he has in recent years, we could see a deep playoff run.
Otherwise, some big changes may be necessary, and it won’t be pretty.

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14. San Antonio Spurs
Despite catching flak for trading away the rights to Rob Dillingham’s pick, it seems the Spurs have seen enough from Victor Wembanyama to start building around him. 
Their biggest weakness was clearly playmaking, and who better to address that than Chris Paul, who averaged nearly 7 assists per game. Upgrading from Jeremy Sochan to Paul at point guard is exactly the boost this team needed. While they might not be contenders just yet, this is a great step in the right direction—as long as Chris Paul can sustain his production with age.

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15. Utah Jazz
The Jazz had a puzzling offseason. Signing Lauri Markkanen to an even bigger deal signals they’re not interested in going back to rebuilding, but it likely takes them out of the running for a lottery pick.  With numerous free-agent signings and new rookies, it’s shaping up to be a rough start for the Jazz, with little to look forward to in the near future.