There’s no shortage of stories from the NBA’s Western Conference heading into the 2022-23 season.
And as always, let’s start in Los Angeles.
lebron james, Anthony Davis And the Lakers are back to improve after an injury- and drama-filled season. Therefore, it is skewed toward a much younger age group.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ cross-hole rival is back in title contention thanks to a healthy performance. Kawai Leonard Reunited with Fellow Two-Way Superstars Paul George.
The two-time MVP is putting the band back together. Nikola Jokic expected to be welcomed Jamal Murray When Michael Porter Jr.Back in the Denver Nuggets lineup.
Oh, and the Golden State Warriors come off a title run that rekindled a dynasty, while the Phoenix Suns return most of their NBA-best 64-win roster last season.
Is Phoenix projected to repeat as the West’s No. 1 seed? Will the Lakers re-enter the playoff picture? Which team is still tanking?
Our panel of experts predicts the win-loss records of all 15 Western teams.
Note: The 2022-23 NBA Summer Forecast continues Wednesday with predictions for the East, West and NBA Champions.
Western Conference standings
candidates
1. Phoenix Suns: 56-26
2. Golden State Warriors: 55-27
3. Denver Nuggets: 53-29
4. Memphis Grizzlies: 51-31
5. LA Clippers: 50-32
6. Dallas Mavericks: 49-33
Despite winning last season’s title and perhaps starting next season with a completely healthy roster for the first time in three years, the defending champions will join ESPN Summer with the West’s best regular season record in 2022-23. Not a forecast favorite.
But that’s not to say there aren’t great things ahead for Golden State. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson When draymond green They will be playing a season together for the first time in three years. Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney When jordan pool build their careers. James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga When Moses Moody You will have greater opportunities for growth. If anything, the Warriors should be on track to push even deeper in the postseason and have a successful regular season.
However, it was the Suns who were once again selected as the West’s number 1 seed.
Indeed, Phoenix is coming out of a surprising second-round meltdown against the Mavericks. And they didn’t make any big roster additions over the summer.they need Chris Paul to be healthy, Devin Booker Playing at the MVP caliber level; and Deandre Ayton And the franchise will be erased.
With two of their most important players coming back in the end, the Nuggets are projected to finish third. Jamal Murray Missed last season, recovered from ACL tear, Michael Porter Jr.Another back injury kept the Nuggets out of a second consecutive MVP season. Nikola Jokic.
The Grizzlies, who were the NBA’s ultimate dark horse last year as the No. 2 seed in the West, just because they’ve accomplished something doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll struggle next season. Denver and his LA Clippers get back to health.
Speaking of Clippers Kawai Leonard When Paul George will reunite while being added. John Wall A must complement for one of the deepest teams in the NBA.
Dallas offseason highlighted by losing free agent guard Jalen Brunsonalthough they added Christian Wood, Jaden Hardy When JaVale McGeethey rely on Luka Doncic But it’s clear he needs help. Manager Jason Kidd made a point as Dallas advanced to the West Division Finals.
— Kendra Andrews
play-in group
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 49-33
8. New Orleans Pelicans: 43-39
9. Los Angeles Lakers: 42-40
10. Portland Trail Blazers: 35-47
Note: Dallas is ahead of Minnesota by a percentage point in the panel’s projections.
The Timberwolves were the team closest to entering the top group as they shared a predicted record with the Mavericks. Rudy Gobert trade and his pairing Karl-Anthony Towns Minnesota are just three wins away from the seventh seed a year ago with a 46-36 record. The prediction gives the Timberwolves a few more wins, but the seed remains the same.
While coach Chris Finch’s understanding of the Gobert-Towns pairing will be key, another factor that could help the Wolves is Anthony Edwards‘ Next step. The former No. 1 overall pick improved his points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks averages from his rookie year, and increased his overall shooting efficiency.
New Orleans is projected to win seven more than last year’s total. Zion WilliamsonWilliamson failed to appear in any games last season, but New Orleans made a late charge to earn a play-in spot, then won two games to clinch the No. 8 seed.
Other than additions, no other Pelicans roster moves Dyson Daniels With the eighth overall selection, the first pick that belonged to the Lakers. A Summer Forecast panel thinks LA will barely break above .500 in his 2022-23.
The Lakers slipped to 33-49 a year ago. lebron james, Anthony Davis Many other players have dealt with injuries Russell Westbrook Much of the burden had to be carried – and responsibility. The Lakers enter the new year with a new coach named Durbin Hamm, but so far they have skewed the younger generation far more with the addition of free agency.
Another team looking to rebound from the off-year is the Portland Trail Blazers.When Damien Lillard Portland, which is dealing with an abdominal injury, slowly walked off the gas before going into full rebuilding mode late last season.
Trailblazers added Jerami Grant In the future they picked up first CJ McCallum trade.Portland also picked up Gary Payton II at free agency.Between adding healthy Lillard, Grant, and the No. 7 overall pick shadon sharpin Portland, the hope is that the move will equate to the 10-win jump or more that the panel predicts.
— Andrew Lopez
the bottom five
11. Sacramento Kings: 34-48
12. Utah Jazz: 26-56
13. Oklahoma City Thunder: 25-57
14. San Antonio Spurs: 24-58
15. Houston Rockets: 22-60
In the West, there’s a stark divide between the teams trying to win today and the teams aiming for one eye (or both) in the 2023 NBA Draft. On our panel, he has a seven-game gap between the 11th-placed Kings and the bottom four teams projected to win 27 games or less.
The Rockets and Thunder are predictable members of this group in the midst of a restructuring centered around young talent. The Rockets (37) and Thunder (46) have won less than 50 games in the last two seasons of the NBA are two of the four teams of
Both teams add top 3 picks (Chet Holmgren 2 to Oklahoma City, then Jabari Smith Jr.to third-placed Houston) and a pair of other first-rounders (Usman Dien When Jalen Williams for sanders. Tali Eason When TyTy Washington Jr.For the Rockets), it still takes at least one more season to move up the standings.
The Spurs have signaled their intention to join Houston and Oklahoma City in their pursuit of the ping-pong ball by trading All-Stars after losing play-in tournaments the past two seasons. Dejounte Murray To the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for three future first-round picks.
Like the Rockets and Thunder, the Spurs have three rookies drafted in the first round (Malachi Branham, Jeremy Sochan When Blake Wesley).Their development and 2021 first round picks Joshua Primo Be the star of the season before winning the game.
This leaves the Kings as one team outside the top 10 and actively hoping to finish in that group. Even a play-in appearance is cause for celebration in the California capital, as Sacramento’s playoff drought (16 seasons and counting) has reached driving age.
There is reason to believe that this year will be the year of the Kings.they get a full season Domantas Sabonis After earning two All-Stars before the trade deadline and adding a shot in the backcourt against newcomers Kevin Harter When Malik Monk Complements Sabonis, De’Aaron FoxMost importantly, the 4th overall pick Keegan Murray This summer, he impressed when he won MVP at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
If Sacramento jumps into the play-ins and the other four teams in this group enter the draw first, everyone could be happy this season.
— Kevin Pelton
