After the draft and the initial wave of free agency, what do you think the Western Conference looks like heading into this season?
Predicting the Western Conference in 25/26
- Thread starter Ferguson_Mellochill
- Start date
Let's wait til trades and free agency are over
Put this on ice?
I'm going through it now. There are three teams that are genuinely competitive in OKC, DEN and HOU. Then there should be a group of teams with mid-40s wins. Then there's just a malaise of low 40s and below.
OKC - Could have won 70 games last year if they wanted to.
HOU - Adding KD and Capella will help, while Amen continues to make strides.
DEN - Not sure if Valanciunas is staying. He'd help them if he does.
MIN - They have a decent core, even though Conley's career is winding down. Young bigs Beringer and Zikarsky might provide a boost.
LAL - Luka being in better shape would help. They're still soft defensively with Luka and AR though and Lebron is 40.
SAS - If healthy, Wemby, Fox and Vassel should create enough offense, while other role players hold things together. Playoffs in sight.
MEM - They've cleaned their books a bit with the Bane trade. What else?
GSW - A full season of Jimmy Butler next to Steph is nice, but the Ws don't have much else and the era needs to change.
LAC - Age has to take hold at some point soon.
DAL - Dlo fills in next to Klay, Coop, AD and Gafford. Might work a bit.
POR - I keep hearing that they're supposed to be competitive. Scoot, Shaedon and Camara are fine. See if Yang Hansen has any impact.
PHX - Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, Mark Williams. Maybe 37 wins?
SAC - Schroeder, Lavine, DeRozan, Sabonis, Raynaud. Maybe 36 wins?
NOL - Given up on Zion staying healthy.
UTA - Jazz need to resolve John Collins, and not sure what Lauri is thinking at this point. Carlos Boozer is literally on the scouting staff.
I'm going through it now. There are three teams that are genuinely competitive in OKC, DEN and HOU. Then there should be a group of teams with mid-40s wins. Then there's just a malaise of low 40s and below.
OKC - Could have won 70 games last year if they wanted to.
HOU - Adding KD and Capella will help, while Amen continues to make strides.
DEN - Not sure if Valanciunas is staying. He'd help them if he does.
MIN - They have a decent core, even though Conley's career is winding down. Young bigs Beringer and Zikarsky might provide a boost.
LAL - Luka being in better shape would help. They're still soft defensively with Luka and AR though and Lebron is 40.
SAS - If healthy, Wemby, Fox and Vassel should create enough offense, while other role players hold things together. Playoffs in sight.
MEM - They've cleaned their books a bit with the Bane trade. What else?
GSW - A full season of Jimmy Butler next to Steph is nice, but the Ws don't have much else and the era needs to change.
LAC - Age has to take hold at some point soon.
DAL - Dlo fills in next to Klay, Coop, AD and Gafford. Might work a bit.
POR - I keep hearing that they're supposed to be competitive. Scoot, Shaedon and Camara are fine. See if Yang Hansen has any impact.
PHX - Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, Mark Williams. Maybe 37 wins?
SAC - Schroeder, Lavine, DeRozan, Sabonis, Raynaud. Maybe 36 wins?
NOL - Given up on Zion staying healthy.
UTA - Jazz need to resolve John Collins, and not sure what Lauri is thinking at this point. Carlos Boozer is literally on the scouting staff.
Last edited: