The start of the NBA season is less than a week away, but before we jump to opening night on Oct. 21, there’s still time to iron out our expectations.
Peeking at the West, for instance, there’s much to consider.
A conference that’s remained a gauntlet the last couple seasons presents as equally, if not more unforgiving this year. Plenty of squads have adjusted in hopes of winning the war of attrition, while others have swung for the fences, all in hopes of dethroning the crown-wearers.
Speaking of the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder may have earned bragging rights in the West with their banner run, but does that warrant penciling in another conference title with a target now painted on their backs?
That’s one of many queries worth pondering as we near the arrival of regular-season hoops. With that being said, here’s one burning question for each team in the Western Conference.
Dallas Mavericks: Can Cooper Flagg handle all that’ll be asked of him?
When this year’s No. 1 pick suits up for his NBA debut against former top selection and fellow phenom Victor Wembanyama‘s San Antonio Spurs, there’s no doubt that much will be demanded from him.
But can Flagg, at just 18, handle the pressure of being the Mavericks’ heir-apparent in the post-Luka Doncic era? Especially for a squad that, while being two seasons removed from the Finals, presents multiple deficiencies. Dallas is already down the services of Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis’s health is never a certainty — for a team that ranked near the bottom of the league for assists (25th), rebounding (30th) and three-point makes (29th) after Doncic’s departure last season. Will simply handing Flagg the ball be enough to paper over those weaknesses?
If pre-season is any indication, the Mavericks certainly hope so. The Duke product has managed a bulk of the ball-handling duties while on the floor, in preparation for Irving’s absence, and his 21.8 per cent usage through the pre-season would’ve been third amongst rookies who played at least half the season last year.
Denver Nuggets: Has the depth issue been solved?
With three-time MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way, the Mile High ball club undoubtedly remains a title contender.
After pushing the champion Thunder to the brink in the West semis, but ultimately running out of gas, it became clear what improvements were needed. Denver’s bench was among the least productive and used last season, offering little reprieve for starters. When Jokic sat, the Nuggets’ net rating swung from plus-10.85 to minus-8.01 — justifying why the Serbian star logged the third-most minutes in the NBA. Take the trio of Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon off the floor at once, and the Nuggets were a staggering minus-17.05 in nearly 500 minutes.
Which is why Denver is hoping its many veteran off-season additions — Bruce Brown, Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas — can offer the squad much-needed minutes-eaters.
Golden State Warriors: Will Jonathan Kuminga fit in?
Amidst an otherwise quiet off-season in the Bay Area (aside from signing Al Horford), Kuminga’s restricted free agency managed to create plenty of buzz. The 23-year-old went looking for greener pastures, or at least more green in his bank account, and got neither in a market that was not kind to RFAs. Now on a two-year, $46.8-million deal to keep him in Golden State, can the two sides sort out their differences?
Kuminga didn’t do much of what was asked of him last season in the 47 games he played, but head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors weren’t exactly featuring him either. A bounce-back campaign for the fifth-year forward would be ideal for both parties, either for a trade down the line or to help ensure one of Steph Curry’s twilight seasons doesn’t go wasted.
Houston Rockets: Who’s their primary ball-handler?
There are plenty of reasons to be excited if you’re in H-Town after the team’s many off-season moves, namely trading for Kevin Durant, but there’s also a Fred VanVleet-sized hole to be concerned about. While that doesn’t appear big, what the starting guard lacks in stature, he often makes up for in impact. Houston was three points per 100 possessions better with VanVleet on the floor, while last season’s No. 2 seed went just 11-11 in his absence.
And with the floor general expected to miss all of 2025-26 with a torn ACL, it’s unclear who steps up for the Rockets. The options include former top-five picks in 22-year-old Amen Thompson — who’s leaned on VanVleet for advice — and 21-year-old Reed Sheppard, both of whom offer plenty of talent but bring little experience to a squad with minimal cap/roster flexibility and serious title aspirations.
Los Angeles Clippers: Can they overcome the drama?
Unfortunately, an off-season that began with a handful of positive basketball-related headlines for the Clippers has devolved into a media circus because of an ongoing alleged cap circumvention scandal.
While that saga continues as the NBA investigates accusations against owner Steve Ballmer and star forward Kawhi Leonard, there are real on-court considerations to be made. The additions of Bradley Beal, John Collins and Brook Lopez, along with a healthy Leonard, could be immediate game-changers for last season’s fifth-seed. But availability is not exactly that group’s forte.
And although another 50-plus win season could silence some of the noise, if the Clippers struggle, will the hubbub get too loud to ignore? Far less has distracted players and derailed seasons before. The last time the franchise’s ownership was involved in a scandal, it resulted in a lifetime ban and created the opening that led to Ballmer buying the team. Will history repeat itself?
Los Angeles Lakers: Will LeBron James’ injury really impact things?
For the first time since he entered the NBA, James will not be on the court for his team on opening night. And although there’s no doubt the Lakers are eagerly anticipating his return from a nerve injury for what’ll be his record-setting 23rd season, it might not be the cause for concern like some fans fear.
For starters, L.A. actually held a worse net rating with James on the floor last season versus when he sat. And when Doncic was thrown into the mix, the Lakers were a whopping plus-15.98 with him running the show without James, compared to a plus-1.94 when they shared the floor.
The Lakers front office hasn’t been subtle about pivoting from building around James to being all-in on Doncic. And with the Slovenian star in the best shape of his career to open a season, along with a new pick-and-roll partner in fellow 2018 draftee Deandre Ayton, fans in L.A. may see why that was — all with the league’s all-time leading scorer watching from the sideline.
Memphis Grizzlies: How do they keep up?
When the Grizzlies won 50-plus games in back-to-back seasons between 2021-23, for just the third time in franchise history, they appeared destined to remain atop the Western Conference for the foreseeable future. But the NBA is a fickle place, and teams around Memphis have gotten better in a hurry. Winning 51 games three seasons ago had the Grizzlies as the two-seed, yet 48 victories last season put them in eighth.
Now, they enter the year after trading away Desmond Bane — hoping a combo of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and newly signed Ty Jerome can replicate that impact — while navigating a boatload of injuries. Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are both questionable to open the season with lingering ailments, while Canadians Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey are already confirmed to miss the first couple of weeks. While teams in the West continue to load up for the perpetual arms race, Memphis seems busy trying to figure out what in its arsenal actually works.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Which version do we see?
Last season was a tale of two halves for the T-Wolves. After going 22-20 to start, they went 27-14 the rest of the way, including a 17-4 finish while boasting the league’s fifth-best offence and eighth-best defence in the back half of the schedule.
It looked obvious that the Timberwolves needed time to adjust — before making a second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance — following the shocking departure of Karl-Anthony Towns just days before training camp. And while that won’t be the case heading into this season, there will still be changes for Minnesota to navigate. Replacing Canadian Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 3-and-D play won’t be simple, and there are real questions about who takes on ball-handling duties, given Mike Conley’s age/declining production and the scarcity of options.
Will growing pains come into play yet again, or can Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves’ ascension pick up where it left off?
New Orleans Pelicans: Will health be (stay) on their side?
Ironically, very little has been lemon-squeezy in the Big Easy lately. The Pelicans were tied for the third-most games lost to injury last season (508) and already enter this season without starting guard Dejounte Murray (Achilles), while expected contributors Kevon Looney (knee) and rookie Derik Queen (wrist) are day-to-day.
The good news is that off-season acquisition Jordan Poole says he’s motivated to play “winning basketball,” and franchise star Zion Williamson looks determined to finally live up to his potential. The 25-year-old has trimmed down ahead of his sixth NBA season, with hopes of revitalizing the bounce (and availability) from his days as a Duke Blue Devil. Should his efforts pan out, it could work out well for the extension-eligible forward’s fortunes and for the Pelicans.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Are they ready to be the hunted?
The Thunder look primed to be the first team to repeat since the Warriors between 2016-18, as the youngest champions in NBA history brought back almost the entirety of their title-winning roster while maintaining plenty of draft capital for future upgrades.
But as the saying goes: “It’s no fun when the rabbit’s got the gun.”
There’s a reason winning back-to-back titles remains a challenge, especially in the parity era — OKC was the seventh different champion in the last seven seasons. When the hunters become the hunted, there are truly no days off. Every game against Oklahoma City will be a chance for opponents to prove themselves, and how the Thunder’s youngsters handle that added pressure is TBD. Fans shouldn’t be too worried, however, as reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his squad have shown they’re capable of passing every test thrown their way.
Phoenix Suns: How much can their bigs contribute?
After opting for a retool instead of tearing things down entirely by trading Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal, but keeping Devin Booker, projections in The Valley are all over the place.
The pairing of Jalen Green and Booker makes for a dynamic, albeit defensively questionable, backcourt pairing, while Mississauga, Ont.’s Dillon Brooks should add plenty of edge. The biggest question that remains is what to make of Phoenix’s big-man contingent. The Suns basically adopted the Charlotte Hornets’ centre rotation with separate trades for Nick Richards and Mark Williams, both of whom have averaged less than 55 games played through their respective NBA careers. They possess formidable physical tools but limited upside as one-dimensional players, barring major development. If that sounds familiar, it’s because most people would describe the Suns’ 10th-overall pick Khaman Maluach the exact same way. Talk about redundancy.
Portland Trail Blazers: How well do the vets and youngsters mesh?
Threading the needle with a young group on the rise and vets not entirely past their primes is no easy feat. Just ask the Warriors. But that’s exactly what the Blazers hope to do with the additions of Jrue Holiday and a recovering Damian Lillard. It’ll be up to fifth-year head coach Chauncey Billups to manage his rotations well. The Blazers may have boasted the fourth-best defence after the all-star break, yet they have plenty of questions on offence after dealing away Anfernee Simons.
There’s no doubt Holiday can help out while providing valuable insight for young guards Scoot Henderson (currently sidelined four to eight weeks) and Canadian Shaedon Sharpe, but will his words be heeded if he’s cannibalizing their minutes? Meanwhile, forwards Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija are on the verge of their primes, but 31-year-old Jerami Grant — owed $102.6 million over the next three seasons — has to factor into the equation as well.
Sacramento Kings: What exactly is the plan?
The big red RESET button was flashing and staring right at the Kings’ front office last season, but ultimately went unpressed.
Instead, Sacramento acquired another score-first guard in his 30s (Zach LaVine) in the De’Aaron Fox trade, signed two more during the off-season in Dennis Schroeder and Russell Westbrook, all while dangling Malik Monk in trade talks after the 27-year-old put up career-best numbers. All of which came after they fired 2023 Coach of the Year Mike Brown. Now what? Well, that’s up to Doug Christie and his staff to figure out.
San Antonio Spurs: Which guards fit best next to Victor Wembanyama?
Now that Wemby is done touring Shaolin temples and pulling off the queen’s gambit in parks around New York, he appears ready to terrorize the NBA in Year 3. And should he stay healthy, there’s no doubt the 21-year-old can lead the Spurs ahead after putting up 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and a league-high 3.8 blocks while lifting his team to a top-10 worthy defence (with him on the floor) as a sophomore.
San Antonio is rightfully determined to build around the ascending superstar, but that pursuit has unexpectedly created a logjam within the Spurs guard rotation. Fox, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and 2025 second-overall pick Dylan Harper are all talented but are similarly on-ball/downhill scorers who lack high-end shooting gravity. Not to mention long-time starter Devin Vassell has to factor in as well. How Mitch Johnson — in his first full season after replacing Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich — makes it work will be worth keeping an eye on. For what it’s worth, the head coach doesn’t seem all too concerned.
“We’re never going to shy away or avoid having too many good players. Especially with the amount of versatility and variety of strengths they have,” Johnson said on Media Day. “We believe … they can play together and complement each other.”
Utah Jazz: Is Ace Bailey finally willing to shine in Salt Lake City?
Since breaking up the Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert pairing, the Jazz have been aggressively searching for a star. And thanks to some of Bailey’s own pre-draft antics, one may have dropped into their laps.
The 19-year-old ultimately underwhelmed at Rutgers in his lone NCAA season, but the talent was undeniable, and now that he’s in Utah (despite that not being his preferred landing spot), Bailey looks determined to start his pro career on a high note (pun intended). He’s looked stellar in his three pre-season appearances, averaging 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals on 58.8 per cent shooting from the field and 41.7 from distance. If Bailey can carry that effort/efficiency into the regular-season, he and Lauri Markkanen have the makings of a formidable duo that Jazz fans can buy into.