NBA Western Conference preview capsules
Here's a glance at the competitors in the Western Conference, along with their predicted order of finish for the 2017-18 NBA season.
1. Golden State Warriors
Coach: Steve Kerr (4th season)
Last year: 67-15 (won NBA title)
Key newcomers: SG Nick Young, rookie PF Jordan Bell
Outlook: What's not to like about the defending champs? The Warriors have more offensive firepower than any team in the league and can do that while using a strong defensive lineup.
2. Houston Rockets
Coach: Mike D'Antoni (2nd season)
Last year: 55-27
Key newcomers: PG Chris Paul
Outlook: Great Experiment I is whether a star point guard like Chris Paul can coexist with a ball-dominant scorer like James Harden, who played the point most of last season when the Rockets made a 14-game improvement.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Coach: Billy Donovan (3rd season)
Last year: 47-35
Key newcomers: SF Paul George, SF Carmelo Anthony
Outlook: Great Experiment II has two all-stars used to being the main guy on their teams joining forces with Russell Westbrook. It's not a perfect fit, but great players usually make it work.
4. San Antonio Spurs
Coach: Gregg Popovich (22nd season)
Last year: 61-21
Key newcomers: SF Rudy Gay
Outlook: The Spurs are showing some serious age with Tony Parker (35), Paul Gasol (37), Manu Ginóbili (40) and even LaMarcus Aldridge (32). At the same time, Kawhi Leonard may be ready to make a run at MVP.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
Coach: Tom Thibodeau (2nd season)
Last year: 31-51
Key newcomers: SG Jimmy Butler, PF Taj Gibson, PG Jeff Teague
Outlook: The first season of Thibodeau was disappointing, but now that he has some veterans to surround Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the improvement should be real.
6. Portland Trail Blazers
Coach: Terry Stotts (6th season)
Key newcomers: Rookie C Zach Collins
Last year: 41-41
Outlook: The stellar backcourt of Damien Lillard and C.J. McCollum needs help, but the Blazers are handicapped by handing out too many bad contracts a year ago.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
Coach: Doc Rivers (5th season)
Key newcomers: SF Danilo Gallinari, PG Milos Teodosic
Last year: 51-31
Outlook: This group could never get over the top, then lost Chris Paul, so it's tough to see improvement.
8. Denver Nuggets
Coach: Mike Malone (3rd season)
Last year: 40-42
Key newcomers: PF Paul Millsap
Outlook: By spending big on Millsap, the Nuggets are clearly trying to make a playoff push, but the lineup is still young in key spots.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Coach: Rick Carlisle (10th season)
Key newcomers: Rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr.
Last year: 33-49
Outlook: The golden years of Dirk Nowitzki haven't been stellar, now maybe explosive rookie Dennis Smith can add some life where Harrison Barnes couldn't last year.
10. Memphis Grizzlies
Coach: David Fizdale (2nd season)
Key newcomers: SG Tyreke Evans
Last year: 43-39
Outlook: It's quite a seismic shift, the Grizzlies bidding farewell to Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, and it's not clear whether they have enough grit and grind left to stay in the playoffs.
11. New Orleans Pelicans
Coach: Alvin Gentry (3rd season)
Last year: 34-48
Key newcomers: PG Rajon Rondo
Outlook: If Gentry or Rondo can find a way to craft the unlikely pairing of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins into some sort of playoff team, they deserve a raise.
12. Utah Jazz
Coach: Quin Snyder (4th season)
Last year: 51-31
Key newcomers: PG Ricky Rubio, rookie SG Donovan Mitchell
Outlook: Gordon Hayward broke Utah's hearts by jumping to Boston, but there might be enough talent left to make a run at the playoffs.
13. Los Angeles Lakers
Coach: Luke Walton (2nd season)
Last year: 26-56
Key newcomers: Rookie PG Lonzo Ball, C Brook Lopez
Outlook: This is a team built with the future in mind, but the Lakers did add some quality veterans, with Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope joining the "I Love Lonzo" show.
14. Sacramento Kings
Coach: Dave Joerger (2nd season)
Last year: 32-50
Key newcomers: Rookie PG De'Aaron Fox, PF Zach Randolph
Outlook: The Kings have some of the best young talent in the West, but it will take a few years for this group to grow up.
15. Phoenix Suns
Coach: Earl Watson (3rd season)
Last year: 24-58
Key newcomers: Rookie SF Josh Jackson
Outlook: The Suns appear willing to wait another year before attempting to climb up the standings.