1. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
2024-25 file: 68-14, first within the Northwest
Head coach: Mark Daigneault, sixth season with the Thunder (211-189 file)
Coming and going: The largest strikes the NBA Champions made this offseason was locking down stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams to long-term extensions. Additionally they re-signed Ajay Mitchell and prolonged Jaylin Williams. The one offseason departure was Dillon Jones, who was traded to Washington to liberate a roster spot for Fifteenth-overall decide Thomas Sorber. Sorber, although, later suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament that may hold him out for the season. Nikola Matter, who missed final season with a torn ACL after being the twelfth general decide in 2024, will make his debut this season.
Numbers to crunch: The Thunder outscored opponents by an NBA-record 1,055 factors final season. Simply 15 of their 68 wins had been determined by fewer than 10 factors and Oklahoma Metropolis completed 16 video games forward of Houston, the No. 2 seed within the Western Convention.
Season snapshot: After successful the franchise’s first championship since transferring to Oklahoma Metropolis in 2008, the Thunder want to develop into the primary staff to repeat because the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns after successful NBA Most Priceless Participant honors a yr in the past when he averaged 32.7 factors, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals. It is not exhausting to think about development from third-year heart Chet Holmgren, who has averaged 16.1 factors, 7.9 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks in his first two seasons, or All-Star Jalen Williams, who averaged a career-high 21.6 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists final season.
2. Denver Nuggets
2024-25 file: 50-32, second within the Northwest
Head coach: David Adelman, first full season with the Nuggets (3-0 file)
Coming and going: The Nuggets had been very energetic within the offseason, with maybe the most important acquisition being the addition of veteran energy ahead Cam Johnson in a commerce with the Nets that despatched Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. Johnson averaged 18.8 factors per recreation and shot 47.5% from the sphere final season, each profession highs. Additionally they traded Dario Saric to Sacramento for heart Jonas Valancuinas, and signed Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown. Russell Westbrook, who tagged in with the Kings this week, and DeAndre Jordan additionally did not return.
Numbers to crunch: Nikola Jokic turned the primary participant (since per-game statistics started being acknowledged in 1969-70) to complete within the prime three in factors per recreation, rebounds per recreation and assists per recreation in the identical season. Jokic averaged 29.6 factors, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists final season.
Season snapshot: After pushing the eventual champion Thunder to seven video games within the Western Convention semifinals, the Nuggets retooled their roster with a watch towards the postseason.
Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, who collectively head the Nuggets’ entrance workplace, added a number of key items designed to offer famous person Nikola Jokic a deeper forged round him.
One of many greatest of these items was Bruce Brown, who helped Denver win the 2023 title.
The Nuggets had been voted to have the third-best offseason within the annual NBA GM Survey and had been picked to complete second within the West.
Whereas the additions determine to assist, Denver may also proceed to lean closely on Jamal Murray, who averaged a career-high 21.4 factors per recreation final season, and Aaron Gordon to assist the Nuggets compete close to the highest of the convention after back-to-back second-round exits.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
2024-25 file: 49-33, third within the Northwest
Head coach: Chris Finch, sixth season with the Timberwolves (209-160 file)
Coming and going: The one important transfer Minnesota made within the offseason was dropping Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade to the Atlanta Hawks. The Timberwolves selected to re-sign Naz Reid, the 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the 12 months winner, and Julius Randle as a substitute of holding onto Alexander-Walker.
Numbers to crunch: Minnesota’s 5.0 web ranking final season was fourth-best within the NBA behind solely Oklahoma Metropolis, Boston and Cleveland.
Season snapshot: After a second consecutive five-game loss within the Western Convention Finals, the Timberwolves will head into the 2025-26 with largely the identical rotation as they’d final season.
The core group of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle give Minnesota a trio able to competing with one of the best within the West, however have they got sufficient depth to take the subsequent step?
Edwards took a step ahead final season, averaging 27.6 factors and taking pictures 39.5% from past the arc. However he struggled within the playoff defeat to Oklahoma Metropolis, averaging 23 factors and taking pictures simply 28.2 from distance.
4. Portland Path Blazers
2024-25 file: 36-46, fourth within the Northwest
Head coach: Chauncey Billups, fifth season with the Path Blazers (117-211 file)
Coming and going: The Path Blazers’ two greatest offseason strikes had been including 35-year-old former All-Stars Jrue Vacation and Damian Lillard. Lillard, who was waived by the Bucks earlier than signing with the franchise the place he spent the primary 11 seasons of his profession, will miss the season after struggling a torn Achilles in final season’s playoffs. Vacation was acquired in a commerce that despatched Anfernee Simons to Boston. Portland traded for Chinese language heart Yang Hansen, the sixteenth decide, on draft evening. Along with Simmons, the Blazers additionally lose Deandre Ayton within the offseason after Ayton and the staff reached a buyout settlement.
Numbers to crunch: After going 13-28 within the first half of final season, Portland improved considerably, going 23-18 within the season half.
Season snapshot: Portland is looking for its first playoff look since 2021 after successful 36 video games a season in the past.
The Blazers’ second-half surge final season was primarily because of its work on the defensive finish. Through the second half of the season, Portland posted a 110.0 defensive ranking – third-best within the NBA throughout that span behind solely Toronto and Portland.
If the Blazers are to snap that playoff drought, they’re more likely to want important manufacturing from the getting older Jrue Vacation. Vacation averaged 11.1 factors and three.9 assists for Boston final season , his worst numbers in these classes since his rookie season in 2009-10.
Vacation continues to be a plus defender, even when he is not fairly pretty much as good as he was in his prime. With Vacation and Toumani Camara, Portland has an opportunity to maintain their defensive enchancment from final season.
5. Utah Jazz
2024-25 file: 17-65, fifth within the Northwest
Head coach: Will Hardy, fourth season with the Jazz (85-161 file)
Coming and going: The Jazz dealt Collin Sexton to Charlotte for Jusuf Nurkic and waived Jordan Clarkson within the offseason to clear extra room for what new president of basketball operations Austin Ainge hopes would be the younger core that lifts Utah again into the highest half of the Western Convention. The Jazz made waves drafting ahead Ace Bailey with the No. 5 decide after the Rutgers freshman had an unconventional lead-up to the draft. Utah additionally added Georges Niang, Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson within the offseason.
Numbers to crunch: Utah’s 119.4 defensive ranking – factors allowed per 100 possessions – was work within the NBA final season. The Jazz additionally add the league’s worst assist-to-turnover ration at 1.48.
Season snapshot: After posting a league-worst file final season, the Jazz are possible again for extra of the identical after lacking out on the coveted prizes — Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper — on the prime of the 2025 draft.
Utah would not seem near contending.
If the Jazz 2026 first-round decide falls exterior the highest eight, Oklahoma Metropolis inherits that asset, limiting the motivation for Utah to chase a ceiling projected by sportsbooks within the 35-win vary.
However there are some causes for optimism.
Utah’s draft haul of Bailey with the No. 5 general decide and Walter Clayton Jr. with the No. 18 general decide, might every give the Jazz some added punch.
Bailey was probably the most intriguing prospects within the draft, although his uncommon dealing with of the method drew simply as a lot consideration.
Clayton figures to get loads of alternative to play off the bat after Clarkson and Sexton relocated.
