Capsules of the Southwest Division team
1. Houston Rockets
2024-25 record: 52-30, 1st in the Southwest
Head coach: Ime Udoka, third season with the Rockets (93-71 record)
Back and forth: The Rockets made the biggest move of the offseason by trading for Kevin Durant in July. The deal cost them Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks (as well as draft picks).
Numbers to analyze: The Rockets were middle of the pack in scoring (14th, 114.3 points per game) last season, which is one of many reasons why acquiring Durant makes sense.
Season Overview: The Rockets had a playoff failure last season, losing to the seventh-seeded Warriors in seven games in the first round. Acquiring Durant should at least guarantee a longer stay in the playoffs. Durant averaged 26.6 points per game last season and turned 37 in September.
Having Durant and fellow newcomers Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie join holdovers Alperen Sengun, All-Defensive First Team selection Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard should make Houston a repeat division champion and a threat to topple Oklahoma City in the Western Conference. The loss of Fred VanVleet (ACL) hurts for countless reasons, from perimeter shooting to leadership and ball value. A move towards an upgrade to the position may become necessary.
2. Dallas Mavericks
2024-25 record: 39-43, 3rd in the South West
Head coach: Jason Kidd, fifth season with the Mavericks (179-149 record)
Coming and going: The selection of forward Cooper Flagg with the first pick in the draft and the signing of veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell changed Dallas’ identity in a hurry.
Numbers to analyze: Only six teams in the NBA averaged less than Dallas’ 25.2 assists last season. Russell, Kyrie Irving and Flagg, who could start the season at point guard, should improve this ranking.
Season Overview: Last season, the Mavericks barely made the play-in tournament and didn’t make it out of it just a year after reaching the NBA Finals. Life without Luka Doncic seemed difficult for a while.
But Flagg, Anthony Davis leading a veteran frontcourt and Irving returning from knee surgery at some point to join Klay Thompson in the backcourt will mark the start of a very bright new future that should include a return to the playoffs.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
2024-25 record: 48-34, 2nd in the Southwest
Head Coach: Tuomas Iisalo, first full season with Grizzlies (4-5 record as interim head coach)
Back and forth: The Desmond Bane trade to Orlando leaves Memphis without one of its primary scorers, although they brought in veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of the deal.
Numbers to analyze: The Grizzlies averaged 121.7 points last season (second behind Oklahoma City), but this year’s team appears to be a lower-scoring group.
Season Overview: Things were looking good for much of last season before a late-season slump led to the firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins with just weeks remaining in the regular season, which was followed by a sweep by Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs.
The presence of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who is Morant’s primary complement, will keep the Grizzlies relevant. But it’s hard not to see a decline in Bane’s absence, although the arrival of first-round pick Cedric Coward should help.
4. San Antonio Spurs
2024-25 record: 34-48, 4th in the Southwest
Head Coach: Mitch Johnson, first full season with Spurs (32-45 record as interim head coach)
Coming and going: The drafting of Dylan Harper (No. 2 overall) and Carter Bryant (No. 14 overall) as well as the signing of Luke Kornet improves the casting around Victor Wembanyama as he enters his third season.
Numbers to crunch: San Antonio is tied for 18th in the NBA with an average of 43.7 rebounds per game last season and the arrival of Kornet should help the Spurs become a better rebounding team.
Season Overview: San Antonio continues to progress with a predominantly young team. Having De’Aaron Fox for a full season to lead a cast that includes Wembanyama, Harrison Barnes and emerging players such as Devin Vassell, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan puts the team on the fast track to a return to the playoffs.
How much Johnson grows as a young head coach and how the team adjusts to knowing that Gregg Popovich’s coaching era is officially over will determine whether that return happens as early as this season.
5. New Orleans Pelicans
2024-25 record: 21-61, 5th in the Southwest
Head coach: Willie Green, fifth season with the Pelicans (148-180 record)
Coming and going: New general manager Joe Dumars rebuilt the roster with the acquisition of veterans Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and Kevon Looney as well as lottery picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. The trade to Washington for Poole and Bey cost them guard CJ McCollum, a team leader.
Numbers to analyze: Injuries forced New Orleans to use 47 starting lineups, the second most in the NBA last season. Staying healthy is an annual problem.
Season preview: The Pelicans’ fortunes still hinge on the availability of two-time All-Star forward Zion Williamson, who has missed more games (258) due to injuries than he has played (214) since he was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019.
Two years ago, he played in a career-high 70 games and New Orleans tied his second-best record in franchise history. Last season, he played in 30 games and the team had its second-fewest number of wins. If Dejounte Murray makes a successful midseason return from Achilles surgery and the young core remains largely healthy, a play-in tournament berth could be within the Pelicans’ reach.
–Field level media
