Largest query going through each Pacific division workforce: Will Lakers make a commerce? The place do Clippers go from right here?

Earlier than we all know it the 2024-25 NBA season will probably be right here, so between now and Oct. 22 we’ll be previewing the upcoming season in preparation for what must be one other thrilling marketing campaign. With coaching camps set to begin on the finish of this month, proper now could be the right time to determine what would be the largest storylines or questions going through every workforce this season. We’re breaking it down division by division, and we have already checked out each workforce within the East and a part of the West. For a deeper dive on all of these divisions you’ll find them right here:

Now we’re going to check out the Pacific division, which is probably essentially the most puzzling of the three Western Convention divisions. In contrast to to the opposite two West divisions, there is not a transparent championship contender proper now, however that does not imply they cannot get there. The Lakers have been sitting on their arms for fairly some and are in want of some expertise upgrades, will that lastly occur this season? Will the younger guys in Golden State fill the void left behind by Klay Thompson? A few of these questions might not get answered till the top of the season, or perhaps a couple years from now, however they’re value enthusiastic about because the 2024-25 season nears.

Klay Thompson’s gone, and it should take awhile adjusting to him in a brand new uniform. However a part of the explanation the Warriors stomached his exit was as a result of they’ve excessive hopes for Podziemski. The second yr guard earned All-Rookie honors, and thru sure stretches of the season took Thompson’s beginning spot from him. He is clearly not the shooter Thompson is, however he shot 38.5% from deep, offering obligatory spacing for Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Podziemski led the league in prices drawn with 38, and earned reward from Draymond Green final season for his defensive effort. USA Basketball even took discover and put him on the Choose Crew, which educated and scrimmaged with Crew USA previous to them profitable gold on the Paris Olympics.

All the pieces’s lining up for Podziemski to turn into the full-time starter for Golden State, however is he prepared for a big enhance in his function? The Warriors did not land both of Paul George or Lauri Markkanen, who they hoped would fill that gap of a second star left by Thompson. They made some enhancements to their depth by including Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, which alerts Golden State could also be hoping that “energy in numbers” mantra they’ve used previously holds true this season greater than ever. However the Warriors did not land Markkanen partially as a result of they did not need to embody Podziemski in a deal. Actually, it was reported they had been extra keen to incorporate Jonathan Kuminga, who was the third main scorer final season, than Podziemski.

Based mostly on all of that, the Warriors are banking that Podziemski can blossom right into a star on this workforce. He is proven flashes of having the ability to deal with extra, however we’ll have to see if he will be as efficient with elevated shot makes an attempt, and general extra accountability on each side of the ground.

Clippers: The place do they go from right here?

The Clippers not solely misplaced Paul George, however let him stroll for nothing. It’s totally uncommon in right now’s NBA that we see All-Star expertise simply stroll out the door. Guys normally simply signal offers then pressure their manner out a yr or so down the road with each groups strolling away with belongings. However L.A. did not need to give George the complete max contract, which if that was the case, why not commerce him again in February after they might’ve gotten one thing again for him? Or a good higher query, if George’s time with the Clippers was going to finish this fashion, why did they ever commerce for James Harden if all they had been going to get was six months of this trio? It simply would not make sense. 

The Clippers added Derrick Jones Jr., somebody who performed a pivotal function on a workforce that gained the Western Convention a season in the past. In addition they added Kris Dunn, who will assist with protection, and has proven within the final two seasons that he can knock down a pair 3s, although at very low quantity. However is that this a workforce constructed to make a deep postseason run? They have a 35 yr outdated Harden, who averaged the fewest factors since his second yr within the league final season. Kawhi Leonard simply signed a three-year $149.51 million extension that may pay him by means of 2027, which would not be an enormous deal if he routinely did not miss time with accidents, together with in every of the Clippers final two playoff appearances.

You’ll assume a workforce that has no management of any of its personal first-round picks till 2030 would have some form of plan by means of this example, however they recouped zero belongings by letting George stroll, and appear to have no imaginative and prescient going ahead as of this second. 

Lakers: Is L.A. buying and selling these picks?

Each L.A. groups determine to be in comparable conditions going into this season, however no less than the Lakers have extra wiggle room to enhance proper now. They have first-round picks in 2029 and 2031 that they’ll commerce, however we’re happening two years of them doing completely nothing with these picks so will this be the season it lastly occurs? Historical past tells us no, as a result of regardless of having LeBron James and Anthony Davis, a duo that clearly alerts that your championship window is proper now, the Lakers have achieved little or no to place high quality expertise round them to legitimately contend for a championship. They’re simply two years faraway from a Western Convention finals look, however that very same workforce misplaced in 5 video games within the first spherical final season to the identical Nuggets workforce that beat them within the convention finals two years in the past.

If the plan is to contend, then the Lakers have to make use of these two first-round picks to improve the roster. LeBron is not getting any youthful, and who is aware of what number of extra years he truly plans on enjoying. Davis continues to be simply 32 years outdated, however losing the perfect years of his profession is simply malpractice. I get it, buying and selling these picks are dangerous when LeBron might resolve to retire two years from now, and with out them it might simply deplete their belongings going ahead. However the Lakers put themselves on this place, so being low cost now make little or no sense.

They had been beforehand related to Dejounte Murray on the commerce market, and he is since been dealt to the Pelicans. There was some buzz round Trae Young as effectively, however who is aware of if Younger continues to be a viable possibility, or if that may even make the Lakers higher. However as at the moment constructed this can be a play-in workforce, and we’ll see in the event that they’re glad with being simply that based mostly on what they do with these draft picks.

Suns: Will Budenholzer be the wanted change?

Since making the NBA Finals in 2021, the Suns have fired two coaches, traded for Kevin Durant, traded an getting old Chris Paul for an oft-injured Bradley Beal and have solely made it so far as the second spherical of the playoffs. Final season we noticed why you’ll be able to’t construct a “superteam” like you can below the outdated CBA guidelines, because the Suns put collectively a skeleton roster round their Large 3 of Durant, Beal and Devin Booker. It gained them 49 video games, successful in its personal proper, however additionally they received swept within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Timberwolves. They parted methods with Frank Vogel after only one season, and introduced in Mike Budenholzer who led the Milwaukee Bucks to a championship in opposition to this Suns workforce.

Phoenix added Tyus Jones and Monte Morris to deal with the purpose guard duties, one thing the Suns sorely wanted a season in the past, however given how rapidly Vogel was let go, the largest query right here is that if Budenholzer can last more than the earlier coach. Budenholzer was criticized throughout his Milwaukee tenure for his lack of in-game changes, however he is additionally recognized for getting the perfect out of his groups. He’ll unlock no matter untapped expertise exists on this roster, and his Milwaukee groups repeatedly ranked close to or on the prime of the league in protection. 

However Vogel was additionally a defensive-minded coach with a championship and he was proven the door after only one season. The Suns possession and entrance workplace clearly do not have quite a lot of persistence, and given how costly this roster is, that is comprehensible. Budenholzer must differentiate himself from Vogel, in any other case it should seem like a lateral transfer by Phoenix.

The Kings, just like the Warriors, had been the odd workforce out of the playoffs in a loaded Western Convention after falling to the Pelicans in a play-in recreation to safe the ultimate postseason spot. It was a disappointing end after this workforce completed third within the Western Convention two seasons in the past and ended the longest playoff drought in NBA historical past. However the high-scoring — and No. 1 ranked — offense from 2023 fell to league common, and that is what made the Kings a tough workforce to beat. They added a savvy veteran in DeRozan, who’s amongst essentially the most deadly mid-range scorers in league historical past. DeRozan hardly ever misses video games, which is a plus for somebody who lately simply turned 34 years outdated, and is extremely constant on the offensive facet of the ball. He is additionally one of the crucial clutch gamers within the league, which looks as if a dream pairing with De’Aaron Fox, who gained Clutch Participant of the Yr two seasons in the past.

DeRozan’s offensive skills are simple, and he’ll actually be helpful in moments when the Kings want a bucket. Or when accidents pile up, prefer it did on the finish of final season with Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk. However from an enormous image perspective, the match is considerably head scratching. The Kings averaged the third most 3s final season, and DeRozan’s by no means averaged even three 3-point makes an attempt in a single season. He wants the ball in his arms to be the largest menace, which goes to be a problem when you might have guys like Fox and Domantas Sabonis who’re additionally going to wish the ball. He would not assist with ground spacing, and he actually would not assist them on protection, one thing Sacramento already struggles with. DeRozan was capable of cover a bit on the Bulls when Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball had been each wholesome and within the lineup, however the Kings do not have two high-end defenders like that, so there’s extra danger of him being uncovered on that facet of the ball. 

There’s the likelihood — and sure what the Kings are banking on — that Sacramento returns to what it was doing in 2023, an unstoppable, traditionally environment friendly offense with a backside tier protection. That gained them 48 video games two seasons in the past, however that lack of a robust defensive presence additionally received them bounced within the first spherical of the playoffs. By not seeking to enhance defensively, and as an alternative add one other offensive weapon, the Kings are clearly hoping that DeRozan will be a part of a workforce that may depend on simply attempting to outscore everybody.