Three Western Conference Teams Expected to Improve in 2024-2025
There are no off nights in the Western Conference. Even teams at the bottom of the barrel are not to be taken lightly on a random Tuesday night in December. The wild Western Conference is loaded with talent, and there are bound to be All-Star snubs and teams with over 45 wins that end up as just the eighth seed. With free agency settling down, let’s look at three potential Western Conference teams that can improve next season in a loaded Conference.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies were wrecked with injuries last season. In the two previous seasons, they were the two-seed and had over 50 wins. This is a team that possesses two Defensive Players of the Year in Marcus Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr. Smart is one of the best perimeter defenders and Jackson is one of the best roamers on the defensive end. Ja Morant, one of the best paint-scoring guards, will return healthy for Memphis. They are capable of reaching the one seed and being a contender to come out of the Western Conference.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings were healthy for most of last season until guards Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk went down toward the end of the regular season. They strengthened their strength with the addition of veteran DeMar DeRozan. This gives them three scorers, De’Aaron Fox, DeRozan and Monk off the bench to go along with All-NBA player Domantas Sabonis. Look for Keegan Murray to take another leap in his development. Sacramento is a team that plays fast, relies on their offense, and scores the basketball at a high clip. They have the talent, but if the defense improves, they can be in the mix for a Western Conference Finals berth.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets had 41 wins last year. People should expect them to jump to the ballpark of 50 wins. Alperen Sengun has emerged as their best player, playmaker, and future All-Star. They have a pair of scoring guards in Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green. Green may be best as a sixth man considering his playstyle. They have a pair of spot-up shooters in Jabari Smith Jr. and a streaky shooter in Dillon Brooks. Brooks is also a player who takes on the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s best wing or guard scorer every night. Their young core will improve to take the next step and not only can they be a Play-In team, but they also could completely avoid the Play-In Tournament and snag a top-six seed. The Grizzlies, Kings, and Rockets are teams expected to improve and be playoff-caliber teams this coming season.
