2024-25 Pacific Division Preview

 We are officially less than a week away from the start of the 2024-25 NBA season! To celebrate we are doing a brief preview of each division every day leading up to opening tip-off. We will discuss projected lineups and rotations, key players, and any question marks the team may have. For the projected lineups it is a prediction of the starters and the five bench players who will play most if each team has optimal health and success. These are mostly correlated to what is expected, but I sprinkled my own personal opinion in some situations. Any player with an asterisk is someone with a somewhat prolonged injury. Without further ado, here is the Pacific Division preview!

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

G: Steph Curry / De’Anthony Melton

G: Brandon Podziemski / Buddy Hield / Gary Payton II

F: Jonathan Kuminga / Moses Moody

F: Andrew Wiggins / Kyle Anderson

F: Draymond Green / Trayce Jackson-Davis

Player I Like: Buddy Hield

-One of the greatest shooters in the history of the game (will 100% argue this) he could be a new splash brother.

MVP: Steph Curry

-The team will go as Curry goes.

6MOY: Kyle Anderson

-They do not have tons of size on the bench, or in general, and Anderson will have to give them good minutes at the forward position.

X-Factor: Jonathan Kuminga

-This is the year the Dubs need Kuminga to take the leap that they have all been waiting for. If he can give them good scoring from the wing position then I think that will lead to the highest ceiling for the Warriors.

Another play-in season is likely in my opinion. I do not really think their current roster construction is fantastic, but they still have Steph Curry who is still quite good enough to win you games by himself. They need one of Podz, Kuminga, or Moody to fully break out if they want to make the playoffs without the extra struggle of the play-in. 

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

G: James Harden / Kris Dunn

G: Norman Powell

F: Terance Mann / Derrick Jones Jr / Amir Coffey

F: Kawhi Leonard* / Nicolas Batum

C: Ivica Zubac / Mo Bamba

Player I Like: Jordan Miller

-Especially with Kawhi being out indefinitely Miller might get some minutes. A very good scorer I would love for him to get some run.

MVP: James Harden

-If the Clippers are going to stay afloat without Kawhi then a lot of responsibility will fall on Harden's shoulders.

6MOY: Derrick Jones Jr

-A good defender and spark to bring off the bench, he could be in contention to take Kawhi's starting spot.

X-Factor: Kawhi Leonard

-We do not know how long he will be out, but when he is healthy Kawhi is still one of the best players in the game. If he can return before the playoffs the Clippers still can be a competitive team.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

G: D’Angelo Russell / Gabe Vincent

G: Austin Reaves / Max Christie / Dalton Knecht

F: Rui Hachimura

F: LeBron James / Jarred Vanderbilt

C: Anthony Davis / Jaxson Hayes

Player I Like: LeBron James

-My GOAT

MVP: Anthony Davis

-I think we need to see 2020 Bubble version of Davis offensively for the Lakers to reach their true potential.

6MOY: Gabe Vincent

-The Lakers need a reliable ball handler off the bench and will look to Vincent to provide some consistency.

X-Factor: D’Angelo Russell

-Regular season DLO has been pretty dang good for the Lakers. Playoff DLO, not so much. If DLO can give the Lakers a consistent third scoring option that takes a lot of pressure off of LeBron and AD.

The Lakers are going to run some exciting stuff with JJ Redick. They have two of the best players in the world in AD and LeBron. That being said, I do not think they have much improved at all on their play-in team roster from a year ago. I think that is about their level again in 2024-25.

PHOENIX SUNS

G: Tyus Jones / Monte Morris

G: Bradley Beal / Grayson Allen

G: Devin Booker / Ryan Dunn

F: Kevin Durant / Royce O’Neal

C: Jusuf Nurkic / Oso Ighodaro

Player I Like: Oso Ighodaro

-I love the potential of Oso initiating some of the offense at the nail through DHO's.

MVP: Devin Booker

-One of the league's best all around players in my opinion. Has shown elite level scoring throughout his career and the last few years has shown good playmaking and defensive chops.

6MOY: Grayson Allen

-They gave him a big extension for a reason. Led the league in 3PT% a year ago, he will be the go to scorer off the bench.

X-Factor: Bradley Beal

-To maximize their talent, the #3 of the big three must show a little more than he did last year. A full healthy offseason and a year to acclimate to Phoenix hopefully allows this to happen.

I actually like the Suns quite a lot this season. Of course they have their 3 main guys, but I am a fan of some of the role players that they have too. If they can get good contributions from those guys I can see Booker and KD being in the top half of the West.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

G: De’Aaron Fox / Devin Carter*

G: Keon Ellis / Malik Monk / Kevin Huerter

F: DeMar DeRozan

F: Keegan Murray

C: Domantas Sabonis / Alex Len / Trey Lyles

Player I Like: Trey Lyles

-I like what he can do on offense, spreading the floor. Adds another dimension than their other big men.

MVP: De’Aaron Fox

-He often gets overshadowed by the other great guards in the league, but Fox is still a top 10 PG in the NBA.

6MOY: Malik Monk

-He should have won the award last year. He will provide instant scoring off the bench once again.

X-Factor: DeMar DeRozan

-If DeRozan can provide consistency offense, then I think that does give the Kings some good versatility with how they play and the many different players that they can play through.

I do question the fit of DeRozan with Sabonis, as it seems they may lack perimeter spacing. But I admire the Kings for trying to acquire talent to compete in the stacked Western Conference. I am truly intrigued by this team as I think the fluctuation of their floor to their ceiling might be the widest margin in the whole association.