2024-2025 NBA preview Part 6

The Southwest division is the final division to be featured in the 2024-2025 NBA preview. All teams included will be trying to make a playoff push this year after only 2 teams were able to make it last year. 

The teams featured are the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs. 

Dallas Mavericks 

PG Luka Doncic | Jaden Hardy | Brandon Williams | Jazian Gortman 

SG Kyrie Irving | Spencer Dinwiddie | Quentin Grimes 

SF Klay Thompson | Naji Marshall | Kessler Edwards 

PF PJ Washington | Maxi Kleber | Olivier-Maxence Prosper | Markieff Morris 

C  Daniel Gafford | Dreck Lively | Dwight Powell

The Mavericks have undergone some roster changes since the start of the offseason. They traded away Tim Hardaway Jr. and draft capital to land Quentin Grimes. The move allowed them to free up the mid-level tax exemption to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr., but he chose to sign with the Clippers instead. The Mavericks then turned around and signed Naji Marshall to replace Jones Jr.’s role with the team last year. The big splash however, came from Dallas acquiring Klay Thompson in a sign-and-trade with the Warriors that also involved a couple other teams. The move gave the Mavericks what they really wanted, the threat of a high level shooter on the floor. Thompson’s shooting provides the Mavericks with something they’ve been missing for the last couple of seasons. While Thompson still seems to be showing signs of slowing down from his past injuries, I seriously doubt teams will just let him shoot wide open threes. Couple this next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving and this is exactly what the Mavericks have been looking for. However, the one question I have is, Will they be able to show the defensive ability that led them to the finals last year? Losing Jones is a big loss, however signing Naji Marshall essentially replaces him. I’m not sure if Thompson is going to start (I think he should come off the bench), but having Marshall fills the defensive perimeter the Mavs need next to Luka and Kyrie. Overall, I’d be surprised if the Mavericks have a repeat of last year, but with Dereck Lively getting better, and the addition of Grimes the Mavericks can make a deep run in the Western Conference. They also still have Luka Doncic, who I would not bet against in the playoffs. 

New Orleans Pelicans 

PG Dejounte Murray | Jose Alvarado | Antonio Reeves 

SG CJ McCollum | Jordan Hawkins | Javonte Green 

SF Brandon Ingram | Herb Jones | Jamal Cain 

PF Zion Williamson | Trey Murphy | Jeremiah Robinson-Earl 

C Daniel Theis | Yves Missi | Karlo Matkovic 

The New Orleans Pelicans had a very public offseason. It started with them acquiring Dejounte Murray for Larry Nance Jr, Dyson Daniels and some first round picks with the Atlanta Hawks. Murray fills the need for a playmaker at the point guard position and provides them with some more star power at the top of the roster. However, the extension Brandon Ingram wanted did not happen. The Pelicans did not give Brandon Ingram a 4 year 208 Million dollar extension that he is eligible for and he will play this year on an expiring contract. This move showed that the Pelicans feel like Trey Murphy is ready to fill in and play more minutes. Murphy has shown he is a high-level shooter and defender on the perimeter, two areas where Ingram struggles. If the Pelicans feel the need to start Murray and Ingram then they could have a smaller lineup that sees them switching 1-5 with Herb Jones starting on the 5. The Pelicans need to sort this out amongst the coaching and front office, but none of it matters unless Zion Williamson is healthy for the duration of the entire season. Williamson had a wake up call in the NBA In-Season Tournament last year against the Los Angeles Lakers. He has needed to be in better shape since entering the league and on a national stage he was embarrassed by the Lakers. However, in the Play-In he showed what he was capable of. He put up 38 points before injuring his hamstring in a loss to the Lakers. He showed he is more than capable of the big moments in the playoffs. New Orleans still has a lot to sort out amongst its roster, but if everyone is healthy and has the right mindset. They can find themselves in the playoffs this year. 

Houston Rockets 

PG Fred VanVleet | Amen Thompson | Jeenathan Williams 

SG Jalen Green | Reed Sheppard | Aaron Holiday | Nate Hinton 

SF Dillion Brooks | Jae’ Sean Tate | Cam Whitmore 

PF Jabari Smith | Tari Eason | Jeff Green 

C Alperen Sengun | Steven Adams | Jock Landale 

The Houston Rockets are my pick to be the young, feisty team that knocks off some of the better teams in the Western Conference. Houston was able to put together an 11 game win streak that saw themselves just 1.5 games behind the Warriors for the 10th seed in the Western Conference last year. During that streak Jalen Green reached another level that many have waited for. He averaged 30 points per game and was shooting with good efficiency. Both him and Alperen Sengun did not get the rookie extension they both hoped for. The Rockets also need to figure out who will be the main parts of the roster in the future. Including this year's draft pick, Reed Sheppard, the Rockets have 7 guys that they view as part of their future. Figuring out who fits well together will be the main purpose of this upcoming season. Sheppard also has rookie of the year potential and can really help this team win. He is a lights out shooter, something they have been after for a long time, and plays with high IQ. I think the Rockets will surprise some teams this year and will be in the play-offs either through earning a top 6 seed or through the play-in. 

Memphis Grizzlies

PG Ja Morant | Scotty Pippen Jr. | Cam Spencer | Yuki Kawamura 

SG Marcus Smart | GG Jackson | Luke Kennard 

SF Desmond Bane | Vince Williams | John Konchar 

PF Santi Aldama | Jake LaRavia | Jaylen Wells 

C Jaren Jackson Jr. | Zach Edey | Brandon Clarke 

The Memphis Grizzlies will look to bounce back after a very bumpy 2023-2024 season, Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all played less than 50 games a year ago. The Grizzlies are a team I would not sleep on this year either. They returned all of their roster from injury last year and found some key guys throughout last year. GG Jackson, Vince Williams, and Jake LaRavia all showed throughout the season last year and in summer league they can help the roster out right now. Add in a potential rookie of the year candidate in Zach Edey and they are ready to go. The Grizzlies need to get off to a good start and find some chemistry playing together. While they did not make any changes to the roster in the offseason, they still haven’t played a lot of basketball together. It would not surprise me if the Grizzlies were a 50 win team and found themselves in the Conference Semifinals. They have an absolute dog of a player and leader in Ja Morant and finally addressed their perimeter defensive issues. I would be surprised if this team is not in the playoffs this upcoming year.  

San Antonio Spurs

PG Chris Paul | Tre Jones | Blake Wesley | Malachi Flynn 

SG Devin Vassell | Stephen Castle | Sidy Cissoko 

SF Harrison Barnes | Malaki Branham | Harrison Ingram 

PF Jeremy Sochan | Keldon Johnson | Sandro Mamukelashvili 

C Victor Wembanyama | Zach Collins | Charles Bassey 

The Spurs are coming off a season that saw them barely win 20 games and yet it couldn’t have been a better year for them. This is mainly due to the fact that Victor Wembanyama is exactly who everyone thought he was coming into the league as a rookie. The 7”4 Frenchman took the league by storm, averaging 20 points a game, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He made first team All-NBA defense, and was runner up in defensive player of the year voting. His improvement from the first half of the year to the second half was ridiculous and showed everyone that he might be taking over the league in 2 years or so. While the offensive shooting still needs to improve he has every ability needed to be a franchise player. The injury to Devin Vassell will cause him to miss the opening part of the season, but the Spurs were able to sign Chris Paul on a 1 year deal. Paul will give Wembanyama, one of the best passers in the league and one of the smartest players. Paul will also give Wembanyama an actual point guard, who will be able to throw the absurd passes only he can get to. While the Spurs still need to figure out who to pair next to Wembanyama, Stephon Castle is a good start. The 6 '6 wing from UConn will learn how to be an NBA point guard from Paul and give the Spurs someone next to Wembanyama. I don’t think the Spurs will make it to the playoffs this year, but the play-in is not out of the question.