1.Brooklyn Nets
Record Last season: 45-37
Key Additions: Marcus Derrickson, Tyler Ennis
Key Departures: D'Angelo Russell
The Nets are the cop out answer in this, so we'll spend the least amount of time on them. The Nets struck out on all the top free agents they chased, namely Bryce Cotton who would have filled a need perfectly. Then they let D'Angelo Russell, a quality combo guard but best suited for a sixth man role, walk in free agency to the Lakers. Not matching a max contract for Russell was the better long term play, but it definitely hurts them in the short term.
Despite the losses though, the Nets are still in position to contend for the playoffs this year. They're still a team that has plenty of talent. DeAndre Ayton should take some sort of leap in his second year, Rashad Vaughn is one of the best shooters in the league, Tyler Ennis is still an upgrade at point guard and Pascal Siakam, Malachi Richardson, Myles Turner and Jonathan Isaac are all good pieces. We'll see if Marcus Derrickson can contribute as a rookie, but I think he's a couple years away.
In an Eastern conference that is littered with solid, mid-tier playoff teams, we'll see if the Nets can get over the hump this year after missing out by just a game last year. Without landing that big time point guard though, it's definitely going to be harder.
2.San Antonio Spurs
Record Last season: 26-56
Key Additions: Montrezl Harrell, Dion Waiters, TJ Warren, Al-Farouq Aminu
Key Departures: Jahlil Okafor, Mike Conley
The Spurs are a surprise team to find themselves in this article after finishing with the fourth worst record last season and surrendering a top 5 pick to the Pistons. Still with a pair of really good moves, and some really strong post-trade play from Terry Rozier, the Spurs could very well find themselves in the thick of the playoff race in the West next season.
Looking at the Spurs additions vs. departures this offseason is a thing of beauty. For what they gave up (plus a future first round pick), they got a hell of a haul. Okafor is a slightly overrated big man and Conley is on his last legs and nothing more than a backup point guard at this point, while Waiters is a quite good (albeit slightly overpaid) two-way wing, Harrell is a rock solid starter and Warren and Aminu are some solid depth. Add that to Rozier, Davis Bertans, and the young and improving Mo Bamba and Frank Ntilikina, the Spurs have themselves a really good rotation.
They may not be the second best team on this list next season, but with those moves and a relatively weak bottom half of the West, they're set up to be in playoff contention this year.
3.New Orleans Pelicans
Record Last season: 30-52
Key Additions: Paul George, Moe Harkless
Key Departures: Roy Devyn Marble, Chandler Parsons
With the free agent acquisition of Paul George, the Pelicans will likely be able to autopilot themselves to the playoffs in the West Moe Harkless is really good as well, especially for what they gave up. However, despite adding to very good players, consider me skeptical.
Combining Paul George, even at age 34, with Anthony Davis, is pretty much an automatic playoff bid. Even if the team around them is a mess, which make no mistake, it absolutely is. Beyond the two stars and Moe Harkless, the Pelicans roster is very, very weak. Joe Jackson is ok, but should absolutely not be a starting point guard. Brandon Jennings can add some value as a bench spark plug, but he's terribly inefficient and a bad defender. Brice Johnson is a solid backup big, but he's no more than that. And that's... it. Those are the only other CSL rotation players they have, and none of them are really even average.
On top of that, they don't really have any path to getting better. They don't have their first this upcoming year and none of the other guys have much trade value. Right now, their only real trade asset is their 2026 1st, but they may want to be weary of trading a pick that'll take place when Paul George is 36 and Anthony Davis isn't under contract.
For a team that's really three players deep, they'll be pretty good. But I think they max out as a sixth seed as currently constructed and are going to have a real hard time finding a way to improve beyond what they already have.
4.Utah Jazz
Record Last season: 34-48
Key Additions: De'Anthony Melton
Key Departures: Bryce Cotton
Despite losing Bryce Cotton in free agency and not really adding anyone of note just yet, the Jazz are likely in line to find themselves in the playoff race. Their key additions happened at the trade deadline, when they added Kyrie Irving and Daniel Hamilton, two terrific players with good skill-sets, and their post-deadline record showed as much.
In a weak West, the Jazz could find themselves in the top 8 with a full season of the Kyrie and KP combination. With nice role pieces in Fuquan Edwin, Gorgui Dieng and Jalen Jones, the Jazz have just enough around Kyrie, KP and Daniel Hamilton to really compete for a playoff spot.
