Southwest Division team capsules

1. Houston Rockets

2024-25 record: 52-30, 1st in the Southwest

Head coach: Ime Udoka, third season with the Rockets (93-71 record)

Coming and going: The Rockets made the most significant move of the offseason by trading for Kevin Durant in July. The deal cost them Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks (as well as draft choices).

Numbers to crunch: The Rockets were middle of the pack in scoring (14th, 114.3 points per game) last season, which is one of many reasons the Durant acquisition makes sense.

Season snapshot: The Rockets were a playoff bust last season, losing to the seventh-seeded Warriors in seven games in the first round. The acquisition of Durant should at a minimum ensure a longer stay in the playoffs. Durant averaged 26.6 points per game last season and turned 37 in September.

Having Durant and fellow newcomers Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie join holdovers Alperen Sengun, All-Defensive First Team selection Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard should make Houston a repeat division champion and a threat to unseat Oklahoma City in the Western Conference. The loss of Fred VanVleet (ACL) hurts for countless reasons, from perimeter shooting to leadership and valuing the ball. A move to upgrade at the position might become necessary.

2. Dallas Mavericks

2024-25 record: 39-43, 3rd in the Southwest

Head coach: Jason Kidd, fifth season with the Mavericks (179-149 record)

Coming and going : The selection of forward Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall draft pick and the signing of veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell changed Dallas’ identity in a hurry.

Numbers to crunch: Only six NBA teams averaged fewer than Dallas’ 25.2 assists last season. Russell, Kyrie Irving and Flagg, who might start the season at point guard, should improve that ranking.

Season snapshot: Last season the Mavericks barely got into the play-in tournament and didn’t advance out of it just a year after reaching the NBA Finals. Life without Luka Doncic looked liked it would be difficult for a while.

But Flagg, Anthony Davis leading a deep veteran frontcourt and the return of Irving from knee surgery at some point to join Klay Thompson in the backcourt will mark the beginning of a very bright new future that should include a return to the playoffs.

3. Memphis Grizzlies

2024-25 record: 48-34, 2nd in the Southwest

Head coach: Tuomas Iisalo, first full season with the Grizzlies (4-5 record as interim head coach)

Coming and going: The trading of Desmond Bane to Orlando leaves Memphis without one of its primary scorers, though they did bring in veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of the deal.

Numbers to crunch: The Grizzlies averaged 121.7 points last season (second to Oklahoma City), but this year’s team figures to be a lower-scoring group.

Season snapshot: Things were looking good for much of last season before a late-season slide led to the firing of head coach Taylor Jenkins with just weeks left in the regular season, which was followed by being swept by Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs.

The presence of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who is the primary complement to Morant, will keep the Grizzlies relevant. But it’s difficult not to see a drop-off in Bane’s absence, though the arrival of first-round pick Cedric Coward should help.

4. San Antonio Spurs

2024-25 record: 34-48, 4th in the Southwest

Head coach: Mitch Johnson, first full season with the Spurs (32-45 record as interim head coach)

Coming and going: The drafting of Dylan Harper (No. 2 overall) and Carter Bryant (No. 14 overall) as well as the signing of Luke Kornet upgrades the cast around Victor Wembanyama as he enters his third season.

Numbers to crunch: San Antonio tied for 18th in the NBA with an average of 43.7 rebounds per game last season and the arrival of Kornet should help the Spurs become a better rebounding team.

Season snapshot: San Antonio continues to ascend with a mostly young roster. Having De’Aaron Fox for a full season to lead a cast featuring Wembanyama, Harrison Barnes and emerging players such as Devin Vassell, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan have the team on the fast track to a return to the playoffs.

How much Johnson grows as a young head coach and how well the team adjusts to knowing the Gregg Popovich coaching era is officially over will determine whether that return happens as soon as this season.

5. New Orleans Pelicans

2024-25 record: 21-61, 5th in the Southwest

Head coach: Willie Green, fifth season with the Pelicans (148-180 record)

Coming and going: New chief executive Joe Dumars rebuilt the roster with the acquisition of veterans Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and Kevon Looney as well as lottery picks Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. The trade with Washington for Poole and Bey cost them guard CJ McCollum, a team leader.

Numbers to crunch: Injuries forced New Orleans to use 47 starting lineups, second-most in the NBA last season. Staying healthy has been a yearly problem.

Season snapshot: The Pelicans’ fortunes always rest on the availability of two-time All-Star forward Zion Williamson, who has missed more games (258) due to injuries than he has played in (214) since being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019.

Two years ago he played in a career-high 70 games and New Orleans matched its second-best record in franchise history. Last season he played in 30 games and the team had its second-fewest wins. If Dejounte Murray has a successful mid-season return from Achilles surgery and the young core stays mostly healthy, a play-in tournament berth could be within the Pelicans’ reach.

–Field Level Media