In my second edition, I will discuss every team in the Pacific Division and a critical question they face going into the regular season. This division has the best three NBA players LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant over the past decade. Also, this division has been the most competitive in the NBA in the past five years. Each team other than the Sacramento Kings has appeared in the Western Conference finals in nine of the past 10 seasons. This division includes the Golden State Warriors, the most recent NBA dynasty, the star-struck Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns, who are looking to bounce back after an underperforming season with their big three, the up-and-coming Sacramento Kings, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Let’s see what critical question each team faces in the Pacific Division.
One Question For Each NBA Pacific Division Team Ahead of 2024-25
Golden State Warriors- Can One of the Young Stars Become Steph’s Robin?
It will be the first time since 2011, one of the “Splash Bros” will not be on the Warriors roster. With that being said, it seems like Golden State is in limbo. They are trying to maximize Curry’s window of competing for a title while figuring out if any of the young players are capable of being a number two option and eventual number one option. Players like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski have shown promise. However, can either step up and be the solid number two option on a team still trying to compete? Kuminga shown when given minutes he can give you 20 points consistently. Determining a number two scoring option will be very important if the Warriors want to compete in any shape or form. Golden State got some pieces and got younger which should result in being a better team than last year. However, as currently constructed they will need a 36-year-old Curry to carry a heavy offensive load to stay in the playoff race. But the Warriors right now are a play-in team at best.
Los Angeles Clippers- Can Kawhi Leonard and James Harden Keep the Clippers Relevant?
If this were 2019, then this wouldn’t be a question. Five years ago, James Harden was putting up an unbelievable 36 points a night and was a consistent MVP candidate. Kawhi Leonard, on the other hand, was coming off a historical playoff run with the Toronto Raptors resulting in a Finals MVP. Now, things have changed five years later. To add insult to injury, the Clippers were one of the biggest losers this offseason by losing Paul George for nothing. Kawhi is now 33 and one of the most injured superstars in the past 10 years and Harden will be 35, and able to be a number one option on a playoff team. The Clippers acquired pieces that could bring different elements and improve their defense. However, the ceiling of this team just got a lot lower. At least Tyronn Lue has proven to keep the Clippers relevant without the stars.
Los Angeles Lakers- Will Their Quiet Offseason Result in Dire Consequences?
This isn’t a knock on JJ Reddick or Bronny James. But this was a rough offseason for the Lakeshow. The Lakers will be relying on basically the same team but hoping their issue was coaching. Reddick, in my opinion, has the potential to be a great coach. However, he is going to a franchise that has gone through seven different coaches since Phil Jackson. Anthony Davis and LeBron had their most healthy seasons since the 2020 championship, but it resulted in a first-round loss to the Denver Nuggets. Maybe continuity might be a good thing because Rob Pelinka has had a history of turning over the roster frequently. Yes, the supporting cast also dealt with injuries throughout last season as well and maybe they can find their 2023 postseason mojo. But seriously. The Lakers will continue to rely on a 40-year-old LeBron and an injury-prone AD to carry them on a nightly basis again. And if either of them misses significant time, the Lakers could be in for a season in the lottery.
Phoenix Suns- Will the Point Guard Acquisitions Be the Answer?
The Suns hope a year of continuity, health, and a new coach can help them return to title contender status. Phoenix was a team that ranked dead last in bench points and had no options at point guard. With the signings of Tyus Jones and Monte Morris, Phoenix will now have two options at point guard. This could be very beneficial for the Suns because it will allow Bradley Beal and Devin Booker to play more off-ball and do what they do best which is to score. Jones is coming off a season as a full-time starter for the Washington Wizards where he proved to be a solid starter. This will also allow guys like Beal or Grayson Allen to come off the bench and provide scoring for a team that had arguably the worst bench. However, can the two-point guards be the X-factor this season? The Suns will have to rely on 36-year-old Durant to be healthy, hope the chemistry of the Big 3 improves, and learn Mike Budenholzer’s new system. This is a typical high-ceiling, low-floor team.
Sacramento Kings- How Will DeMar DeRozan Fit Into the Offense?
The Kings acquired a six-time All-Star and someone who has consistently averaged 20 points a game in DeMar DeRozan. Sacramento is no question better on paper from a talent perspective, but how exactly will he fit into the Kings’ offense? Two seasons ago, Sacramento was number one in offensive efficiency. The Kings also ranked third and sixth in transition points the past two seasons. DeRozan, on the other hand, has been known to be one of the top isolation scorers in the NBA for the past decade. The concerns questioning the fit of DeRozan will be if the fast-paced offense and high ball movement will be compromised for more isolation. Also, he will be 35 going into the season, and his below-average defense will compromise an already below-average defense. Still, whether the move works out or not, Sacramento will have another guy who can easily drop 20 points a night, and this move can move them above the lower playoff team and play-in tournament tier.
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Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
