2024-25 NBA Power Rankings: An early look at where Suns stack up in loaded West

Now that the dust has settled on another offseason, Phoenix Suns fans may already be wondering where their team stacks up in a loaded Western Conference. So what better time for a way-too-early edition of NBA Power Rankings for the 2024-25 campaign?

Because it’s August — and because, let’s be honest, you don’t really care about the East as a Suns fan right now anyway — these NBA Power Rankings will only include the 15 Western Conference squads. But each one is worth examining for a variety of different reasons, especially after a summer of (some) movement.

Which teams could impact the lay of the land as sellers at the trade deadline? Which teams will be fighting for a play-in spot? And which teams have a realistic shot of representing the West in the Finals? Because this conference is so loaded, because there aren’t many teams expected to tank, and because you want to know where the new-look Suns might truly measure up in the West, let’s dive into our NBA Power Rankings.

15. Portland Trail Blazers

2023-24 regular-season record: 21-61
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 22.5
Key additions: Deni Avdija, Devonte’ Graham, Donovan Clingan
Key losses: Malcolm Brogdon

Out of the 15 teams in the West, about 13 of them have a feasible path to 40-plus wins and a potential play-in spot. The Blazers are one of the two that don’t.

Portland is rebuilding, and with Malcolm Brogdon gone, there aren’t many adults in the room. This is a trial by fire for most of the young cornerstones, with the hope that one of them can prove himself as “the guy” that the Blazers currently lack.

Anfernee Simons felt like he could be it, but while he’s a talented young scorer, he’s not “face of the franchise” material, and he’s already become a popular hypothetical trade target. Scoot Henderson simply needs to be better after a rookie year where he shot 38.5 percent from the field and averaged 3.4 turnovers a night. Shaedon Sharpe is probably their best bet, but he only played 32 games last year. Toumani Camara is a solid role player and defensive wing, but stardom feels like a stretch.

As for the logjam at center, Deandre Ayton was a letdown in Year 1, and he feels fully expendable given his contract and the fact that Portland just drafted Donovan Clingan seventh overall. Chauncey Billups can talk about playing Ayton at the 4 alongside Clingan all he wants, but Suns fans know DA’s career-long wish to play power forward is misguided, and Clingan didn’t look overly impressive at NBA Summer League either. Robert Williams III is always hurt, and honestly, Duop Reath might wind up being the least disappointing big in that bunch.

Long story short, the Blazers aren’t good. They’ve got Jerami Grant wasting away on an untradable contract under the new CBA, and as much as we like Deni Avdija, this is a team that will be perfectly content tanking while they’re still 3-4 years away.

14. Utah Jazz

2023-24 regular-season record: 31-51
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 28.5
Key additions: Drew Eubanks, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski
Key losses: Kris Dunn, Simone Fontecchio

Pick a lane, Danny. We’ll give credit where credit is due with the pick-heavy returns Utah got for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but dangling Lauri Markkanen in trade talks for the last year, then giving him a five-year, $238 million extension — while ensuring he’s not trade-eligible this season in the process — was a curious order of operations. Are the Jazz content with tanking and wasting away the rest of Markkanen’s prime? Or are they actually going to try and build around him in the short-term?

Most likely, all signs point to Danny Ainge extending Markkanen because the trade offers weren’t good enough for his liking, then circling back to trade talks next summer after another 30-win season.

There’s just too much youth to develop and too many picks on the horizon to go the other route. Adding Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski in the draft was a great haul, Keyonte George needs more on-ball reps, and Walker Kessler has promise. It feels like only a matter of time before the Jazz are shipping off spare parts like Jordan Clarkson ($14.1 million salary), Collin Sexton ($18.4 million) and John Collins ($26.6 million) — if they can find a taker for his deal, that is.

13. San Antonio Spurs

2023-24 regular-season record: 22-60
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 35.5
Key additions: Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle
Key losses: Cedi Osman(?), Devonte’ Graham

Chris Paul and Year 2 of the Victor Wembanyama experience could be something special. Wemby was already a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie, and he could be the frontrunner in his age-20 season. He helped lead France to a silver medal at the Olympics, and it won’t be long before he’s the most dominant force in the league. MVP-caliber numbers aren’t out of the question after he put up a 21-11-4-4-1 stat line while “figuring it out” in his first NBA season.

But as much as Wembanyama will be the force that drives the Spurs’ success, don’t sleep on the Chris Paul Effect. Just look at how every single one of his teams have improved as soon as he got there, compared to the season prior:

• Charlotte Hornets: Improved from 18 wins to 38 wins after drafting CP3
• LA Clippers: Improved from 32 wins to 50-win pace* after adding CP3
• Houston Rockets: Improved from 55 wins to 65 wins after adding CP3
• Oklahoma City Thunder: Improved from 49 wins to 50-win pace* after adding CP3
• Phoenix Suns: Improved from 34 wins to 58-win pace* after adding CP3
• Golden State Warriors: Improved from 44 wins to 46 wins after adding CP3

*= Shortened NBA season

On average, every single team that added Chris Paul won 12.5 more games than they did the season before his arrival. Obviously the Point God is in his twilight now, but don’t overlook the combination of his and Gregg Popovich’s basketball brilliance, the addition of a veteran, two-way wing like Harrison Barnes, or the potential of a young group that includes Wemby, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones and Stephon Castle.

12. Houston Rockets

2023-24 regular-season record: 41-41
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 42.5
Key additions: Reed Sheppard, a healthy Steven Adams
Key losses: N/A

Running it back! More continuity! A year under Ime Udoka! Younger players taking a step forward! We’re really not sure about Alperen Sengun or Jalen Green being franchise players or being deserving rookie extensions, but one of these guys has to seize that mantle eventually, right?

If this sounds dismissive, let’s clarify: Sengun and Green both look like really good players, and this group jumped from 22 wins the season prior to 41 wins last year. They could be a frisky young group with tons of athleticism that winds up fighting for a play-in spot.

But as much as this team made a leap last season, is there another one coming that launches the Rockets (sorry) into the stratosphere (sorry again)? Or are they doomed to remain floating in orbit (I really am sorry) or even be marked as a failure to launch (okay I’m actually not sorry at this point)?

Amen Thompson looks crucial to the Rockets’ long-term plans, but they’re also well-positioned to trade for a star with some combination of enticing young players and draft assets. It won’t be for Kevin Durant, though, and we need to see more progress from some of the younger guys before we’re buying them as a legitimate playoff team.

11. LA Clippers

2023-24 regular-season record: 51-31
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 41.5
Key additions: Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kris Dunn, Mo Bamba, Kevin Porter Jr.
Key losses: Paul George, Russell Westbrook, Mason Plumlee, Daniel Theis

I’m not as low on the Clippers as most people are. Despite losing Paul George for nothing, it’s not like PG was carrying this group to playoff wins (or even coming close). This is Tyronn Lue’s greatest test, but the Clippers did add some decent pieces on the margins.

Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum and Kris Dunn are three rock-solid role players who defend, providing length at the point of attack and on the wing. Good luck to opposing backcourts trying to deal with the defensive tandem of Dunn and Terance Mann without getting annoyed! And if we’re being completely honest, losing Russell Westbrook is some serious addition by subtraction.

With that being said, the margin for error is really slim. If Kawhi Leonard or James Harden miss any significant time, this group will slip down the standings quickly. Leonard was relatively healthy last year, playing in 68 games, and Harden has been a workhorse for most of his career, logging 72 games last season.

But the Clippers need more from Harden, especially with his driving frequency now that George is gone. Harden honestly might be underrated at this point, and last year he remained one of the league’s most efficient iso players and pick-and-roll maestros. But LA will need him to score and set the table on offense, all while hoping Leonard can stay healthy enough to carry on as the same game-changing superstar we saw last year.

One smaller problem: The center depth behind Ivica Zubac is worrisome. Maybe Lue can coax the best out of Mo Bamba, but if Zubac deals with any sort of injuries or foul trouble, this group no longer has a Mason Plumlee or Daniel Theis to turn to.

10. Los Angeles Lakers

2023-24 regular-season record: 47-35
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 44.5
Key additions: Dalton Knecht, Bronny James
Key losses: Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie 

After watching LeBron James and Anthony Davis play at an elite level at the Olympics, and after witnessing their healthiest seasons in a long time, it’s borderline shameful how the Lakers approached their offseason. Even for a team dealing with tax apron hurdles, running it back with virtually the same group, adding two rookies, and hoping a new coach solves all their problems feels like letting the clock run out on the last precious years of contention that LeBron and AD will share together.

So…congrats on re-signing Max Christie, I guess? Hooray for Dalton Knecht being one of the few players on this roster who can make 3s? For the record, I believe J.J. Redick will be a damn good head coach, and even if he’s simply okay, this group should get more out of a healthier Gabe Vincent (11 games played last year) and Jarred Vanderbilt (29 games).

But can the Lakers count on their two stars staying as healthy as they did last year again? James played 71 games (his most in a season since 2017-18) and the Brow played in 76 (a career high, and the only time since 2017-18 where he played 63-plus). If either of them reverts back to the norm on the injury front, Los Angeles is in trouble. Even worse, they don’t have many avenues to improve if Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are their best trade chips.

9. Sacramento Kings

2023-24 regular-season record: 46-36
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 46.5
Key additions: DeMar DeRozan, Jalen McDaniels, Devin Carter*
Key losses: Harrison Barnes, Davion Mitchell

Not to be overly dramatic, but the DeMar DeRozan gambit could make-or-break this current iteration of the Kings. This group is playoff-caliber, but not quite good enough to actually make some noise there. You don’t make a move for a 35-year-old who can almost singlehandedly carry an offense with his midrange proficiency without sensing that.

And that’s not to rain on Sacramento’s parade after two decades of gloomy forecasts! But in this loaded West, the teams in this 6-12 range are neck and neck, and I’m not sold on this one being a certified playoff squad.

Last year, the Kings dropped from the NBA’s No. 1 offense the season prior all the way to 13th. Having a go-to scorer who can create his own buckets like DeRozan, alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, theoretically should push Sacramento back into top-10 territory at least.

But DeRozan’s midrange prowess doesn’t necessarily jive with the Kings being a top-six team in 3-point attempts over the last two seasons. Defensively, going from Harrison Barnes to DeRozan is a sacrifice for an average, 14th-ranked defense. Jalen McDaniels should help there, but he’ll be coming off the bench. Trading away Davion Mitchell clears up the backup point guard minutes for Keon Ellis, but it cost the Kings their best ball hawk at the point of attack. Rookie Devin Carter might have filled that role beautifully, but he’s likely to miss most of the season with a shoulder injury.

The Kings should still be a playoff-caliber team with a top-10 offense and three dudes who present matchups problems all over the floor. But spacing will be paramount for a team that was middle-of-the-pack in 3-point percentage last year, their offense has to be elite in order to make up for what might be a subpar defense, and they’re unlikely to enjoy the same injury luck as last year, when their top-five scorers all played at least 72 games (and their sixth, Kevin Huerter, played 64 as well).

8. New Orleans Pelicans

2023-24 regular-season record: 49-33
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 45.5
Key additions: Dejounte Murray, Daniel Theis, Yves Missi, Antonio Reeves
Key losses: Jonas Valanciunas, Naji Marshall, Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels

The Pelicans are hard to project given the roster’s current state, and predicting when they’ll make a move to alleviate some of that overlap is even more difficult. On paper, a six-man core of Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Zion Williamson sounds great! But then you realize that two of those six will have to come off the bench if Willie Green wants an actual center in the starting lineup, and it gets worse once you start wondering who that center will be.

When New Orleans landed Murray, most people assumed one or both of Ingram and McCollum would be on the move next. But here we are, almost two months later, and the Pelicans were unable to move either one. Does any team want to give up assets for Ingram on a $36 million expiring deal, when they’ll have to give him a max contract right after that? Or how about McCollum, with two years and $64 million left on his deal?

Basically half the league is in the tax apron now, which makes it more difficult than ever to execute big trades. So if this really is NOLA’s roster for the whole season, who’s coming off the bench? It should probably be McCollum, but would he be willing to do so? The same goes for Ingram, and all signs point to an All-Star who wouldn’t be very happy about getting benched again. But if Ingram remains in the starting five, aren’t the Pelicans stagnating the potential growth of their two wings of the future?

All this is without even addressing the major questions at the center spot. Say what you will about Jonas Valanciunas and his limitations, but he and Larry Nance Jr. are gone. That leaves New Orleans with a choice between journeyman Daniel Theis and rookie Yves Missi — one solid vet and one promising rookie, both of whom are probably better-suited as backups at this stage.

The Pelicans have a ton of talent and wing depth, especially if Zion stays healthy. They have scorers, and if Murray taps back into the All-Defensive Team version of himself that we rarely saw in Atlanta, this team could be really dangerous defensively too. But staying healthy is a big enough “if” as it is, and Willie Green is really going to have to thread multiple needles for everything to fall into place.

7. Golden State Warriors

2023-24 regular-season record: 46-36
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 42.5
Key additions: Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson
Key losses: Klay Thompson, Chris Paul, Dario Saric

Unpopular opinion: I think the Warriors might actually be better than they were last year! No offense to Klay Thompson, but aside from spot-up 3-point shooting, he’s a shell of the player he once was on both ends. Between De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, the Dubs replaced the perimeter and wing defense he used to provide. And with Buddy Hield, they replaced most of the high-volume 3-point efficiency he brought to the table:

• 2023-24 Klay Thompson: 38.7 3P% on 9.0 attempts per game
• 2023-24 Buddy Hield: 38.6 3P% on 6.8 attempts per game

Losing Chris Paul and Dario Saric’s chemistry with the second unit hurts a bit, but if Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski take another step forward, the supporting cast should have more depth, defense and shooting around Stephen Curry — especially if Melton’s 3-point efficiency jumps back to where it was for the three seasons prior to last year’s injury-riddled campaign.

Playing without Klay may be a jarring experience for Golden State, but if Draymond Green can just avoid a mental breakdown (maybe by not swinging on opposing players or putting dudes in headlocks), the Dubs could push toward 50-plus wins again. As we saw in the Olympics, Steph is still Steph, and one could argue that going from this version of Klay Thompson to three serviceable role players was an improvement.

6. Memphis Grizzlies

2023-24 regular-season record: 27-55
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 46.5
Key additions: Zach Edey and Cam Spencer
Key losses: N/A

Jumping from 27 wins to 46 this year would be quite a leap, but consider this: The Grizzlies employed 33 different players, tried 53 unique starting lineups and lost 578 games due to injury last season. All three of those numbers were NBA records. That is an insanely bad season of injury luck.

For all the concerns about Ja Morant keeping his head on straight, simply being healthier will help Memphis return to playoff form. Aside from Morant’s 25-game suspension, he also went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in January, limiting him to just nine games. Desmond Bane only played 42. Brandon Clarke (6), Luke Kennard (39) and Marcus Smart (20) barely saw the floor. Hell, even Jaren Jackson Jr. — their leader in games played — only managed 66 appearances!

Like a few other teams on our list, the big question is whether the Grizz have enough to get by at center. Rookie Zach Edey is more NBA-ready than people are giving him credit for, but is he ready to be a full-time starting center on a playoff contender? The physical toll is different at this level, especially going from 30-some games to 82. Outside of Edey, Memphis has virtually zero little depth at the 5. JJJ can log some minutes there, but he struggles with rebounds and foul trouble, and according to Cleaning The Glass, he only spent 26 percent of his minutes at center last year.

The Grizzlies should be healthier, and therefore, better this season. But even if Ja and company immediately get back on track, this roster is far from perfect, and they’ll be relying on an NBA novice to hold things down in the paint.

5. Denver Nuggets

2023-24 regular-season record: 57-25
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 52.5
Key additions: Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric, DaRon Holmes II*
Key losses: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson

For the second straight year, the Nuggets let a valuable role player walk for nothing because they didn’t want to pay up to keep a championship-caliber core intact. And for the second straight year, they’ll most likely fall short of a championship despite having the best player on earth in the midst of his prime.

Granted, this is lower on our NBA Power Rankings than people probably expected. And to be clear, Denver will probably still win 50-55 games because Nikola Jokic is just that good. But letting Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in back-to-back offseasons was managerial malpractice, and I think this year the Nuggets will finally feel the impact.

Christian Braun should prove himself as a starting-caliber player in this league. This year’s likely starting lineup — with Braun in KCP’s place alongside Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. — only played 28 minutes together all season, but they did boast a +8.6 Net Rating.

The problem is that Net Rating went to hell in the 12 playoff minutes they shared the court, and even if Braun slots in seamlessly, he’s nowhere near the point-of-attack defender that Caldwell-Pope was. Peyton Watson can help in that regard off the bench, but the Nuggets’ second unit looks rough.

Dario Saric is a solid, high-IQ pickup, but he’s limited athletically and defensively. Losing rookie DaRon Holmes II hurts. And going from Reggie Jackson to Russell Westbrook in the year 2024 is a terrible decision and a certain downgrade. The Nuggets are still a force in the West and one of five teams that could realistically win the conference, but Joker is going to have to drag them there. This might be the year that cheap ownership bites them in the ass from a depth perspective.

4. Dallas Mavericks

2023-24 regular-season record: 50-32
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 50.5
Key additions: Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes
Key losses: Derrick Jones Jr., Josh Green, Tim Hardaway Jr.

This might seem like a disrespectful ranking for a team coming off an NBA Finals run, but was anyone expecting the Mavs to get that far as a 5-seed? And does it really matter how many regular-season games they win, since they only won 50 last year before steamrolling their way through the West?

Seeding obviously matters, but after watching Luka Doncic dismantle a 64-win Suns team in 2022, and then watching him lead Dallas to the Finals last year, they’ll be comfortable no matter where they end up. The question is whether the Mavs can hit the ground running like they did after adding PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline.

From that duo’s first game in Dallas onward, the Mavericks finished the season with the fourth-best record and sixth-best point differential. They became an elite defense, with even Doncic and Kyrie Irving buying in. That all fell apart against a Boston Celtics juggernaut in the Finals, but not before they stormed through a brutally difficult West.

Losing guys like Derrick Jones Jr. and Josh Green is nothing to gloss over, but if the Mavs can integrate Klay Thompson’s spot-up shooting, Naji Marshall’s 3-and-D skill-set and Quentin Grimes as a point-of-attack defender off the bench, they’ll be in good shape. They’ll be slightly worse defensively, but even with Klay no longer being the defender he once was, having a guy who’s willing to take nine 3s a game and drill 38 percent of them is helpful — especially next to gravity centers like Luka and Kyrie.

With more continuity for Washington and Gafford, and more experience for Dereck Lively, this group could be dangerous come playoff time. They might not impress from a win-loss standpoint in the regular season, but the Mavs have taught us too many times to stop sleeping on Doncic in a playoff setting.

3. Phoenix Suns

2023-24 regular-season record: 49-33
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 46.5
Key additions: Tyus Jones, Monte Morris, Mason Plumlee, Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro
Key losses: Eric Gordon, Drew Eubanks, Nassir Little, David Roddy

Putting the Suns third probably feels like a homer ranking, but they just won 49 games in a season that was largely unenjoyable, disjointed and injury-ravaged. Imagine what happens if they get more than 40 games with the Big 3 healthy! Or if Mike Budenholzer continues to rack up regular-season wins like he has everywhere else in his career! Or if having two assist-to-turnover gods helps cut down on turnovers! Or if they actually, finally take more 3s!

Bud likes to “play random,” which is right in Kevin Durant’s wheelhouse. Without having to focus on playmaking as often, Devin Booker can play similarly to his Olympic role, where he can focus on being an off-ball assassin and more committed defender. There are still questions at the 5, but at the very least, Mason Plumlee will be an upgrade over Drew Eubanks as a backup center.

If rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro are able to contribute in their first year (and the Suns are high on both of them), even better. But by keeping their top-six players intact, Phoenix has a shot at being better simply by enjoying more continuity and injury luck. Throw in a new head coach who will place an emphasis on the 3-ball, plus smart additions like Tyus Jones, Monte Morris and Plumlee, and this group has dependable depth.

If the Suns can figure out where Bradley Beal slots into all of this, look out.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

2023-24 regular-season record: 56-26
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 52.5
Key additions: Joe Ingles, Rob Dillingham, Terrence Shannon Jr
Key losses: Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris, Jordan McLaughlin

The Timberwolves didn’t make any earth-shattering additions, nor did they lose anyone who was vital to their success last year. Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels are only 23, Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are only 25, and this 56-win team that boasted the NBA’s No. 1 defense still has room to grow.

True, Rudy Gobert (32) is getting older, and Karl-Anthony Towns (28) probably is what he is at this point. But KAT is still a damn good player, and he missed a chunk of the season due to injury last year. If he’s healthier (especially come playoff time), and if the young guys take another step forward, Minnesota could be a serious threat to reach the Finals.

However, the Wolves are also depending on two rookies to provide them with stable bench minutes, which is their biggest concern. Rob Dillingham was a great pick and can create his own shot, but he’ll be relied upon to set the table as the designated backup point guard. Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris and Jordan McLaughlin were expendable, but losing all three means the Wolves lost their three best answers to that backup point guard question. Is Dillingham ready for that responsibility on a team that’s built to win now?

Joe Ingles is a steady veteran addition, but he’s also 36 years old and doesn’t move the needle much. The Wolves didn’t have the flexibility to add any big free agents as a tax apron team, and running it back with a young group that reached the conference finals made sense regardless. Even with such a talented core, what they get from the rookies could mean the difference between being another formidable team in the West and being a legit threat to win it all.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2023-24 regular-season record: 57-25
2024-25 regular-season win total over/under: 55.5
Key additions: Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein, Nikola Topic*, Dillon Jones, Ajay Mitchell
Key losses: Josh Giddey, Gordon Hayward

The Thunder fell short of expectations last year, but it was also their first playoff run together. Don’t count on them looking out of their depth again, because this young team is damn good and they’re only going to get better.

Not only do they have an MVP contender in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Chet Holmgren, but Jalen Williams is a two-way stud who could be in the running for Most Improved Player again. Oh, and they just added two more defensive stalwarts in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Those offseason pickups addressed their biggest remaining weaknesses on the boards and at the point of attack, and OKC was already a top-five defense last year. They could very well be the best defense in the NBA this season, and 60-plus wins isn’t out of the question.

Simply put, the Thunder are unfair in the here and now, and with all the draft picks and youth they’ve accumulated, they’re going to be unfair for the foreseeable future. Swinging a trade for a disgruntled superstar isn’t out of the question. Dallas, Minnesota and Denver are all monsters, and Phoenix should be right in that hunt. But to win the West, everybody’s going to have to go through this rising Thunder squad.