"The NBA is a soap opera in itself. It's probably the best soap opera in the world.” — Draymond Green, 2019
If you’re looking for drama, you’ve come to the right place. The Pacific Division is carrying the NBA’s reputation as a binge-worthy TV show.
You’ve got the Phoenix Suns, with a problematic owner who’s forced to sell the team, a one-time franchise player who doesn’t talk to his coach, and a veteran fan favourite bailing because of his role.
Then there’s the Golden State Warriors, a perfect, happy family until their one loose cannon put it all into question.
The Los Angeles Clippers are just hoping their fun guy can be a healthy guy.
Elsewhere in Los Angeles, the Lakers are trying to mesh a has-been star who doesn’t seem to want to be there with teammates who don’t seem to want him.
And in northern California, the Sacramento Kings are testing the limits of consistent failure.
HBO doesn’t stand a chance. Let’s dive in.
Phoenix Suns
Last season’s results: 64-18 record, first in Pacific Division, first in Western Conference, lost in second round.
2022-23 season betting odds: Over/under 52.5 total wins this season and +683 to win it all, according to Sports Interaction.
Projected starting five: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Deandre Ayton
Noteworthy arrivals: Damion Lee, Jock Landale, Josh Okogie
Noteworthy departures: JaVale McGee, Aaron Holiday, Elfrid Payton
Team outlook: After a somewhat surprise Finals appearance in 2021, the Suns left no doubt during the 2021-22 season — cruising to 64 wins without any adversity… until the playoffs, when they collapsed against the Dallas Mavericks in Round 2 (and reportedly managed a COVID-19 outbreak during).
Now, they’re entering the 2022-23 season with several question marks.
Owner Robert Sarver was suspended a year for workplace misconduct and says he’s selling the team.
Centre Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, played only 17 minutes in the Game 7 loss to Dallas due to an “internal” decision, head coach Monty Williams said. Ayton then signed an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, which Phoenix matched, but no one seems very pleased about it.
And in case that wasn’t enough, veteran glue guy Jae Crowder is unhappy with his role and staying away from the team while he awaits a trade — one which the Suns will have trouble finding fair value for.
All that said, they’ve got Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Ayton, Cam Johnson and more. This is one of the NBA’s best teams on paper.
Best-case scenario: The lack of ownership clarity doesn’t affect the players and the Ayton situation sorts itself out. If that happens, you’re essentially looking at a Suns team that’s running back, with Booker, Ayton and Bridges a year more experienced, but Paul a year more weathered. With that in mind, Paul’s health is essential to the best-case scenario.
These are championship-or-bust years in Phoenix with Paul at 37.
Worst-case scenario: Things really fall apart. The chemistry never meshes with everything going on. Phoenix never recovers from last season’s collapse.
Even in a worst-case scenario the Suns should make the playoffs, but would likely face an early exit.
The vibes are off entering the season, and the Suns’ season-opening Media Day was beyond sombre — which is weird for a team with title aspirations. Can they recover?
Golden State Warriors
Last season’s results: 53-29 record, second in Pacific Division, third in Western Conference, won championship.
2022-23 season betting odds: Over/under 52.5 total wins this season and +422 to win it all, according to Sports Interaction.
Projected starting five: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
Noteworthy arrivals: Donte DiVincenzo, JaMychal Green
Noteworthy departures: Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, Nemanja Bjelica, Damion Lee, Juan Toscano-Anderson
Team outlook: The Warriors looked like they were entering the season with everything hunky-dory. Last season they rebounded from a two-year reset filled with injuries and won a championship to continue their dynasty.
Even better, they have an arguably stronger team this season. Young players like Jordan Poole, James Wiseman, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are all a year further along in their development. Klay Thompson gets to start the season healthy. It was all looking great for the Warriors.
Enter Draymond.
Green’s lack of a contract extension with the Warriors always had the chance of creating some friction. Then, by assaulting an unsuspecting Poole at practice in footage leaked by TMZ, he’s thrown those good vibes sideways.
They’re still the Warriors, with a strong enough winning culture to overcome the tension, but how this develops throughout the season is their No. 1 storyline to watch.
Best-case scenario: The drama is overblown. Hell, Michael Jordan punched Warriors coach Steve Kerr back when they were Bulls teammates and that’s portrayed as a moment that brought them together. What Green did is likely not the same, but it’s still something the Warriors should be able to move on from. If they can, this team is looking at yet another season as title favourites.
Worst-case scenario: Green’s actions and contract situation hang over the organization all season, like it did with Kevin Durant in 2019.
The Warriors will be good and make a run no matter the scenario, but that backdrop would be exhausting for the team and could come to a head down the stretch.
Los Angeles Clippers
Last season’s results: 42-40 record, third in Pacific Division, eighth in Western Conference, lost in play-in game.
2022-23 season betting odds: Over/under 52.5 total wins this season and +462 to win it all, according to Sports Interaction.
Projected starting five: Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, Ivica Zubac
Noteworthy arrivals: John Wall
Noteworthy departures: Isaiah Hartenstein
Team outlook: High expectations.
The Clippers posted a 42-40 record last year without Kawhi Leonard for the full season and without Paul George for most of it. Reggie Jackson was great, so were Luke Kennard, Marcus Morris and Terance Mann, and the team even added Norman Powell and Robert Covington.
Now, with Leonard and George starting the season healthy, is this the year they finally put it together?
The two superstars’ run in Los Angeles has been plagued by stunning collapses and injuries thus far, but this season it feels like things are falling into place. The Clippers have a ton of depth beyond their two stars, and Tyronn Lue — one of the best coaches in the league.
The Clippers are looking down a clear path to success entering the campaign.
Best-case scenario: Leonard and George stay healthy. Really, that’s all the Clippers can ask for. If their two stars stay healthy throughout the year and into the playoffs, they have a serious chance of winning the title.
Worst-case scenario: One or both players finds themselves on the injured list come playoff time, and we're once again left wondering what could be. It would mean four years of the Leonard-George experience with nothing to show for it, except a gaping hole in draft capital now owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Last season’s results: 33-49 record, fourth in Pacific Division, 11th in Western Conference, missed playoffs.
2022-23 season betting odds: 1222 to win it all, according to Sports Interaction.
Projected starting five: Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Damian Jones
Noteworthy arrivals: Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schröder, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Lonnie Walker IV, Damian Jones, Thomas Bryant, Troy Brown Jr.
Noteworthy departures: Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kent Bazemore, Stanley Johnson, Dwight Howard, D.J. Augustin, Wayne Ellington, Avery Bradley
Team outlook: Another year, another whole new supporting cast in Laker Land.
After last season’s complete failure of a season, thanks to a disastrous experiment to bring in Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis’ lacklustre play, and a weak group of role players, the Lakers are in need of a serious bounce-back under new coach Darvin Ham.
And those are the biggest questions heading into this season.
Can Westbrook mesh? Will the nine-time All-Star be willing to come off the bench as Ham experimented with last week? Will he be traded?
What happens with Davis? He says he’s coming into this season motivated, but that feels like a reoccurring theme every years. For the Lakers to be great, they need AD 2020 bubble playoffs edition.
Beyond James and Davis, where does this team get help? Are Kendrick Nunn and Dennis Schröder really the best they’ll get?
Best-case scenario: The Lakers land a disgruntled star who becomes available (Bradley Beal?) using Westbrook’s contract and their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks. Then they hope that Big 3 with Davis and James can carry them to a playoff run.
Otherwise, the hope is Westbrook coming off the bench actually helps the team have a strong second unit, and James and Davis are great enough to get the team to the playoffs.
Worst-case scenario: A repeat of last season. The Westbrook situation continues to be untenable, or they force a trade with their two first-rounders only to have it not work: something that feels more than likely since this team needs a lot of work before becoming a contender. Then the Lakers don’t have a path to getting better, James is closer to 40 years old, and the franchise has mortgaged its entire future.
Sacramento Kings
Last season’s results: 30-52 record, fifth in Pacific Division, 12th in Western Conference, missed playoffs.
2022-23 season betting odds: Over/under 33.5 total wins this season and +32100 to win it all, according to Sports Interaction.
Projected starting five: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
Noteworthy arrivals: Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Kent Bazemore, Chima Moneke
Noteworthy departures: Donte DiVincenzo, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, Josh Jackson, Moe Harkless, Damian Jones
Team outlook: The vibes in Sacramento are surprisingly good for a team that could miss the playoffs for a 20th consecutive season, making them a popular pick to hit over their projected win total.
After the Tyrese Haliburton-Domantas Sabonis trade received widespread criticism last season, there’s now some excitement to see what the Sabonis-De’Aaron Fox duo can achieve after showing chemistry at the end of last season.
The Kings also have a new coach in Mike Brown and have added Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and Kent Bazemore — role players who give this team far more depth than it had in past years.
But perhaps the biggest addition is No. 4 overall pick Keegan Murray, another Kings move that was lambasted by many at the time of the draft.
Murray is a Rookie of the Year candidate as a 22-year-old who looks ready to contribute right away. In two pre-season games, he’s scored 32 combined points on 7 of 10 shooting from three-point range, playing just 42 total minutes. Looks like the Kings have a good one.
Best-case scenario: Make the play-in, sneak into the playoffs and break the longest playoff drought in the Big 4 North American sports leagues.
Finishing in the West’s Top 6, I believe, is out of the question for this team, but making the play-in is in the cards. Once there, you just need one or two good games to sneak into the playoffs.
Worst-case scenario: The Sabonis-Fox duo isn’t as potent as hoped, Murray hits a rookie wall mid-way through the season, and Sacramento ends up where it usually does: toiling away in mediocrity.
The Kings are too good to fall as low as Utah, Houston, OKC or San Antonio, but can they finish ahead of any of the other 10 teams in the conference? If they don’t at least make a play-in appearance, that’s a major failure.
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