The NBA off-season has pretty much finished. The top prospects are off the table, and teams are starting to think about the upcoming season. The remaining role players on the market will find a team, but right now, most can have an understanding of where their team is right now. In conclusion, here are the way too early rankings for the western conference
15. Phoenix Suns
The Suns will finish last in the conference once again. The Suns didn't sign anyone to any deals and let Leandro Barbosa become a free agent. They haven't re-signed Alex Len yet.
They have a young lineup of Josh Jackson and Devin Booker. Eric Bledsoe could be on the trade block this off-season or dealt midway through this year for prospects.
14. Dallas Mavericks
Just because Dirk Nowitzki took less money doesn't mean the Mavericks will get better. The Mavericks finished with a 33-49 record last season, and have been spectators during the off-season. The Mavericks are linked to being the only team interested in Nerlens Noel. They acquired Josh McRoberts. Other than that, it might another long year for Maverick fans.
13. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are going to go through another rebuild season. Lonzo Ball is not the greatest player on Earth no matter what his dad says.
The trade for Brook Lopez was a great move, but everything this season is preparing them to make a run at LeBron James in 2018.
12. Sacramento Kings
The Kings brought in three tough veterans to help lead the young kids, but those moves might have been for the future. Zach Randolph, George Hill, and Vince Carter signed deals, but they are all on the opposite side of 30 years old.
The Kings still have young guys in De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Willie Cauley-Stein. If the Kings make a run at the playoffs, that should be a surprise.
11. Utah Jazz
The Gordon Hayward move is going to hurt a lot. The Jazz also lost Hill as their starting point guard. Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles is still around, but the Jazz doesn't have a superstar on their team anymore.
After winning their way to the second round of the playoffs, the Jazz might find themselves in the lottery.
10. Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are not a terrible team but are just not good enough to win the west. The western conference got a lot harder, and the Trail Blazers barely made it to the playoffs last year with their 41-41 record. Portland is rumored to be a third party that would help Houston get Carmelo Anthony, while they would take Ryan Anderson. If that move happened, it would help Portland contend.
9. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have always been a tough playoff opponent, but there's a good chance Marc Gasol could be traded this year. Mike Conley Jr. is on the opposite side of 30 and is owed a lot of money over the next couple of years.
The team made zero moves in free agency because of salary cap problems. The Grizzlies see the writing on the wall, so they might make a move soon.
8. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets made a deal to acquire Paul Millsap this off-season, but this will be a case of the Nuggets being too young and not good enough. Plus, how are the Nuggets going to find playing time for Nikola Jokic, Kenneth Faried, and Millsap on the floor together? Despite these questions, the Nuggets nearly made the playoffs last year and made an upgrade with Millsap this year.
7. Los Angeles Clippers
Re-signing Blake Griffin to the second richest contract in NBA history at the time made the Clippers stay relevant. The problem with relevancy is that you don't get into the playoffs, or you barely make it.
The Clippers sense that DeAndre Jordan is not happy with Chris Paul leaving. It was Paul and company that convinced Jordan to stay with the Clippers instead of the Dallas Mavericks.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
We are still not sure if Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl Anthony-Towns can play together. However, the Timberwolves have the right coach in Tom Thibodeau to lead them. The signing of Taj Gibson gives them a leader in the locker room and a tough bench player. The Timberwolves might make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
5. New Orleans Pelicans
Re-signing Jrue Holliday was a must for this team. If the team can stay healthy, this could have one of the most dominant front courts with the first and second team.
Anthony Davis and Omer Asik have to play in full seasons. That also includes Holliday. This will be a big year as DeMarcus Cousins is set to be a free agent after this season.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
The trade for Paul George was a win for the Thunder for what they gave up. The team still has Enes Kanter and Steven Adams. Re-signing Andre Roberson will help the defense and having the MVP in Russell Westbrook helps too. However, it's hard to say the Thunder are better than the next three teams.
3. San Antonio Spurs
As long as Gregg Popovich and Kawhi Leonard are together, then the Spurs will contend. The Spurs have been quiet this offseason, but they already had a team that won 61 games last year.
If Leonard didn't get hurt in the playoffs, the series might have been more competitive. It will be interesting to see what veterans the Spurs can convince to come play, but all signs still point up.
2. Houston Rockets
Giving up half of their bench for Chris Paul was a lot, but the moves to replenish were not so bad. Re-signing Nene was a great sign. Convincing PJ Tucker to come from Toronto will help the defense. Paul already made the defense better and will make up for what James Harden doesn't play. The Rockets need one more superstar to compete with Golden State, and the Anthony trade would make that happen.
1. Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, and Andre Iguodala. Is there anything else that needs to be said?
