The road to another championship won’t be easy for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Western Conference is once again loaded with talent, and several teams made offseason improvements in attempts to compete with OKC. There are several teams in that ill be in the conversation this spring, but here are my top three threats in the West.
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3. Dallas Mavericks
Even with the head-scratching Luke Doncic trade, Dallas finds itself in a good spot.
The Mavericks got big-man Anthony Davis in the trade, and he just adds to an already strong frontcourt, one that gave OKC problems in the playoffs just two years ago.
Then, by some cray coincidence and against almost all laws of statistics, Dallas landed the number one pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. The Mavs used it to pick Cooper Flagg, one of the hottest prospects in recent years.
Veteran guard and future Hall-of-Famer Kyrie Irving is also expected to return from a torn ACL at some point in the season, giving Dallas a dangerous combination of experience and youth that could make them a real contender.
2. Houston Rockets
The Rockets made headlines by trading for Kevin Durant, who immediately elevates Houston’s offensive firepower. Clint Capela is back to provide rebounding and rim protection, while Steven Adams remains a key presence.
A young core featuring Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard adds depth and versatility on both ends of the floor.
1. Denver Nuggets
The top challenger for the Thunder remains the Denver Nuggets.
Denver pushed Oklahoma City to the brink in last season’s Western Conference semifinals and as long as Nikola Jokić is in the equation, they’re a title threat.
The Nuggets also strengthened their roster by adding Cam Johnson, a lengthy wing who averaged nearly 20 points per game last season with Brooklyn and shot close to 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Jokić ill challenge SGA for league MVP, and the Nuggets will be the biggest obstacle in the way of the Thunder’s title defense.