The gold rush has come to an end. The era of cowboys and ranchers and frontiersmen scouring the lands of the Louisiana Purchase is in the rearview mirror; destiny has been manifested, and lawlessness has been stifled west of the Mississippi. The Wild West has been tamed.
A time of unpredictability — with seven different teams advancing to the NBA Finals in the last seven years — looks to have been steadied, with teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs emerging from the rubble.
Well, that's how it looks at the outset of the 2026-27 season, at the very least. Wild cards may always emerge. Who can usher in a new era in an incredibly fast-moving conference and league?
82 games leave plenty of room for surprises and questions.
So, with the season set to tip off — as Victor Wembanyama seeks redemption or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looks for an MVP threepeat — here's a look at the biggest questions facing every team in the not-as-wild-but-still-pretty-crazy West.
Dallas Mavericks: What jump should we expect from Cooper Flagg in Year 2?
In his final 27 games, Flagg asserted himself as the rookie of the year, averaging 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. He proved he wasn't only a defensive stud, but a solar-system player the Mavericks can shape their offence around, as evidenced by a 51-point explosion in an early-April barnburner against Orlando.
So what more does he have to prove? Well, the Mavericks went 5-22 over that stretch, and new head coach Dusty May — coming off a national championship at Michigan — and president Masai Ujiri aren't known for losing.
Flagg racked up the individual accolades in his first year, but with a new coach, front office, and co-partner in Kyrie Irving — set to return from an ACL tear that sidelined him last year — it's time for him and the Mavericks to rack up team accolades, namely wins.
Denver Nuggets: Will lack of moves result in another lost year for Nikola Jokic?
When the Nuggets climbed the mountain in 2023, many were quick to herald a new era with the Jokic at its peak. But three seasons have come and gone, and the Nuggets have failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs, capped by a first-round exit to the Timberwolves last April.
Now 31, Jokic's star hasn't stopped shining. But if you look at the Nuggets' moves since winning the title, nothing suggests they believe they've still got the best player in the NBA on their hands. Once again, the Nuggets have lost more than they've added this off-season, losing breakout wing Peyton Watson and only bringing in DeMar DeRozan to replace him.
Jokic was eligible for an extension this summer, but opted to wait until next summer to instead pen a five-year, $359.5 million max contract. Though he's said that he plans to re-sign in Denver "if they want me," a lot can change between now and then, and another lost year plagued by a lack of front-office activity might not help.
Golden State Warriors: Will Warriors regret not making the most of Steph Curry’s twilight years?
Nowadays, it's a rarity to see a superstar stick with one franchise over his career, but Curry could buck that trend after signing a two-year, $116 million contract in September. But much like Kobe Bryant's autumn of NBA life in the 2010s, the Warriors look stalled and overencumbered by age, financial restrictions and injuries.
It's tough to envision an upward move for the Warriors this season, with Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis taking up a combined $104 million. Though the first two hit the open market next year, the latter has a $20 million player option in 2027-28, and none of the three look like valuable trade pieces due to health and cost.
The marksman's legacy is secure in both the Bay and across the NBA, but is a Golden Girls reboot in Golden State really what the franchise superstar deserves near the end?
Houston Rockets: Can Fred VanVleet’s return stabilize the point guard spot?
When Kevin Durant joined the Rockets last summer, many penned them as possible contenders. That was until they lost VanVleet to a torn ACL before the season, sending their lead-guard spot into disarray.
Third-year guard Amen Thompson filled in admirably, driving the play with his athleticism, but a 21.6 three-point percentage won't cut it if he's to be a primary threat. Sophomore Reed Sheppard also got some looks in his 21 starts, but was relegated to a bench role due to his defence. On paper, VanVleet can shore up those holes.
While not the No. 1 option, VanVleet, at his best, provides the Rockets with a tempo-setter on offence, capable of setting the team up in the halfcourt and directing traffic. If the Rockets want to find consistency on that end after a disappointing first-round exit, VanVleet could be the key.
Los Angeles Clippers: Can Clippers stay afloat as bleak future looms?
It's hard to envision the Kawhi Leonard era having gone any worse for the Clippers, ending his seven-year tenure without a Finals appearance, a $30 million fine and a pillaging of draft capital.
Without much of a way out in the coming years, the Clippers will have to build internally, leaning on players like Darius Garland — acquired for James Harden ahead of the deadline last year — Brandon Ingram, and rookie Keaton Wagler, who will likely be the team's last high pick for several years barring trades.
It's not a terrible roster in a murky-middle West, and the 26-year-old Garland represents a solid foundation, but the Clippers find themselves in limbo and could very well be there for some time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Was Walker Kessler the right big-money move for Luka Doncic?
As the franchise has always done, the Lakers prioritized keeping their star happy. In an effort to truly build around Doncic, Los Angeles acquired Kessler, a dominant at-rim finisher and shot blocker fit to complement the Slovenian superstar on offence and protect him on defence.
But it's worth asking if the cost was too steep. The Lakers gave up two firsts and two first-round pick swaps, then signed the 25-year-old to a four-year, $130 million contract despite him never averaging more than 15 points in a season and playing only five games last year due to injury.
Doncic has a preternatural ability in the pick-and-roll, and the seven-foot-two Kessler is the vertical threat perfect for unlocking it, but without much more room to maneuver, you have to wonder if it's enough to turn the Lakers into a contender.
Memphis Grizzlies: What will rebuild around Cam Boozer look like?
The reigning Wooden Award winner for the best player in college hoops, Boozer looks like the most polished player out of his star-studded class. Boozer is a do-it-all wing fit for today's league, capable of playing inside and outside the arc while displaying the court vision to set up the rest of the offence. Not a bad turnaround for a team that traded away its two biggest stars of the last half-decade in 2025-26.
Ja Morant always had his question marks. Despite his highlight-reel play, his injury history, off-the-court issues and lack of outside shooting left much to be desired, making him a tough piece to truly build around.
Boozer is the opposite in every way, displaying a maturity, versatility and structure that makes sense as the first piece to carry a rebuild.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Will the LaMelo Ball gamble pay off?
Without a doubt, LaMelo Ball is one of the most electric players in the NBA, showcasing an offensive flair, swagger and creative disposition emblematic of his overflowing confidence. But he's also played more than 70 games in a season twice in his six-year career, and last year's 72-game showing feels more the exception than the rule.
Incumbent superstar Anthony Edwards has needed a true offensive running mate for some time, begging for another ball-handler to share the load. Ball gives Minnesota just that.
The T-Wolves will dominate all the highlight reels, as Edwards flies in with sky-cracking dunks and Ball with his carefree lobs and court vision. Highlights alone don't get you a seat at the table, but if there's one team that could be the Veronica to the Thunder, Spurs and Nuggets' Heathers, it's Minnesota.
New Orleans Pelicans: Is this Zion Williamson's last chance?
There might not be a harder player to quit on than Williamson. When he's good, he's great. When he's bad... well, having suited up for less than half of his 554 possible career games, let's just say he's not great.
Williamson is a veritable freak of nature, a walking paradox working as the league's foremost wrecking ball while displaying the mid-air finesse of a ballerina during a jeté. He can hammer it home with the best of them and set up offence as a point forward, but he's also Operation come to life, with more ailments than you can count.
The Pelicans are building an interesting young core around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. We saw the Grizzlies move on from Morant last year to focus on the younger core; it might be time for the Pelicans to do the same with Williamson.
Oklahoma City Thunder: How does Jalen Williams bounce back after a lost season?
The Thunder finishing 64-18 last year despite Williams playing only 33 games — and looking a step slow for half of them — is a testament to this team's depth and the sheer talent of Gilgeous-Alexander. It's arguably what netted the Canadian a second MVP.
But after finally reaching the mountaintop in 2025, it's tough to frame a Western Conference Finals exit as anything but a disappointment considering their own lofty expectations. Central to that defeat was Williams' absence against the Spurs, playing in three of seven games and doing so severely hampered, finishing with only 54 minutes in the series.
It's been a summer of change in OKC as the front office grappled with the reality of aprons under the new CBA, trading away Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort to clear cap space. The margins are thinner, and Williams' absence or presence will matter that much more. OKC didn't need Williams in the regular season last year; that won't be the same this time around.
Phoenix Suns: What can be done to help Devin Booker?
Life in the NBA comes and goes in an instant. Seven years ago, Booker and the Suns were up 2-0 on the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals. Now, the possibility of Phoenix rising from the ashes couldn't be further away.
The Arizona desert is drier than ever. The Suns feel directionless, toiling away making parallel moves after spending their draft capital on players like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Left in their place are guys like Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges — not terrible players, but certainly not co-stars built for deep playoff runs alongside Booker.
Though he's locked up through the 2028-29 season, the path to contention gets murkier by the year, and if the 29-year-old wants to taste competitive basketball again before exiting his prime, it might not be a bad idea to force the Suns' hand. If not, at least he'll be making upwards of $60 million next season.
Portland Trail Blazers: How do all the guards fit together?
The Blazers figured out a winning formula around Deni Avdija last season, running their offence through the versatile wing and advancing to the post-season for the first time since 2021. But a few key changes to the backcourt will force Portland to change its plan of attack this year.
Not only did the Blazers acquire Morant in a bargain-bin deal with the Grizzlies over the off-season, but Damian Lillard is also set to reenter the fold after a year off with an Achilles injury. While the two guards offer different skill sets — Morant as a driver and Lillard as a historically great spacer — it's tough to envision the two sharing a backcourt with their shared defensive deficiencies. Though Jrue Holiday shores some of that up, he's entering his age-36 season and tends to guard up against forwards.
That's not even to mention former third-overall pick Scoot Henderson and fifth-year wing Shaedon Sharpe, who's on track to return mid-season from a torn meniscus suffered in the off-season. Two's a company, three's a crowd, four's maybe a bit redundant.
Sacramento Kings: Can Darius Acuff be the saving grace?
That 2022-23 season, the only time the Kings have made the playoffs in the last 20 years, feels more like an anomaly than ever. A predestined lottery team, the Kings have cycled through high picks, unable to scout, develop or nurture the right talent, and the Tyrese Haliburton trade continues to haunt them.
Their hopes now reside in the hands of the six-foot-two, dynamic Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., who's already made quite the impression in pre-season after an inefficient Summer League. The 19-year-old will have every opportunity to shine in his rookie season, and opened his Kings account averaging 17.2 points and 3.8 assists on 42.4/42.1/84.6 shooting splits in four pre-season contests. This year is all about his development, with the Kings granting him as long of a runway as possible en route to becoming their guard of the future. Hopefully this one sticks around.
San Antonio Spurs: Will Dylan Harper snag a starting spot, and what does that mean for De'Aaron Fox?
Speaking of former Kings, Fox better watch his back in San Antonio. After a rough post-season for the two-time all-star, averaging 15.6 points a night, his starting spot suddenly looks up for grabs with the emergence of 2025 second-overall pick Dylan Harper.
The 20-year-old started only six games between the regular and post-season, but over time, it became apparent the Spurs have a real dilemma in the backcourt with Fox's four-year, $221 million deal kicking in this year. Harper looked like the Spurs' second-best player in the Finals, averaging 18 points, 6.4 rebounds and three assists against the Knicks while showcasing an affinity for using his bigger body and finishing package to attack off the bounce, particularly when getting to the rim.
There's the possibility Harper plays at the three, with Tobias Harris or Devin Vassell taking on more of a bench role, but even with Wemby's size at the five, bigger bodies could become an issue for San Antonio should it deploy three-guard lineups more frequently.
Utah Jazz: After years of tanking, how does Utah turn the page?
Utah has been incredibly disciplined with its tanking in recent seasons, landing picks in the lottery and turning them into serviceable players. Keyonte George has gone from a hero-ball volume shooter in college to an efficient microwave scorer heading into Year 4 and Ace Bailey found a rhythm late in the season, shooting over 40 per cent from three. Joining that mix is rookie Darryn Peterson, touted as one of the best guard prospects in recent memory.
Those young players are bookended by the continually emerging Lauri Markkanen and the returning-from-injury Jaren Jackson Jr. — two former all-stars. The middle of the pack in the West is murky, and the Jazz have all the instruments to put a tune together. Whether it's free-flowing and inventive like John Coltrane or another year of lacklustre elevator music like Kenny G remains to be seen.
