I would swap the Warriors with the Lakers on this list.  I'm not that high on the Lakers but I think the Warriors are in a tougher spot I think.  The mental break of klay leaving I think will make a difference.  It was always steph klay and draymond.  Whenever you break up the band and try to patchwork it usually ends up with disastrous results.  Just a differemt texture to the locker room and everything.  Other than that I think espn is spot on.

Memphis, GSW and Lakers, they could inter change their positions for me, Ja Morant will be back this season for them and I think fully healed it will be a different Grizzlies team. And then we will see how tough the Warriors will be without Klay Thompson, it might be a different mindset for them for now, as Curry will have to proved himself to be able to carry the team again without Klay.

And the Lakers also hanging on Lebron and AD, they almost had it and upset the Nuggets last year if not for them breaking down the stretch. And with a new coach, it could be a different approach for them.

Lakers still a finals contender team despite of what happen last season. They still have the great players in the league so provably that things may came different in their side when regular season came in.

Also on Warriors side even if Klay left in their team they also had a great replacement. They had Hield and Melton which provably can contribute in the perimeter, also Mr slow me Andersen is been added which is also a good contributor on defense he can also shoot which is suitable for Warriors type of plays. With current roster they have the Warriors became more better and with their current roster we provably can say that they have a shot to get a playoff spot. But for finals? I think it still questionable.

Melton could just be a back up point guard for Curry, although I think Melton can shoot 3s as well. But I'm interested to see how Buddy Hield will do as a Warrior, he could not be the replacement that we are looking, but he can also shoot high percentage from the outside.

The blue print is still there with the Warriors, on how they filled the void of the players that they have lost. And we can go back to the history of Steve Kerr with the Bulls. Because of the championship experience with Chicago and Phil Jackson and this is what Kerr is obviously following in the Warriors right now.

No they aren't a finals contender. I beg to disagree with this unfortunately.

AD just played his best season where he played a career-high 76 games, and Lebron also played his one of his best seasons, and yet they didn't even win a single series. Aside from both of them, who do you think can be a good role player for the Lakers? Reaves? Hachimura? Russell? They can't even help them win a single series. I don't want to compare the Lakers last season with the Nuggets when they won a title, but since you said that they are a finals contender, I should be, and the Lakers' roster aren't even close to that of the Nuggets. Even their role players are far better.

They aren't a finals contender. They are just a mediocre team that will not win a title unless they will get better role players and maybe another all-star.

Well, this might be a better opinion because Hield really is a good three-point shooter. 2 of the best three-point shooters last season are now on the same team. We might see the Warriors doing what they did during their prime years a few years ago because of them. Aside from that, they have Melton and Andersen. I just hope that Wiggins if they will not trade him, will play better now because he's been inconsistent all year last season, and Kuminga must step up in terms of offense as well.

I have high doubts about the Warriors right now and not because of Klay Thompson leaving the team. It lacks the drive to be champions again and I don't think they will anytime soon. Kuminga is a blooming talent and he will probably be kept by the Warriors, Steph will end his career there, and Green will probably be traded in the next few years.
They claimed their championships, but it will be difficult to find that reason to boosts their energy again into wanting the ring one more time.
I think it's the Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks that want it bad and I do believe those two teams will still be the ones who will make the West Finals. Either one of them or both of them.

Yes, this should be rank higher than the Warriors, as the Dubs are not without Klay, although I have seen comments that they have Melton and Buddy Hield and so it will be a complete different Warrior lineup and that they might get over losing Klay Thompson.

So let's see the adjustment made by coach Kerr, but obviously, the Warriors might have a hard time this season to catch the bus in the Western conference as the young team are taking over like his team mate in the Olympics in ANT.


Westbrook will wear number 4,  he had that number with the Wizards during his tenure with them.

^^ Yeah, it's funny and awkward at the same time, but for sure they are going to be mic'ed on and hear what the father and son duo are going to say if they are both on the floor. But I'm seeing Lebron is the one going to pass the ball more to Bronny to score and not the other way around.

And since we are still talking about the Warriors, not sure if we touch based on this topic, Can Quinten Post crack the Warriors rotation next season?


We say that they doesn't have the size as they used to be, but we haven't heard at least for me that they got this 7'1 and he could be a big help to protect the ring.

Poole could NEVER be another splash brother. Sure he can shoot but he lacks a lot of things Klay and Steph are known for. He can't defend, his decision making often enough is terrible and overall he lacks a lot of basketball IQ. Sure he has some handles and a shooting ability from long range but that's not all for a players carrying the ball.

Anyway, it's gonna be a tough season for the GSW I think. They are getting older and they didn't get the improvements to the roster they were hoping for since players like PG13 and so on chose other destinations.