The Spurs, who despite their first round exit were one of the best teams in the NBA last season, are primed to even better this year.
They're well on their way to locking up reigning-Defensive-Player-of-the-Year Kawhi Leonard with a max contract, they signed one of the best free agents on the market in LaMarcus Aldridge, who's averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds the last three seasons, and Tim Duncan, who's old as hell yet can still play at a high level, will be back for at least one more season. All this before Manu Ginobili also decided to stave off retirement for a little longer as well.
In addition to that, they just signed David West, who was a potential second option if they couldn't close the deal on Aldridge. Now they have both of them, getting their cake and eating it in the process.
To recap: the Spurs will trot out their old big-three for at least one more year (Duncan and Ginobili will likely be signed to one-year deals on the cheap and Tony Parker is singed through 2018) and will also have a new big-three in Leonard, Aldridge and Danny Green to lead them into the post-Duncan wilderness when that time finally comes. Plus, Gregg Popovitch will coach out his contract which lasts until 2019. Simply put, one of the best teams on both ends of the court got better and will likely remain that way until at least the end of the decade.
Now how do the Spurs stack up against the rest of the Western Conference?
Starting with the 2014 playoff teams:
Golden State Warriors
Their only free agent that contributed significant minutes last season, Draymond Green, resigned with the team that has the rest of the core locked up for the next few years. They'll be formidable once again next season, though time will tell if they'll miss Alvin Gentry's offensive scheme (Gentry now coaches the New Orleans Pelicans).
Houston Rockets
Their core is locked up as well and they're likely to be good again as well. The Warriors and Rockets represent the Spur's greatest challenge in making it to the Finals.
Los Angeles Clippers
Here's where things get interesting. The team that knocked the Spurs out of the playoffs got significantly worse. They lost DeAndre Jordan to the Mavericks, meaning a team that worked its starters to the bone will not have a guy who averaged double-digit rebounds the last two seasons. Plus, they still haven't fixed their lack of depth. They're probably still a playoff team thanks to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, but they'll be lucky if they make it out of the first round.
Portland Trail Blazers
In addition to losing Aldridge, they also lost Wesley Matthews to the Mavericks and Robin Lopez to the Knicks. The Blazers have Damian Lillard and not much else now. They're likely not even a playoff team next year.
Memphis Grizzlies
They'll still be a hard-nosed tough team, but depth will now be an issue having lost Kosta Koufos, one of the best backup centers in the game, to the Sacramento Kings. Also, shooting is still an issue.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks got better with the additions of Jordan and Matthews mentioned above, though they're still in the bottom tier of playoff-caliber teams in the West. In the next few seasons they'll probably be pretty formidable, but not this season.
New Orleans Pelicans
Thanks to a tiebreaker with the Thunder, the Pelicans made the playoffs last season. With Anthony Davis locked up for the rest of the decade, it's up to Alvin Gentry to fix a defense which was in the bottom ten in terms of efficiency. If he can improve the defense then the Pelicans will definitely be an under-the-radar dangerous team, though good enough to advance past the second round.
And the Rest
The Thunder are sure to return to their playoff form with Kevin Durant likely being healthy again. Though aside from Durant and Russell Westbrook, the team doesn't seem as imposing as has in the past (the Thunder are in a watered-down version of what plagues the Clippers with a suspect bench, but it's not as grave as it is in LA).
The Jazz and the Suns will be fun teams vying for the last couple playoff spots, but neither of them are serious threats. That leaves the Nuggets, Kings, Lakers and Timberwolves, all of whom will be dreadful for at least one more season (though the Nuggets have a chance to improve to mediocre if Mike Malone is a wizard).
***
In conclusion, the moves the Spurs have made in the last month and particularly the last few days will push them to the top of the tougher conference in the NBA. Only the Warriors, Rockets and MAYBE the Thunder pose a threat to them. But the Spurs have to be considered the favorites to make it out of the West and win their six championship in franchise history.
