The key supplement to the NBA official website commenting on the Western Conference: KD joins the Rockets, Lakers strengthen the inside, and the Warriors have no such person

Translator's note: The original text was published on the NBA official website. The data in the article were as of the time of the original text (August 18 local time). The dates and times involved were local time

Related readings: NBA official website commented on the East Key Supplement: Letters teamed up with Turner, 76ers welcomed the Tanhua, and the Hawks double reinforcement

Houston Rockets

Keywords: Kevin Durant

Rocks completed the most important operation of this summer, getting Durant in a historic deal involving 7 teams and 13 players. This deal also brought Clint Capela and Dorian Finney Smith to the Rockets.

As the four-time scoring champion and two-time Finals MVP, Durant has averaged at least 25 points per game with more than 50% of his shooting percentage in each season. And now, Durant has joined a Western Conference No. 2 seed team last season, and they are aiming at the finals. Key Supplement: Cooper Flagge leads Duke in his only college season in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks, before showing his comprehensiveness in limited summer league appearances. This year's No. 1 pick provides the Mavericks with a 6-foot-8-inch (about 2.03 meters) height and a choice to play multiple positions. He can defend multiple positions and contribute on both offense and defense from day one.

Denver Nuggets

Key Supplement: Jonas Valanciunas

No Western Conference team has won more regular season games than the Nuggets in the past four years. But during this period, when Nicola Jokic left the court for a break, they netted 9.2 points per 100 possessions. Valanciunas joined the Nuggets to help the team narrow this gap. He was also accompanied by Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown, who won the 2023 NBA championship with the Nuggets - they will bring roster depth and veteran experience to this team that has always had the ability to compete for the championship.

Golden State Warriors

Key Supplement: None

The Warriors have not made any major trades or free agent signings this summer, but have selected Alex Touhi (52nd pick) and Will Richard (56th pick) in the second round of the draft. Richard averaged 10.3 points per game in the NBA 2K26 Summer League after helping the University of Florida win the 2025 NCAA Championship.

Los Angeles Clippers

Key Supplement: Bradley Bill, Chris Paul

Paul returned to the Clippers, bringing more experienced veterans. The Clippers have improved the team's organization and scoring ability through Paul and Bill, and have also added depth to the frontcourt through John Collins and Brooke Lopez. These two space-type insiders can help the team open the field, while experienced defenders can relieve the organizational pressures of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, providing more flexibility for the Clippers' playoff journey.

Los Angeles Lakers

Key Supplement: DeAndre Ayton joined the Lakers after reaching a buyout with the Trail Blazers, filling the obvious vacancy in the Lakers' inside. The former No. 1 pick will provide LeBron James and Luca Doncic with a reliable all-over threat, as well as the inside size the team lacks after trading Anthony Davis. The Lakers also introduced veteran defender Marcus Smart, whose arrival strengthened the Lakers' outside defense and added playoff experience to the team that is determined to go further in the playoffs.

Memphis Grizzlies

Kentavios Caldwell Pope, Ty Jerome, and Jerome both have outside threats. They joined the Grizzlies to fill the vacancy left by Desmond Bain (traded to the Magic) and Luke Kennard (signed to the Hawks). Under the leadership of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies hope that the new players can maintain the offensive firepower of the team's second-ranked scoring last season (121.7 points per game), and also hope that Caldwell Pope can help on the defensive end.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Key Supplement: Joao Belange

Timberwolves lost points last season (109.3 points per game), and their only offseason addition was 2025 first-round pick Belange (17th pick), who added depth to the defensive frontcourt where French compatriot Rudy Gobert sits. The 6-foot-11-inch (about 2.11 meters) Berlange made seven blocks in his summer league debut—yes, seven—blocks, showing his potential in protecting the basket.

New Orleans Pelicans

Key Supplement: Jordan Poole

With CJ McCollum's departure, the Pelicans introduced Poole to improve their offense in the 25th place last season (109.8 points per game). In addition, the Pelicans also won two lottery picks, namely defender Jeremiah Fells (7th overall) and inside Derek Quinn (13th overall). Both of them performed well in the summer league, but Quinn will miss the early season due to a torn left wrist ligament.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Key Supplement: Nikola Topic

Even without any action in free agent market, the Thunder has added new members to its championship lineup. The Thunder will have their first-round debut this season - this year's 15th overall pick Thomas Sauber and 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topicch (12th overall), who missed his entire rookie season due to an ACL injury but showed his organizational ability in the summer league, averaging 11.0 points per game and 7.3 assists leading the entire Las Vegas Summer United.

Phoenix Suns

Key Supplement: Jaylen Green

The Suns' lineup is new in the new season. In that seven-party deal that sent Kevin Durant away, the Suns got Green, Dillon Brooks and three draft picks, and used one of them to pick 7-foot-2-inch center Carman Maluach (10th overall pick). Green, 23, brought scoring, athleticism and potential to light the Suns' offense with Devin Booker.

Portland Trail Blazers Key Supplement: Ju Holiday

Trail Blazers have introduced the defensive back-end Holiday, allowing the veteran to partner with their young backcourt combination Scutter Henderson and Shetton Sharp. Damian Lillard also returned to the Trail Blazers, but will be out for a while due to a torn Achilles tendon. In any case, Lillard's leadership, coupled with Holiday's comprehensiveness and championship experience, will lay a solid foundation for the Trail Blazers to develop their promising young backcourt combination.

Sacramento Kings

Key Supplement: Nick Clifford

Under the leadership of Zach Laven, Demar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings played the top ten offenses in the league last season under Doug Christie's coaching, and achieved a record of 27 wins and 24 losses. They now add rookie sharpshooter Nick Clifford to the team - the 24th overall pick for the first team of the 2K26 Summer League, averaging 15.2 points per game and a 45.8% three-point shooting percentage. In addition, Dennis Schroeder will also serve as point guard to fill the vacancy left by De Alon Fox after his departure.

San Antonio Spurs

Key Supplement: Dylan Harper

After consecutively selecting Victor Vinbanyama (2023-24 season) and Stephen Castle (2024-25 season), the Spurs hope that this year's second-tier Harper can achieve three consecutive games. The all-around defender will partner with Castle and Fox in the backcourt, and his offensive intuition and organizational abilities may shine in the Spurs' free-flowing system. Key Supplement: As a pure shooter who can hit shots anywhere, this year's fifth pick brings the Jazz size, wingspan and comprehensive offensive skills, he can attack the basket, hit step back and jump shots and open the field. In addition, the Jazz also introduced veterans George Nion, Lee Kyle and Yusuf Nurkic, who will bring experience to the team's young core.

Author: NBA.com Staff

Translator: GWayNe