Not taking into account injuries but from a pure look at team rosters on paper, I see the Kings as being at worst 9th best off their draft alone. Keep in mind though both the Clippers and Rockets should be getting their key players back from injury in Griffin and Yao. I think if Griffin even puts up 15/10 with a couple blocks that the Clippers are playoff bound and lately the Pacific has only gotten in TWO teams.
I'm not gonna talk about LA, so we can go 2-8...
2. OKC- I think they are easily ready to make the leap into contenders. They D up crazily and have young guys that play like veterans(Durant, Maynor and Westbrook). Acquiring Aldrich was big for them because they don't need a impact center just a guy to do the dirty work down there and that is exactly Aldrich's game. Nobody can deny there homecourt advantage either, this team reminds me of the 2000 Sac Kings from a entertainment standpoint.
3/4. Dallas and Denver- You can pretty much put these teams in either of these spots as I see them locked into that lovely but crappy position of being perennial top playoff seeds but really are not threats to do much because of team makeup. Both of these squads have great stars, rebounding and team defense but they are mentally deficient. Also both teams are coming back the same with virtually no subtractions or additions to their core, so they should really do about the same numbers next year.
5. Portland- If they get their big men back healthy, they still have the length to go toe to toe with Lakers, but Oden can't seem to put together a full season and it's a damn shame. I like their draft too, also watch out for Bayless he's finally gonna get some run I can see him in the running for 6th man of the year if that's how they choose to run him.
6. San Antonio- Yeah they still have TD and Ginobli but they are aging and they have yet to really address this problem. I expect them to start slowly this year and turn it on at the end to just get in. But the question is will any of the lower ranked teams start fast, keep it up during the year and force SA to have to chase them all year to get in? If that happens I think we see our first perennial playoff team on the outside looking in. Also what will they do with Tony Parker?
7. Houston- I like this team with a healthy Yao to actually rank higher in the west, I put them here just because I don't really think Yao will be healthy. I could of sworn I read that he has to go get ANOTHER surgery on that foot, but he is expected to be ready for the start of the reg season. If he isn't healthy though this team lacks the size up front to really be much of a factor out West.
8. Clippers- The only reason why I see these guys higher up than the Kings is because they are older and have more veterans. Like I said earlier if Blake Griffin gives them 15/10 and a couple blocks they can get the 8th spot easily.
That's my top 8 and it's crazy because with a couple injuries here and there the bottom could look differently. I realistically lump our Kings in with Utah, NO and Phoenix simply because while they are dealing with losing players, not adding or age we are dealing with too much youth and potential. Utah has potentially lost 3 big pieces to their young core and now with Milsap starting have lost a TON of bench pop. They were a average at best road team with the pieces last year, how good can they be now on the road? Looking at the Hornets they still haven't added anybody to play make not named Chris Paul, I don't even see him ending the year there either. Phoenix is talking about adding Hedo to their already aging random core without Amare. I really don't see them doing anything next year even if they stay healthy, you don't replace Amare with Hakim Warrick.
Taking into account how I rank the top 8 of the West I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Kings snuck in, just because of how they started last year making noise. Before the LA game at staples that Kobe hit the game winner these guys were in EVERY game just not able to get that key stop or score. If they truly have learned even a little bit from their mistakes last year and a couple of new additions can make a visible impact( Dally on the glass, DMC on the block, a FULL season of Landry) we'll be there folks....we'll be there.
Edit- I forgot all about Memphis. I still don't like the look of their lineup, they have made a couple good bench signings as well but I would of rather them let Rudy Gay walk and give Mayo the team. I really don't see those 2 growing to co exist together without one of them stalling in there development.
Just thought I'd share
