How high can the Pelicans climb in the Western Conference?

New Orleans Pelicans: The crowded Western Conference

The West should be fiercely competitive next season with a group of teams who are all fairly equally talented and should be neck-and-neck in the standings all year. I think these four teams will be bunched up with the New Orleans Pelicans battling for a top four seed:

• Dallas Mavericks: So far the Mavs have lost Jalen Brunson this offseason and added Christian Wood, a move that probably isn’t going to move the needle. As long as they have Luka Doncic, the Mavs will be battling for a playoff spot, though they may be worse next season unless they make some additions.

• Denver Nuggets: They will still have two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, so next season will just come down to the health of their secondary stars. If Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are healthy, they are a contender, if not, they are probably a 6-7 seed again.
• Memphis Grizzlies: So far at least, Memphis will be running it back with more-or-less the same squad that claimed the 2nd seed last season. The Grizzlies do have a lot of potential trade assets and could make a move for another star to put around Ja Morant. When fully healthy, I think the Pelicans are on par with them talent-wise, but the Grizzlies are a very good team with solid chemistry and the chance to get better.

• Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves made the biggest splash of the offseason, adding Rudy Gobert to a team that was pretty good last season. Will he gel with Karl-Anthony Towns? Will Anthony Edwards make another leap and become a legit superstar? This team could be a contender next season for sure and will look to move into the top half of the Western Conference.