The Southwest division of the Western Conference significantly improved during the offseason.
At the center of this enhancement is the Texas Triangle, comprised of the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs.
The Mavericks strengthened their lineup with an unexpected acquisition: No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and bolstered their backcourt by bringing in veteran guard D’Angelo Russell. This will complement a team featuring stars like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, along with vital frontcourt players such as P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II.
Kevin Durant, a 15-time NBA All-Star, made the move from Phoenix to Houston. The Rockets also added wing depth by signing former Mavericks player Dorian Finney-Smith.
San Antonio will feature Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, last season’s Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and the No. 2 overall draft pick Dylan Harper.
The Memphis Grizzlies initiated the summer trade period by sending former TCU standout Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a collection of first-round draft picks and veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Finishing last in the Southwest last season, New Orleans added Jordan Poole to pair with Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray. The division, which ended the 2024-25 season as the weakest in the West, had only the Rockets and Grizzlies above .500, with Houston being the sole team to surpass 50 wins. In contrast, both the Northwest and Pacific divisions boasted three teams with winning records and two with over 50 wins.
