The Nuggets will be significantly weakened after the departure of Pope next season, and the perennial No. 1 position in the West may not be stable next season. And the Clippers have also dropped significantly in strength after leaving Paul George. Next season, the West may evolve into a competitive landscape, but the difference in quality between them is not as stark. There won't be a situation like the Nuggets dominate before.

But there's one team to be reckoned with next season, and many believe that team is likely to be the strongest team in the West: the Grizzlies, who missed the playoffs last season. The Grizzlies suffered a large number of personnel injuries last season, with almost all of the main players experiencing injuries. So they strategically gave up a season last season. Next season, they will have a full fit squad and the Big Three will be combined.

Morant's return will be combined with Bane and Jackson to form the Big Three. All three players have the ability to average 20+ per game. Bane averaged 23.7 points per game last season, while Jackson averaged 22.5 points per game. After Morant's return next season, the offensive firepower of the three of them is very strong. And the Grizzlies are not only very strong on the offensive end, but more importantly, they are also among the best in the league on the defensive end. Because they have two of the best defensive players in their squad.

Jackson and Smart have both been named the best defensive players in their careers, and they happen to be a defensive combination inside and outside. Smart can defend top guards, while Jackson can limit other teams' interior stars. Therefore, such a team with both offense and defense will definitely become the hottest contender for the Western Conference championship next season. Because once it comes to the playoffs, it is a great test of the team's balance, and there are some teams in the West that have very strong offensive ability, but very poor defensive ability, such as the Kings. But the Grizzlies are very strong players both offensively and defensively, and such teams tend to go further in the playoffs.

So next season, players can focus on the Grizzlies, and they also have veterans on the roster, such as Rose who is now on the Grizzlies roster, and he can also provide Morant with some veteran experience. The Grizzlies also drafted Zach Eddie this summer, and they may be able to get deeper in their interior rotation next season. In short, there is a strong contender in the Western Conference playoffs next season, which makes the overall competitive situation in the West more severe.