Every NBA Team's X-Factor- Western Conference, Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors- Jonathan Kuminga:
The Warriors are a hard team to figure out. They have their vets such as Steph Curry and Draymond Green, new additions such as Buddy Hield and De'Anthony Melton, and young talent they need to develop. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter to ever play the game, but he needed help last year. Klay Thompson could never get in a rhythm, and Draymond Green was in and out of the lineup with suspensions. A lack of consistency from the vets, allowed a young player like Jonathan Kuminga to pop.
Kuminga averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists over his 46 games as a starter last year, and provided an element the Warriors offense had been lacking for a long time. Golden State have been a pace and space team, really since Steve Kerr took over as head coach, but they have lacked a true downhill attacker and finisher. Kuminga is a 6'7, 225-pound forward whose best skill is getting to the basket and using his athleticism to finish and draw fouls. He was drafted as a player with immense upside, but he struggled to find minutes over the first two years of his career. Now he is an integral part of this team, and arguably the second-best player, due to his potential.
The Warriors are viewed as a team that can finish anywhere, from the play-in to the playoffs, but Steph Curry, along with Kuminga's upside can make them a guaranteed playoff team. The west is loaded, which will make it tough to finish in the top 6, but Kuminga has the tools and skill to take another step in his game. If he does, the Warriors offense should improve this year. He also allows the Warriors to return to small-ball lineups (with Steph, Melton, Podziemski, Kuminga, and Draymond), and the Warriors are at their best when they play small. Kuminga can elevate this team unlike anyone else on the roster.
Los Angeles Clippers- Norman Powell:
Norman Powell had a down year scoring by his standards last season. He averaged just 14 points a game, but he shot 43.5% from three, which is phenomenal. This year, without Paul George and Russell Westbrook, Powell will be leaned on more for offense, and he is one of the best 6th men in the league.
The Clippers lack a lot of true shot creators outside of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, but Powell's strengths are shooting and shot creation, which means he will have a big role this year. He will likely come off the bench for the Clippers, but it would be shocking if he didn't close games, due to his offensive punch. People are down on Los Angeles this year, but the team has a lot of versatile defenders on their roster, and players like Harden and Powell to run the offense.
The Clippers defense should be excellent with the additions of Derrick Jones Jr. and Nic Batum, but the offense is questionable. Powell has a chance to elevate the offense, and if he can be a consistent go-to option, the Clippers could surprise people this year. Powell has never had the chance to be the third scoring option on a team before, and now, he finally has that chance. He isn't a household name, but true NBA fans know he can get hot real quick, and go on heaters. Harden is the leader of the offense, but Powell is the one that can raise its ceiling.
Los Angeles Lakers- D'Angelo Russell:
The Lakers roster is essentially the same as it was last year, which made the choice either Austin Reaves or D'Angelo Russell. Russell gets the nod, because he's shown the ability to play at an all-star level for an entire season, but he has been up and down with the Lakers.
In the regular season, Russell put up strong numbers, averaging 18 points and 6 assists, while shooting 41.5% from three. In the playoffs, he averaged 14 points and 5 assists per game, while shooting 32% from three. This was the second season in a row that Russell saw a major decline during the playoffs in all categories. Last year in the playoffs, the Lakers had a lead in every game of the Nuggets series, and blew almost all of them, losing 4-1. Had Russell performed more like he did in the regular season, the Lakers could have made it to the second round. LeBron and AD are great but they need help, and Russell is the most talented player on the team outside of those two.
The Lakers ceiling may be a bit capped with the current roster, but LeBron and AD are going to need to stay healthy. In order to be a great team, they need someone else to step up. Russell has shown he can explode for big games and get hot from deep, but he has not done so in the playoffs. If he can play well in the postseason, the Lakers could be a different team.
Phoenix Suns- Bradley Beal:
The Suns traded for Bradley Beal last year. The goal was to pair him with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, with the hopes of creating the next great trio, but things didn't go as planned. The Suns lacked depth and playmaking after pushing all their chips into the big 3, and it led to a first-round loss. Phoenix is returning the same core this year, with the addition of Tyus Jones. That means the Suns big 3 need to be at the top of their game, and of those three, Beal can make the biggest leap this year.
That doesn't mean Beal needs to have some sort of breakout, as he is an established all-star, but he was under 20 points a game last year for the first time since 2015-2016. The Suns need him to play more like his 2020-2021 self, who averaged 31 points a game, if they want to be a true contender. He is the third option on the offense, but he can score like a first option, and the Suns need that this year. There isn't much else to say about Phoenix and Beal, as it is clear what they need to be successful this year. A bounce-back season from Beal is at the top of the list. Everyone knows he is a great player, but he needs to show it, and if he does, then the Suns offense will be one of the best in the league.
Sacramento Kings- Keegan Murray:
Keegan Murray is a great shooter and an emerging 3-level scoring threat, but he is the Kings X-factor for defensive purposes.
Murray will likely be the one assigned with guarding the opposing team's best wing every night. Demar Derozan and Kevin Huerter are not the strongest defenders, which means Keegan will have to step up on that end of the court. With D'Aaron Fox, Huerter, Derozan, Murray, and Damontas Sabonis, the Kings will have a lot of offensive firepower, but the defense is a concern. Fox has developed into a strong defender, but he can only guard 1-2. Keon Ellis and Devin Carter are both good defenders, but just like De'Aaron, they are guards and can guard 1-3 at most. Keegan is the best wing defender on this team, and he needs to be locked in on defense this year.
The Western Conference is full of elite wings, and Murray will be responsible for guarding them on a nightly basis. He will provide elite floor spacing for the Kings, but with the addition of Demar DeRozan, their offense should be elite even without a jump from Murray. The Kings offense will only be able to take them so far, if they are unable to get stops on the other end. Murray should take a leap offensively this year, but he needs to make an even bigger one on defense if the Kings want to be a force out west.