It says a lot about the strength of the South-West Division that even though San Antonio added the biggest fish in free agency, they are no sure things to finish on top.

In a very unSpurslike move, they snared a high-profile recruit after All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge turned his back on Portland.

However, the Houston Rockets - second only to Golden State last season in the west, also improved with the addition of the point guard they so desperately needed, former Denver playmaker Ty Lawson.

This season is probably one year too early but the New Orleans Pelicans will also challenge for the divisional title, Memphis will also be finals bound and the only question mark hovers over Dallas.

Dallas Mavericks (50-32 last season): Mark Cuban has never endured a losing season during his reign as team owner but that record could be about to end. They've lost two of their best defenders in Tyson Chandler and Al-Farouq Aminu plus their top scorer in Monta Ellis and replaced them with the corpse of Deron Williams' former All-Star self, Blazers guard Wesley Matthews coming off an Achilles tear and Bucks centre Zaza Pachulia following DeAndre Jordan's successful escape from his Dallas deal. Even though Dirk Nowitzki's jump shot shows no sign of ageing, he is now a defensive liability and Pachulia, JaVale McGee or Samuel Dalembert aren't capable of making up for that in the front court.

Gains: Justin Anderson (rookie), Satnam Singh (rookie), Samuel Dalembert (Knicks), Jeremy Evans (Jazz), Wesley Matthews (Trail Blazers), JaVale McGee (76ers), Deron Williams (Nets), Zaza Pachulia (Bucks)

Losses: Al-Farouq Aminu (Trail Blazers), Tyson Chandler (Suns), Monta Ellis (Pacers), Richard Jefferson (Cavaliers),Rajon Rondo (Kings), Amar'e Stoudemire (Heat)

Will struggle to make the playoffs unless they rejig roster mid-season

via GIPHY

Houston Rockets (56-26): A sleeper pick to win it all. Houston star James Harden is still fuming he didn't win MVP last season and is capable of turning that rage into a deep playoff run for the Rockets. They got the bargain of the off-season when they signed Nuggets guard Ty Lawson, giving up peanuts in return, and if he can avoid off-court dramas, he will be an ideal back-court ally for Harden.

Gains: Sam Dekker (rookie), Montrezl Harrell (rookie), Marcus Thornton (Celtics), Ty Lawson (Nuggets)

Losses: Josh Smith (Clippers), Joey Dorsey (Nuggets), Nick Johnson (Nuggets), Kostas Papanikolaou (Nuggets), Pablo Prigioni (Clippers)

Will be legitimate contenders but need Dwight Howard fit and firing

The Beard to be Feared: James Harden. Photo: Getty Images

Memphis Grizzlies (55-27): They still can't shoot three-pointers. They'll be as tough as ever, their defence will be intimidating, they're playoff locks and they will give the top teams a run for their money but why haven't they signed any decent outside shooters? Grizzlies execs need to act quickly or in a few short years time they will find themselves looking back at this period and thinking what-if.

Gains: Jarell Martin (rookie), Andrew Harrison (rookie), Brandan Wright (Suns), Matt Barnes (Clippers)

Losses: Kosta Koufos (Kings), Jon Leuer (Suns)

Solid but not spectacular, their chance to do something special with this squad is almost gone

Needing back-up: Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Photo: Kevin C. Cox

New Orleans Pelicans (45-37): After getting a taste of the playoffs last season and upgrading from Monty Williams to Alvin Gentry in the coaching department, the Pelicans should be close to the top of the pecking order. But they're in the South-West Division. Which is in the Western Conference. And they've suffered injuries in the pre-season with Tyreke Evans and Omer Asik falling by the wayside and Jrue Holiday on a minutes restriction. Anthony Davis is superhuman but even he can't drag this team to the top without higher-calibre teammates. And Pelicans management should know that the tables have turned and stars will want to come to The Big Easy over the next decade simply because playing alongside Davis will give them a very good chance of translating into jewellery.

Gains: Kendrick Perkins (Cavaliers)

Losses: Jimmer Fredette (waived), Jeff Withey (Jazz), Toney Douglas (Pacers)

Will be rising but not to the top

San Antonio Spurs (55-27): They miscalculated their surge to the Western Conference playoffs last year and paid the price. Coach Gregg Popovich will keep resting players but make no mistake, the pressure is on San Antonio to deliver. They are trying to have their cake and eat it by making the transition from the Duncan/Ginobili/Parker era into one headed up by star signing LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawai Leonard while still contending for yet another trophy. Shy in nature, Leonard can remain so in public but on the court, he needs to do more on the offensive end to complement his peerless defensive dominance and become the superstar the Spurs want him to be. Will LaMarcus affect team chemistry and will he be included in their acting troupe for ad campaigns?

Gains: Nikola Milutinov (rookie), Cady Lalanne (rookie), LaMarcus Aldridge (Trail Blazers), David West (Pacers), Ray McCallum (Kings), Georgios Printezis (Olympiacos Piraeus)

Losses: Cory Joseph (Raptors), Aron Baynes (Pistons), Marco Belinelli (Spurs), Tiago Splitter (Hawks)

Will go close to winning it all, never write them off