Tracking a busy offseason for Mavericks’ divisional competition

As we continue our three-part series on offseason moves in the Western Conference, we move to the four teams in the Southwest Division that the Mavericks must be better than if they hope to make a return to the NBA Finals.

New Orleans, San Antonio, Houston and Memphis are not championship contenders in most people’s estimation. Not yet, anyway.

They still must be contended with by the Mavericks in what was an odd Southest Division last season, when the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals, three teams failed to qualify for the playoffs and New Orleans had to survive the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.

It’s not quite the beast it once was. But there is young star-quality talent on every team in the division.

And winning the division is the first micro-step toward bigger and better things. So it’s important for the Mavericks. So here’s our look at the competition and the moves they made in the offseason.

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NEW ORLEANS

Incoming: Dejounte Murray, Daniel Theiss, Yves Missi (R)

Outgoing: Jonas Valanciunas, Naji Marshall, Dyson Daniels, Cody Zeller, Larry Nance Jr.

Analysis: They needed to kick-start a roster that had become a bit stagnant, so they pulled the trigger on the Murray trade, which is a bold move, perhaps the biggest in the division outside of the Mavericks signing Klay Thompson. But it could pay major dividends if the chemistry between Murray and stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram works. Missi is an interesting project. The Belgian center was the 21^st pick of the draft. Theiss is a serviceable replacement for Valanciunas at center, but the Pelicans probably will play that position by committee.

Projection: Watch for the development of players like Jordan Hawkins and Missi as the Pelicans try to infuse new talent into the Williams-Ingram twosome. Murray, who clearly did not fit in Atlanta with Trae Young, will no doubt help the backcourt with C.J. McCollum. There’s no shortage of talent on this team. It would surprise nobody if they were vying for a playoff spot again this season, but that might be their ceiling.

SAN ANTONIO

Incoming: Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle.

Outgoing: Devonte Graham.

Analysis: It’s all about building around Victor Wembanyama for the Spurs and building on the culture that coach Gregg Popovich has cemented in the organization. They Spurs could not have brought in a better locker room presence than Barnes. The former Maverick still has skills (he averaged 13.6 points the last two seasons when he played (and started) in all 82 games each year. He’ll be a great mentor for Wembanyama, as will Paul, who will provide a strong pick-and-roll partner for the 7-4 Wembanyama. Castle is the rookie they got with the fourth overall pick and they are expecting big things from the 6-8 swingman who won an NCAA title last season with the UConn Huskies.

Projection: In the long run, the Spurs hope Castle and Wemby become a fierce tandem and with the infusion of talent they’ve had over the last couple of summers, plus development of players like Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ days in the lottery may be coming to an end for a while.

HOUSTON

Incoming: Reed Sheppard (R), A.J. Griffin, Stephen Adams.

Outgoing: No notable losses.

Analysis: Sheppard is a much-ballyhooed shooter from Kentucky who lit up summer league action and should help stretch the floor, even if rookies tend to have trouble finding their NBA shooting eye. Griffin fell off the map with the Atlanta Hawks last season and a change of scenery should help him. Adams technically joined the Rockets before the February trade deadline but he did not play last season because of injury. If he can help Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith on the front line, the Rockets have plenty of backcourt firepower to be playoff-capable.

Projection: They have stocked up a lot of young talent, but teams that do that often reach a plateau and have a difficult time reaching the next level. The Rockets are going to have to prove that they can be more than just a fringe playoff team, which is where their 41-41 record left them last season. They missed the play-in tournament by one spot.

MEMPHIS

Incoming: Zach Edey (R), Jaylen Wells (R).

Outgoing: Ziaire Williams.

Analysis: The Grizzlies went against the prevailing theory that Edey is not NBA-ready. But he was so good in college and is so big and skilled that it’s hard to fault them for using the No. 9 overall pick on the 7-4 center. If he does what the Grizzlies hope he can do, they’ll quickly forget about Steven Adams and any other centers they have had. Other than Edey, the Grizz preferred to stand their ground and hope that a refocused and rested Ja Morant, who played just nine games last season when the Grizz went 27-55, can return to his lofty standards and lead them back to playoff contention.

Projection: They have a lot of solid players, but if Morant isn’t their star and leader, the grouping of Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama can only take them so far. It’s a transition time for them, but Morant holds the key to everything.

Coming Friday: The rest of the Western Conference.

X: @ESefko