Way-too-early NBA Western Conference playoff predictions

DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Donatas Motiejunas #12 of the New Orleans Pelicans goes up for a lay up against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on April 7, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Donatas Motiejunas #12 of the New Orleans Pelicans goes up for a lay up against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on April 7, 2017 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
1 of 9
DENVER, CO – APRIL 7: Donatas Motiejunas #12 of the New Orleans Pelicans NBA. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 7: Donatas Motiejunas #12 of the New Orleans Pelicans NBA. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

The NBA offseason is pretty much over, and we can now start to look forward. I know it’s early, but who will make the playoffs in the Western Conference next year and where could the Denver Nuggets land?

With NBA free agency and Summer League passing by, we have one thing left to do: start thinking about next season. I know that it is too early to try to predict the playoffs, but it’s a fun topic to tackle, especially considering how good the Western Conference got this offseason.

Some teams got better — including the Denver Nuggets taking a step forward with the acquisition of Paul Millsap — while some got much worse. New contenders appeared to challenge the Golden State Warriors, while others fell quite hard.

While this dreaded dead period of the summer falls over us, let’s take a look at how the West could shake out.