NBA-Brief profiles of Western Conference teams

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Following are brief profiles of the 15 teams in the National Basketball Association's Western Conference ahead of the 2015-16 season. NORTHWEST DIVISION DENVER NUGGETS Founded: 1967 NBA titles: None Head coach: Mike Malone 2014-15 record: 30-52 (Entered the season with high hopes and playoff aspirations but failed to qualify for the second straight year) Young core that includes American power forward Kenneth Faried and Italian small forward Danilo Gallinari gives the team some hope but will not be expected to contend for a playoff spot just yet. - - MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Founded: 1989 NBA titles: None Head coach: Flip Saunders 2014-15 record: 16-66 (Andrew Wiggins was named Rookie of the Year while playing on a team that had the NBA's worst record and missed the playoffs for an 11th consecutive year) The combination of Andrew Wiggins, the first overall pick in 2014, and No. 1 draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns gives Minnesota a pair of potential standouts to build a team around. - - OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER Founded: 1967 NBA titles: 1 (1979 as Seattle SuperSonics) Head coach: Billy Donovan 2014-15 record: 45-37 (Missed playoffs for first time since 2009, mainly because of an injury to Kevin Durant, and resulted in the firing of their head coach) When healthy, Oklahoma City are considered a perennial NBA championship contender, so avoiding injury will be key to their hopes of success as will their new coach's readiness for the NBA after spending the last 19 seasons at the University of Florida. - - PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Founded: 1970 NBA titles: 1 (1977) Head coach: Terry Stotts 2014-15 record: 51-31 (A solid start to the season was undone by a slew of injuries that erased hopes of making a run in the playoffs, where they fell in the first round) After seeing their roster torn apart by free agency during the offseason, Portland could find themselves hard-pressed to compete for a playoff spot. - - UTAH JAZZ Founded: 1974 NBA titles: None Head coach: Quin Snyder 2014-15 record: 38-44 (Enjoyed a 13-win improvement but still fell well short of making playoffs in a tough conference) Utah boast an elite defense but will need more contributions on offense if they are to contend in the competitive Western Conference. - - PACIFIC DIVISION GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Founded: 1946 NBA titles: 3 (2015, 1975, *1956) Head coach: Steve Kerr 2014-15 record: 67-15 (Set a franchise record for wins and had the league's best record en route to clinching their first NBA title in 40 years) Led by reigning MBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, the Warriors still have the same core but could be seriously tested this year after a season that was free of injuries and managed to avoid some of their toughest opponents in their title run. (*) as Philadelphia Warriors - - LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Founded: 1970 NBA titles: None Head coach: Doc Rivers 2014-15 record: 56-26 (Under new owner Steve Ballmer, the Clippers beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in first round of playoffs but fell in next round to Houston) The team's core -- DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and J.J. Redick -- remain in their prime and head a deep team that should give coach Rivers plenty of options, a benefit he did not have last season. - - LOS ANGELES LAKERS Founded: 1947 NBA titles: 16 (2010, 2009, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1988, 1987, 1985, 1982, 1980, 1972, 1954, 1953, 1952, 1950, 1949) Head coach: Byron Scott 2014-15 record: 21-61 (The team's .256 winning percentage was the lowest in franchise history and kept them out of the playoffs for a second straight year) The Lakers made some key acquisitions during the offseason but still remain well behind the pack in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. - - PHOENIX SUNS Founded: 1968 NBA titles: None Head coach: Jeff Hornacek 2014-15 record: 39-43 (In playoff contention for much of the season but capped campaign by losing 10 out of 11 games to fall short of postseason) Plenty of question marks for a team that is trying to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Anything short of that would mark the Suns' longest postseason drought in their 47-year existence. - - SACRAMENTO KINGS Founded: 1923 NBA titles: 1 (1951 as Rochester Royals) Head coach: George Karl 2014-15 record: 29-53 (Finished with third-worst record in the conference and missed playoffs for ninth consecutive season) DeMarcus Cousins, who finished fifth in league scoring last season, offers hope for a team that acquired Rajon Rondo during the offseason as part of their bid to snap the league's playoff drought before it stretches to a 10th season. - - SOUTHWEST DIVISION DALLAS MAVERICKS Founded: 1980 NBA titles: 1 (2011) Head coach: Rick Carlisle 2014-15 record: 50-32 (Fell in the first round of playoffs for a second consecutive year and third time since winning NBA title in 2011) After losing out on a run to acquire DeAndre Jordan, the Mavericks could still challenge for a playoff spot if everthing falls into place but appear more likely to be on the outside looking in. - - HOUSTON ROCKETS Founded: 1967 NBA titles: 2 (1995, 1994) Head coach Kevin McHale 2014-15 record: 56-26 (Captured first division crown since 1994 and went on to lose to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the penultimate round of playoffs) James Harden, one of the best players in the NBA, will be expected to have Houston ready to contend for a title if the team can stay healthy. Addition of point guard Ty Lawson offers an added dimension to Rockets lineup. - - MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Founded: 1995 NBA titles: None Head coach: Dave Joerger 2014-15 record: 55-27 (Had second best record in franchise history but fell short in second-round playoff loss to Golden State) The core of the team have played together for years but will need an above-average showing from their offense if they are to take the next step in the postseason and contend for a title. - - NEW ORLEANS PELICANS Founded: 2002 NBA titles: None Head coach: Alvin Gentry 2014-15 record: 45-37 (Finished last in division but still earned the eighth and final seed into the playoffs, where they were swept in the first round by Golden State) Anthony Davis, who emerged last season as one of the league's best players, will be joined by new coach Alvin Gentry but the team's reliance on too many injury-prone players could be their biggest obstacle. - - SAN ANTONIO SPURS Founded: 1967 NBA titles 5 (2014, 2007, 2005, 2003, 1999) Head coach: Gregg Popovich 2014-15 record: 55-27 (Title defense ended in the first-round when the Clippers banked in a shot with a second left in the decisive seventh game) In a bid to make another title run, the Spurs landed coveted free agent LaMarcus Aldridge along with David West during the offseason to join forces with their formidable core. (Compiled by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)