Here is the outlook for teams in the NBA Pacific Division.

PACIFIC DIVISION
1. L.A. LAKERS
Key additions: SF Ron Artest (free agent, Rockets).
Key subtraction: SF Trevor Ariza (free agent, Rockets).
Outlook: The defending NBA champions seem to have gotten even better — on paper at least. The arrival of volatile forward Artest is certain to keep Kobe Bryant, who averaged a Western-Conference best 26.8 points per game last season, and the crew’s title defense from growing stale.

2. PHOENIX
Key additions: C Channing Frye (free agent, Blazers); PF Earl Clark (draft).
Key subtractions: C Shaquille O’Neal (trade, Cavaliers); SF Matt Barnes (free agent, Magic).
Outlook: The Suns are hoping for addition by subtraction after shipping out Shaq. The Big Experiment was a colossal failure with Phoenix missing the playoffs last season. Give GM Steve Kerr a big mulligan as the Suns regroup.

3. L.A. CLIPPERS
Key additions: PF Blake Griffin (draft); PG Sebastian Telfair (trade, Timberwolves).
Key subtraction: PF Zach Randolph (trade, Grizzlies).
Outlook: Few rosters can match the potential and promise of this squad. Performance? Well, that’s always another issue. If they can stay healthy and hungry early, this is a playoff team. But those are big “ifs.”

4. GOLDEN STATE
Key additions: SG Stephen Curry (draft); SF Devean George (trade, Raptors).
Key subtraction: SG Jamal Crawford (trade, Hawks).
Outlook: Chaos is a way of life in the bay. Training camp was no exception, with Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis griping every day. This is far from the fun-and-gun bunch that made the playoffs two years ago.

5. SACRAMENTO
Key additions: PG Tyreke Evans (draft); SF Desmond Mason (free agent, Thunder).
Key subtraction: Ike Diogu (free agent, Hornets).
Outlook: There is plenty of potential for progress in Sac-town. But that’s not much of a reach, considering last season’s dreadful finish. Evans is the real deal at the point, and Jason Thompson is a quality big man in the making.