In this episode, host Daniel Leroux (@DannyLeroux) works through the Southwest Division with Ed Maisonet of The Sports Fan Journal and SBNation (@edthesportsfan) and Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM (@JonathanTjarks).  

They review the events of the offseason including which teams improved and which teams got worse, with special attention for the overhauls in Dallas and Houston. After that, the group previews the upcoming season including ranking the teams 1-5 and predicting how many teams will make the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference.

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The Dallas Mavericks and Bernard James are finalizing a one-year deal.

James has been with the Mavericks since the 12-13 season.

James played collegiately at Florida State after serving six years in the United States Air Force.

Raymond Felton has been suspended four games by the NBA for pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, the league announced on Thursday.

Felton's suspension will start in the 2014-15 season.

Felton was traded by the New York Knicks to the Dallas Mavericks this offseason.

Shawn Marion is leaning strongly toward signing with the Cleveland Cavaliers over Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers could offer Marion more than the Cavaliers, but the club is already looking for other options with the expectations that he will eventually sign with Cleveland.

David Aldridge reports that the Pacers will apply for a Disabled Player Exception that would allow the team to sign a free agent to a one-year, $5.3 million deal.