The Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of injuries to Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in order to run away with the Northwest Division last season as they were the only team from the group to make the playoffs. However, LaMarcus Aldridge’s uncertain future combined with the healthy returns of both Durant and Westbrook promises to give the division a different look next season. Here is a look at what all five teams from the Northwest division are likely to do heading in to this summer’s free agency period.
Portland Trail Blazers (51-31)
UFAs: LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Robin Lopez, Dorrell Wright, Alonzo Gee
RFAs: Joel Freeland
Team/Player Options: Steve Blake, Chris Kaman, Allen Crabbe, Tim Frazier
Trail Blazers General Manager Neil Olshey certainly has a lot of work to do this offseason with signing Aldridge to a long-term deal as his top priority. Portland has built what they feel has the potential to be a serious title contender in the years to come but they will need their star in the frontcourt back as well as center Robin Lopez, who is also a free agent. A number of teams are reportedly putting together packages to try and lure Aldridge from the Western Conference and it looks like there’s a good chance he’s leaving.
Meanwhile, Lopez is more than likely to return to the Trail Blazers. The challenge for Portland is that this is really a can’t-win offseason. If they keep Aldridge and the rest of the cast together, then they are still the same team that was a few bricks short of a load the last few seasons. However, if they lose Aldridge and anyone else, they might not even be a playoff team next season.
Oklahoma City Thunder (45-37)
UFAs: None
RFAs: Enes Kanter
Team/Player Options: None
Oklahoma City will dramatically improve with the returns of Durant and Westbrook for as long as they can stay healthy. While they could look to the open market to address their depth, the main priority will be locking up big man Enes Kanter long-term. Kanter was an absolute revelation after arriving from the Utah Jazz and the Thunder will have to think about what their plan with him is. Remember, Durant is a free agent next summer, so maybe they simply qualify Kanter and see if they can play things out with this team next season.
Utah Jazz (38-44)
UFAs: Jeremy Evans
RFAs: Joe Ingles
Team/Player Options: Trevor Booker, Jack Cooley, Bryce Cotton, Eijah Millsap
The Jazz don’t have any major priorities when it comes to their own roster in free agency but with such a young roster, they could look to a number of UFA’s in order to try and build a more competitive team for next season. Utah really turned it up a notch down the stretch of the season (after trading away Kanter) and they’ll rely more on the growth of a young team than free agency spending this offseason.
Denver Nuggets (30-52)
UFAs: Darrell Arthur
RFAs: Ian Clark, Will Barton
Team/Player Options: Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, Jamaal Franklin, Erick Green
Barton has already said he will definitely be back in Denver but it won’t be a surprise if Chandler and Nelson end up elsewhere next season. Chandler has an option for $7.2 M but only $2M is guaranteed, which makes him an attractive trade piece. He is rumored to be on the trade block heading in to this offseason. Meanwhile, Nelson reportedly wants to test the free agent market to see if he can make more than the $2.9 M on his player option and it won’t be a surprise to see him get it.
Minnesota Timberwolves (16-66)
UFAs: Kevin Garnett, Gary Neal
RFAs: Justin Hamilton, Robbie Hummel, Arinze Onuaku
Team/Player Options: Lorenzo Brown
Minnesota is a young team and they will benefit from bringing back a veteran player like Garnett, who has already told Flip Saunders that he would like to be back for one more year. Garnett is likely to sign for the veteran minimum. As for Neal, expect him to make his exit as an unrestricted free agent.
