The Oklahoma City Thunder were the victim of the biggest free agent transaction of the offseason when Kevin Durant left to sign with the Golden State Warriors. However, they were also the beneficiaries of one of the more favorable trades of the offseason when they acquired Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and rookie first round pick Domantas Sabonis for Serge Ibaka. As a result, the Thunder are one of the most interesting teams to watch out for heading in to the 2016-17 season with all eyes on them to see what happens following a busy offseason. Here is a look at what to expect in the NBA Northwest division this season.
Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder
Basketball fans in Oklahoma City have every right to be upset about how things played out in the offseason with one of their franchise players leaving town to join a rival in Golden State. However, the Thunder is still one of the most talented teams in the NBA and they are still the favorites to win the Northwest Division. Russell Westbrook will have the opportunity to show that he can be the man in Oklahoma City and he has a talented cast around him beginning with Oladipo, Ilyasova, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter in the starting five.
The Thunder might not be as good now as they were at the end of last season but they are still extremely talented. This is a team that’s still very young and they are banking on the growth of a number of young players. Adams really came on last season, Kanter can do better than what he’s done and the key will be getting Oladipo to perform like we’ve seen him play. Remember, Oladipo has played at or near All-Star level at times on a bad team. With a better cast around him with a superior coach, he could approach 15-20 points per game. If he does that, that will help soften the blow of the Durant departure.
There is every reason to expect Westbrook and company to play with chips on their shoulders this season as they aim to prove they still belong in the discussion with the best teams in the West.
Biggest Surprise: Utah Jazz
Utah is coming off a 40-win season in which they flirted with a .500 record and ultimately finished just one game short of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz made an effort to add some veteran talent with the additions of Joe Johnson, George Hill and Boris Diaw in the off-season and the hope is that those additions will provide the experience and leadership necessary to take that next step. Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Trey Lyles, Dante Exum and Rodney Hood make up a talented young core and the veterans should provide some help while also helping the young guns take their game to that next level. However, they will have to start the season shorthanded as Hayward will be out for some time.
Utah has the talent to take another step and contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference this season so look for them to be the biggest surprise in the Northwest division for 2016-17. If they fail to make the playoffs, there’s a good chance that it will cost Quin Snyder his job.
Biggest Disappointment: Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers were one of the most surprising teams in the NBA last season when they overcame the biggest free agent hit in the association to finish with the fifth-best record in the Western Conference. Fast-forward to the start of this season and Portland could be on the verge of taking a small step back. The Trail Blazers didn’t lose anybody, but they also didn’t do much to add to a roster that turned a lot of heads last season. Evan Turner is a nice add but he alone won’t push this team up the ladder very much – even in the Northwest Division.
With a number of teams from the Western Conference improving on paper, Portland could be primed for a small step back as the biggest disappointment in the Northwest division this season.
