The potential is there for the NBA Northwest Division to have a dramatically different look next season. The Oklahoma City Thunder lost their best player in Kevin Durant while the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves each improved enough to believe they can each be playoff teams. Here is a look at the offseason grades for every NBA Northwest Division team.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: D
It’s difficult to be too hard on Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti. After all, the Thunder came within one win of reaching the NBA Finals a year ago before blowing a three-games-to-one series lead against the Golden State Warriors. Plus, Presti did pull off an impressive trade with the Orlando Magic to acquire All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and rookie first-round pick Domantas Sabonis in exchange for Serge Ibaka. Oklahoma City would have been the perfect spot for Durant to sign a one-year extension but his decision to leave for the Warriors changed everything. The Thunder are still talented enough to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference but with rumors of a Russell Westbrook trade on the horizon that outlook could change dramatically once again in the near future.
Portland Trail Blazers
Grade: A
The Trail Blazers turned a lot of heads when they made the playoffs a year ago and they did well to carry that momentum over to the offseason. Portland brought back Allen Crabbe and Meyers Leonard as two players with high upside and they got a bargain when they signed Festus Ezeli to a two-year deal at $15.1 million. There are some that felt the Trail Blazers reached by signing Evan Turner to a bigger deal than most thought he would have deserved but he should fit in as part of their backcourt rotation as Portland continues to rise as a true contender in the Northwest Division and Western Conference.
Utah Jazz
Grade: A
Utah took positive steps towards addressing its biggest areas of need including leadership, shooting and perimeter defense while also improving its overall depth. The addition of George Hill gives them an experienced, veteran point guard while Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw should fit in nicely to compliment the youth on the roster. Hill, Rodney Hood, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert make up a formidable starting five and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the moves the Jazz made help push them over the top as a playoff team in 2016-17.
Denver Nuggets
Grade: B+
The Nuggets couldn’t sign Dwyane Wade or trade for Jimmy Butler, but they did land a potential Rookie of the Year candidate in first round pick Jamal Murray. They also nabbed fellow rookie Malik Beasley, who has the potential to be a standout from the outset. Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris have improved enough that Denver could be a legitimate playoff contender this coming season. Would Wade have been a nice add for them? Probably if you’re thinking in terms of ticket sales. However, the Nuggets made the smart move to build from inside out. They have a lot of young talent on the roster and if they can get the right coach in place (hopefully they already have him), then they’re going to move up the ladder in the Northwest Division.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Grade: A
Rookie first round pick Kris Dunn shined in the Las Vegas Summer League and will be yet another of several young weapons that new head coach Tom Thibodeau will have at his disposal this season. Dunn will join Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and Tyus Jones in an improved guard rotation while the last two Rookie of the Year award winners Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns should be improved with another year of experience. Minnesota added a trio of veteran players in Jordan Hill, Brandon Rush and Cole Aldrich to help compliment the young talent that makes up the core of their roster and with Thibodeau leading the way as head coach it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Timberwolves challenged in the Northwest Division and possibly for a playoff spot in 2016-17.
