The Oklahoma City Thunder once again reigned as the best in the Northwest Division and while their championship window might get a little smaller following another disappointing playoff exit the reality is that they still expect to contend next season. Kevin Durant is expected to be back and the Thunder are coming off a year in which they pulled to within a single win of advancing back to the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City can help its chances by making the best possible pick at this year’s NBA Draft and we have taken the time to identify what they should be targeting along with the rest of their division. Here is a look at the biggest NBA Draft team need for each Northwest Division team.
Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27)
Biggest Draft Need: Pure Scoring Guard
The Thunder are at the top of the Northwest Division, but it doesn’t meant they’re flawless. Durant is one of the best pure scorers in the game. Russell Westbrook is one of the most dominant point guards. Steven Adams and Enes Kanter proved they can dominate as one of the better big man tandems in the NBA. So what is it the Thunder need to put them over the top? A pure scorer that can line up at the shooting guard position is the most obvious option as a lack of firepower from beyond the arc ultimately cost them in their loss to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Oklahoma City doesn’t have many holes but they could certainly use a pure scorer that can consistently hit the three-ball at the shooting guard position.
Portland Trail Blazers (44-38)
Biggest Draft Need: Power Forward/Center
The Trail Blazers have one of the better backcourt tandems in the NBA in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, but if they are going to take another step in the right direction they need to add a quality big man. LaMarcus Aldridge’s exit didn’t keep them from making the playoffs but Portland will need a player of his caliber in order to contend for a championship out of the Western Conference. Mason Plumlee, Meyers Leonard and Ed Davis are good rotational players but the Trail Blazers need to find a true franchise big man in the draft.
Utah Jazz (40-42)
Biggest Draft Need: Best Available Player
Utah is regarded as a team on the rise with young, talented players at pretty much every position but we’ve been say that for a couple of years now. They haven’t moved that much higher in the Northwest Division and they are not ready to contend just yet. The Jazz still need to mature and come together as a team before they can be counted on to make the playoffs but fortunately they are in a quality position heading in to this NBA Draft. Utah can go ahead and select the best possible player on the board with the confidence that it is the right move based on where they stand right now.
Denver Nuggets (33-49)
Biggest Draft Need: Shooting Small Forward
The Nuggets boast a ton of talent and athleticism but like a number of other teams they need some weapons to help them improve their shooting from beyond the arc. Denver doesn’t have many pure scorers that can really stretch the floor and that will undoubtedly be a point of emphasis heading in to the draft. The Nuggets have some intriguing pieces both in their backcourt and up front and they will undoubtedly be looking for a quality scorer that can play the small forward position at this year’s NBA Draft.
Minnesota Timberwolves (29-53)
Biggest Draft Need: Best Available Player
Minnesota is a team on the rise led by its back-to-back Rookie of the Year award winners Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. With a good amount of talent across the board they will be free to take the best available player on their board when they make their selection at the NBA Draft. Ricky Rubio’s uncertain status could lead to the Timberwolves looking for a point guard in the first round but at this point they might be best off selecting the best available player on their board regardless of position.
