DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray feigned ignorance of a Northwest division that options a number of the greatest groups and expertise within the league.
“The Northwest? » replied the Denver Nuggets guard playfully. “What’s within the Northwest?”
Solely the highest three seeds within the West final season in Oklahoma Metropolis, its Nuggets and Minnesota. Solely All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
“That looks as if an excellent division to me,” Murray joked.
The Thunder, Nuggets and Timberwolves have been all separated by only one recreation final season. It might be a lot the identical on this top-heavy division – Utah and Portland are in rebuilding mode – which has seen important upheaval (see: Minnesota).
MORE on the Utah Jazz’s offseason strikes:
Led by Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder are a workforce constructed for normal season tempo – and past. They’re the favorites of the West, in response to BetMGM. Oklahoma Metropolis strengthened its roster by including guard Alex Caruso, top-of-the-line ball defenders within the league, and massive man Isaiah Hartenstein.
Minnesota orchestrated a seismic commerce to land Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo from the New York Knicks for All-Star ahead/heart Karl-Anthony Cities. Maybe nobody is extra relieved to see Cities depart city than Jokic and the Nuggets. Cities gave all of them kinds of difficulties final season in a seven-game second-round playoff collection together with his capacity to lure Jokic to the perimeter.
Do not overlook the Nuggets, who gained their first NBA title in 2022-23. They’ve a dynamic duo of Jokic and Murray. Contemporary off a brand new contract, Murray is searching for a fast begin that would land him his first All-Star look. The Nuggets noticed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope depart however gained veteran guard Russell Westbrook.
For the Path Blazers and Jazz, this season might be stuffed with extra rising pains — and a combat to see who avoids ending final within the West.
A take a look at every workforce within the Northwest Division, in anticipated order of end:
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
One of many youngest groups within the NBA final season, the Thunder rapidly discovered their rhythm to earn the highest seed within the West. Many of the core gamers return from a workforce that gained a first-round playoff collection earlier than shedding to Dallas.
Mark Daigneault, the reigning NBA coach of the 12 months, has a core powered by Gilgeous-Alexander — the league’s MVP runner-up final season — and Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot-1 publish participant who completed second within the rookie of the 12 months race. Jalen Williams took a large step ahead final season and Lu Dort is likely one of the greatest defenders within the league. The Thunder additionally added Caruso within the offseason commerce that despatched Josh Giddey to Chicago.
It is a robust workforce able to make a deep playoff run.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Regardless that Edwards is simply getting into his junior years, the time is correct for this group to take the following step after reaching the convention finals final season. In any case, key cogs Mike Conley (37) and Rudy Gobert (32) don’t get any youthful.
Minnesota is making an attempt to regulate to life with out Cities, the workforce’s second-leading scorer final season. The Timberwolves changed him with a three-time All-Star in Randle who averaged 23 factors per recreation during the last three seasons for the Knicks. Minnesota additionally added beneficial bench shooter DiVincenzo, who final season set profession highs in video games performed (81), minutes per recreation (29.1), factors per recreation (15. 5) and 3-point capturing proportion (40.1).
Edwards has the potential to be a perennial NBA choose for the following decade, if not a league MVP, and he has loads of confidence, willpower and expertise round him.
Denver Nuggets
Go forward and rating Jokic for someplace round 26.4 factors, 12.4 rebounds and 9 assists per night time. This could put the Serbian large man again within the thick of the MVP race. He has a powerful supporting forged with Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. On the bench – or perhaps even within the beginning lineup – is Westbrook, the one lively participant with extra triple-doubles than Jokic (199 for Westbrook, 130 for Jokic). They’ve some newcomers in Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther. In actuality, although, the trail to a different title rests on Murray’s play. If he is wholesome and a model of “playoff Murray,” something is feasible for the Mile Excessive Metropolis workforce.
Utah Jazz
After trying to lure big-name free brokers to Salt Lake Metropolis in the course of the offseason, the Jazz turned their consideration to creating rookies and second-year gamers already on the roster. Lauri Markkanen established himself because the franchise’s new cornerstone after signing a contract extension in August. But there’s little change in his supporting forged which has became back-to-back shedding seasons underneath coach Will Hardy. On draft night time, they took Cody Williams (tenth general), Isaiah Collier (twenty ninth) and Kyle Filipowski (thirty second). Guard Keyonte George is coming off a stable rookie season the place he averaged 13 factors and 4.4 assists. If Utah’s on-ball protection and perimeter protection can change into much less of a legal responsibility in Hardy’s third season on the helm, the Jazz might exceed restricted expectations.
Portland Path Blazers
Their coach is now a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame. Chauncey Billups – aka “Mr. Large Shot” – enters his fourth season with the Blazers and seeks his first playoff look accountable for the workforce. They’re firmly in rebuilding mode and have not made many adjustments within the low season. Billups needs his workforce to “play quick.” They’re led by guard Anfernee Simons, who’s coming off a season the place he averaged 22.6 factors. Guard Scoot Henderson was the third general choose in 2023 and confirmed flashes of his expertise.
___
AP Sports activities Writers Cliff Brunt and Dave Campbell and AP Sports activities Author John Coon contributed to this report.
