Largest query dealing with each Northwest Division workforce: Who will step up round Nikola Jokic? Strain on OKC?

The 2024-25 NBA season is quickly approaching, and in preparation for that we have been wanting on the greatest questions dealing with all 30 groups across the league. Going division by division, we checked out each workforce, questioning if the Celtics will repeat as champions, if the Lakers will lastly make a commerce and if the Knicks will probably be in want of extra depth. For a deeper dive on all of these divisions yow will discover them right here:

For the ultimate installment we’re ending up with the Northwest division, the place a trio of groups right here may all be the consultant from the West within the NBA Finals subsequent June. The Nuggets misplaced one other key piece from their championship season, will a younger participant be capable of fill these sneakers? The Thunder had an extremely profitable offseason; will they reside as much as the expectations? And can Minnesota be capable of depend on a younger rookie who the workforce spent a future first-round decide to get? A few of these questions might not get answered till the tip of the season, or perhaps a couple years from now, however they’re value occupied with because the 2024-25 season nears.

Apart from a max contract extension for Jamal Murray and watching a pivotal piece from their 2023 championship workforce go away for Orlando, the Nuggets did nothing to considerably improve the roster this summer season. They re-signed Deandre Jordan, who performed in two playoff video games final season, and added Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. Saric and Westbrook can each convey some worth off the bench, however neither determine to be distinction makers that may change a playoff sequence. Like a number of groups handicapped with costly contracts, the second tax apron clearly spooked the Nuggets sufficient to not need to pay Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and by not going out and discovering a alternative for the 3-and-D veteran, which means the Nuggets are hoping for a leap from Braun.

Braun has been an influence participant off the bench for the Nuggets, and he had spectacular moments within the workforce’s championship run. He took a step ahead in his improvement final season, capturing 38.4% from 3-point vary on two makes an attempt per sport whereas averaging 7.3 factors and three.7 rebounds. However asking him to fill the sneakers of Caldwell-Pope is a tall job. He isn’t the identical 3-point risk as KCP, and definitely not on the identical degree as him defensively, both. 

That is to not say he cannot get there finally, however the Nuggets do not actually have the posh of ready round for Braun to develop. Their championship window is true now, whereas Jokic is on the peak of his powers they usually nonetheless have many of the roster from that 2023 title nonetheless intact. It is not unreasonable to assume Braun is up for the duty, it is only a lot to ask from a third-year participant who might want to defend at a excessive degree, whereas additionally making and taking 3s at a excessive clip.

Thunder: Can OKC reside as much as expectations?

Oklahoma Metropolis had, by far, one of the best offseason of any workforce within the Western Convention. The Thunder traded for Alex Caruso, maybe probably the most fascinating function participant who was out there, and added Isaiah Hartenstein to beef up the entrance courtroom. The Thunder struggled to maintain the Mavericks off the glass, and could not deal with the power Dallas possessed. Hartenstein ought to repair that. Caruso is an All-Defensive guard who can begin or come off the bench, will put his physique on the road for the sake of getting a defensive cease and has shot 38% from 3-point vary over his profession. The Thunder haven’t any seen weaknesses proper now, and needs to be seen because the favorites to make it out of the West, however that is simpler stated than accomplished.

With a roster this robust, there’s going to be some astronomical expectations on this workforce heading into the season, even when they’re all nonetheless extremely younger. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ought to as soon as once more contend for MVP, Chet Holmgren is just going to get higher, and with Hartenstein within the frontcourt he will not must get bullied as a lot within the paint. They do not have to fret about Josh Giddey getting focused on protection or being ignored on offense, and Jalen Williams has proven he will be the second scorer subsequent to SGA. 

This can be a workforce that received 57 video games and completed atop the West final season. They received higher within the offseason in order that they’re constructed to do it once more. However none of that’s going to matter if the Thunder do not make a deep postseason run. It will not be seen as a failure, as a result of this workforce is positioned to contend for a few years to return with the treasure trove of draft capital they posses, permitting them to focus on any star who turns into out there. However coping with excessive expectations is the worth you pay once you construct a championship-contending workforce.

Protected to say Henderson’s rookie season didn’t go as deliberate. He missed time on two separate events on account of accidents, and when he was enjoying he struggled to seek out consistency and effectivity. However there have been additionally stretches of video games the place he confirmed glimpses of why he was chosen third general within the 2023 draft. All of the athleticism, his explosiveness in attending to the rim and skill to attain in bunches got here by means of at instances. If Henderson hadn’t been drafted so excessive, and if he wasn’t put ready the place he was changing Damian Lillard, his rookie season would not be chalked as much as something apart from what you’d count on from a teenage level guard adjusting to NBA motion.

However, sadly, there’s some excessive expectations on Henderson’s shoulders, so in fact the largest query facilities round if he’ll be capable of have a extra balanced sophomore season. However it’s even larger than that. Is he Portland’s future franchise star? That will not be answered this season, however seeing how he develops will give us a greater concept of what his ceiling will probably be going ahead.

Timberwolves: Will Dillingham get main minutes?

Minnesota made a transfer for its future when it traded a 2031 first-round decide and a protected 2030 first-round swap to the Spurs for standout Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham on draft night time. It was seen as a house run swing by the Timberwolves, who landed probably the greatest gamers in an in any other case weak draft who can develop with a younger core that already consists of Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid. 

The Timberwolves could not make any important upgrades to the roster on account of their lack of cap flexibility, however they wanted so as to add to their guard depth behind Mike Conley, who will probably be 37 when the season begins. Couple that with the truth that Monte Morris left for the Suns, and Jordan McLaughlin joined the Kings, and you’ve got a backcourt that’s in determined want of extra our bodies. So the play for Dillingham is wise, however how large of a task is he going to have immediately on a workforce that was three wins away from making the NBA Finals?

There are reliable issues about Dillingham’s dimension and protection getting into the league, as he stands at simply 6-foot-1 and weighed in at 164 kilos on the mix earlier than the draft. That is extremely small, and he’ll have to placed on some power if he does not need to get bullied on protection by larger guards. And on a Minnesota workforce that had the No. 1 ranked protection a season in the past, having him on the market would hinder the Wolves defensively. However he is a gifted playmaker and shot creator, each of which Minnesota wants. You do not do a commerce like this in case you do not plan on enjoying Dillingham instantly, however his enjoying time will probably be decided on if he is prepared immediately.

Does the Markkanen extension harm the Jazz long run? No, not likely. Does it make a ton of sense given the place they stack up within the West? In all probability not, however Utah clearly views Markkanen as a possible constructing block for his or her future and he was rewarded as such regardless of the rabid curiosity in him from the Warriors this summer season. The date of which Markkanen signed his extension means he cannot be traded earlier than the deadline in February, so he’ll be in Utah till not less than subsequent summer season when commerce curiosity in him will seemingly ramp up once more.  

I do not actually get why the Jazz would not simply deal him proper now, particularly when retaining him on the roster seemingly places them out of actual rivalry for the No. 1 draft decide and touchdown Cooper Flagg, who’s projected to be a generational expertise. They’ve loads of veterans who will seemingly be traded earlier than the deadline like Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Collin Sexton. However would not you quite begin the season out tanking than doing it in February when groups just like the Wizards, Pistons and Bulls may have a head begin on you?