Northwest Notebook: Summer News From Around Utah’s Division

The rising Thunder are one of Utah’s division rivals worth keeping an eye on. (Sue Ogrocki via sltrib.com)

As triple digit heat takes over the Beehive State, that can only mean that the NBA offseason is progressing and it’s getting easier to read the competitive landscape. The Jazz’s four division rivals have all been busy. Just as we did a couple of weeks ago with a June Jazz news roundup as free agency approached, let’s do another splash of notebook-style updates, this time pertaining to the Northwest Division rivals. 

Denver Nuggets

Last season, the Nuggets won the division to start their run of winning everything else. After sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, the Nugs beat down Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat 4-1 to win the franchise’s first NBA championship trophy. Since then? Here’s what you need to know:

• Nikola Jokic didn’t want to attend a championship parade, then didn’t want the championship parade to end. He may have left his Finals MVP trophy in the trainer’s room. He ended up back in Serbia in time to watch his horses race. 
• Coach Michael Malone went hard in the celebrations, reminding any who would hear that he had swept the Lakers. He quickly became known as the “Lakers’ Daddy.” 
• With regards to free agency, the biggest news to come out of Denver was the loss of swingman and versatile defender Bruce Brown. After being a key cog in their Finals run, everyone knew he would get paid, and he ultimately departed to the Indiana Pacers for a lot of money. He took a 2-year, $45 million deal to join the Pacers. Another playoff rotation piece, Jeff Green, also signed elsewhere; he left for Houston on a $6 million dollar deal. 
• The Nuggets did retain the backend of their rotation, keeping veterans DeAndre Jordan and Reggie Jackson. Jordan won’t see significant minutes, but the Nuggets hope Jackson can give them life in the second unit. He came to Denver midseason, so they hope a full offseason, training camp, and regular season will get him into a better groove with the team. 
• The front office was busy acquiring draft capital to help their salary cap situation with Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. All three are key pieces to their title defense but all three are also set to make significant money. Building a team around stars, while maintaining a competitive balance, is always a struggle for NBA teams. For many, building a dynasty and maintaining dominant longevity dies too soon.  But, Denver’s shrewd moves, draft history, and talent development give them the advantage to keep the core and contend for more than a few years. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves finished second in the division last season, going 42-40 after swinging big and acquiring Rudy Gobert from the Jazz. The pairing of Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns was a work in progress, as KAT missed several months and the team fell short of expectations. The frustration culminated with Gobert swinging at a teammate in the last game of the season and being suspended from the team’s play-in game. Minny lost that game, but won the next against OKC to advance to the playoffs as the eighth seed. They lost to Denver 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs. Here’s their biggest summer news: 

• One of the first pieces of news was re-signing backup big Naz Reid. At age 23, he already makes an impact on the game and brims with potential. The Wolves kept him with a 3-year, $42 million deal. On the one hand, it makes sense as he is a good basketball player. On the other, it was a bit of a surprise as Minnesota will pay three centers (Reid, Gobert, and KAT) around $443 million dollars over the length of their contracts. 
  • Side note: Minnesota is rumored to experiment with three center lineups this upcoming season. While Gobert won’t stretch the floor, we know that Towns can shoot it; last year, Reid hit 35% from deep on three attempts a game. 
  • Side, side note: rumors suggest Minnesota could be open to moving Towns, which makes the Reid signing even more impactful. While Damian Lillard and James Harden dominate the trade rumor mills for now, many wouldn’t be surprised if Towns joins the list closer to the trade deadline. 
• The T-Wolves also extended budding superstar Anthony Edwards to a 5-year extension that could reach $260 million if he hits triggers to unlock the supermax this season. With Towns and Gobert already on the roster, Minnesota joined Denver and Phoenix as the only teams to have three max contracts in 2024-2025.  
  • Back to the above side, side note: With Edwards becoming a star, now committed to a max contract for five years, and becoming the face of the franchise, it makes trading away Towns increase in likelihood. Minnesota hasn’t won anything with Towns, nor really with the Towns and Edwards partnership, that a shakeup to make it solely Edward’s show is a real possibility. 
• One of my favorite former Jazzmen, Mike Conley Jr. won the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award for the fourth time in his career, as was announced about a week ago. The award honors the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court. It was the first time someone from the Timberwolves organization received such an honor, but it’s worth noting Conley spent most of last season in a Jazz uniform.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the surprise teams last season as many expected them to be young and developing instead of young and contending. With All-NBA first-team guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, the team barely missed out on the playoffs. 

• With the Thunder, it usually always starts with the draft. This year, they moved (slightly) up, from 12 to 10 to grab Cason Wallace, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Kentucky who is known as an excellent defender and a good shooter. As if the Thunder need any more of those kinds of players. 
• Probably the Thunder’s biggest acquisition will be getting Chet Holmgren on the court after the 2022 second overall pick missed his entire rookie year last season due to a foot injury. Holmgren has reportedly gained 13 pounds of muscle since then, has rehabbed nonstop, and was able to make a brief appearance in summer league, leaving many impressed and excited to what he can bring to a talented roster that won 40 games last year. 
• Former Jazz draftee Jared Butler also played for OKC in summer league. In the last game, Butler went off for 31 points (10-19 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 6-6 FT), four rebounds, three steals, and an assist over 29 minutes during the team’s 98-94 loss to the Spurs. Back in March, the Thunder signed Butler to a two-way contract. Combining summer league with recent G-League play, Butler has proved he belongs. While it may not be with the Thunder, I would be surprised if he didn’t land on an NBA roster to start training camp. 
• This is just for kicks and giggles: as of 7/17, the Thunder have 21 players listed on their roster. Starting with Gilgeous-Alexander, born in 1998, 16 players are under 25. Utah’s recently traded veteran Rudy Gay landed there after a series of trades. If the 17-year veteran, born in 1986, does indeed suit up for the Thunder, he’ll bring new meaning to veteran mentor as he babysits the young pups. 

Utah Jazz

The Jazz finished fourth in the division last season, going 37-45 and missing the playoffs. Something interesting is that the Jazz went 6-10 against their divisional rivals, the worst mark out of the bunch. Arguably, this division is stacked with teams that, historically, are very competitive. In the immediate future, it’s hard not to imagine the Nuggets and the Thunder being division favorites with the Jazz lurking to try and break back in atop the standings. 

Portland Trail Blazers

As if a 33-49 finish wasn’t disappointing enough, the offseason for Portland isn’t getting any brighter with the face of the franchise Damian Lillard requesting a trade. It’s safe to say there won’t be many roses ahead for basketball in the former Rose Garden. 

• Outside of the Lillard saga, the squad selected Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick in the recent NBA draft. Summer League showed he is the real deal, and I really do think he’ll be really good in the NBA, but it also showed he has some developmental growth to go. This would especially be true (if) when he becomes the new face of Portland and takes on starting point guard duties on day one.
• With regards to Free Agency, the Blazers immediately locked up forward Jerami Grant to a 5-year, $160 million dollar contract as July 1 came around. This financial commitment to a quality starter who can help contending teams made more sense with Lillard at the helm. Yet, days later, Lillard asked out and Grant will still be on the books for a high number. A lot of teams covet guys like Grant, and his name seems to pop in trade rumors all the time, so he could be an asset that gets moved (despite a hefty price tag). 
• Another move the Blazers made makes more sense to their post-Lillard timeline as they matched an offer sheet for Matisse Thybulle. Thybulle was acquired in a midseason trade with the 76ers, which gave Portland the right to match the restricted free agent. The cost was a 3-year, $33 million. At 26, his time to figure it out and make an impact is running low, but he is long and can shoot. What’s most special is that he has made the All-Defense Second team twice in his four professional years.