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Denver Nuggets looking to move up in the Northwest Division

By Isaiah De los Santos

DENVER, CO - JULY 13: The Denver Nuggets Introduce Paul Millsap during a press conference on July 13, 2017 at the Montbello Recreation Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 13: The Denver Nuggets Introduce Paul Millsap during a press conference on July 13, 2017 at the Montbello Recreation Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Nuggets are talking the talk this offseason, but they’ve got a budding team looking to put the Northwest Division on notice.

Tuesday, the Nuggets released their new jerseys. Whatever your feelings on their jerseys — which are hideous — forward Darrell Arthur did some talking that should wake up the Northwest Division:

Guard Malik Beasley didn’t ring the same outlandish sentiment, but he shows the Nuggets have confidence:

https://twitter.com/Mbeasy5/status/893699704353157120

Now, we know just how the Nuggets’ season ended last year.

The desolate Blazers, coming out of the All-Star break with a 23-33 record, overcame the Nuggets to finish 41-41 and make the playoffs.

It was at the hands of Jusuf Nurkić and Damian Lillard that Denver lost the eighth seed in late March.

Following the elimination from playoff contention, the Nuggets made their move.

Denver landed star Paul Millsap to go with a core of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Given the possibilities for a lineup featuring these three, you can see the reason for optimism.

On the other hand, the Blazers haven’t made any big free agent splashes, having recently used one of their two-way contracts on C.J. Wilcox.

Related Story: Blazers sign guard C.J. Wilcox

Other moves include trading up for Zach Collins, sending Tim Quarterman to Houston and giving Allen Crabbe to the Nets just for luxury tax relief.

Basically, the Blazers are banking on Nurk’s improved conditioning to lead a Big Three and show his 20-game sample is sustainable for 81 games.

Has Portland gotten better? Probably not.

But the rest of the Northwest Division has.

Star movement to the Northwest Division

With Jimmy Butler joining forces in Minnesota with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Northwest Division’s last-place finisher in 2016-17 is looking at a possible playoff berth.

While the Thunder finished second in the division last year, they’re in the driver’s seat for first-place this season with the addition of Paul George.

This rise of the Thunder coincides with the fall of the Jazz, who are still recovering from losing Gordon Hayward to Boston.

The Wolves are looking to improve on their 31-win season last season, and very well could do so with Butler in the fold.

OKC is further solidifying their core around Russell Westbrook with George.

The Jazz are reeling, while trying to move on with Ricky Rubio and Rudy Gobert as their main attractions.

Portland is looking at internal improvement — again — and are getting a full season of Nurkić, which could throw in a new wrinkle to a team with two All-Star caliber guards.

Next: 3 Blazers trades to solidify the guard spot

And then there’s the Nuggets. After a 40-42 season, they add a star in Millsap to blossoming young players like Jokic, Murray and Gary Harris.

Denver may be doing talking now, but when the season starts, the division may have to take them seriously.