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The Portland Trail Blazers still play in the NBA’s toughest division

By Austin Carroll

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz on January 21, 2019 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz on January 21, 2019 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With the Northwest Division stacking up talent this offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers will have their hands full next year.

In a strange turn of events, the Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in possibly the most competitive division in all of basketball. All of their rivals appear to have made big strides towards improving their teams and overall direction.

Last year, the Northwest division combined for a league best 242-168 record. That number projects to go up even further with the upgrades made to each roster outside of Oklahoma City.

2019 No. 5 seed. player. 118. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. (50-32). Utah Jazz. 1

The Utah Jazz fully committed to their window of contention by making a trade for Mike Conley. This move answered their long search for a true floor general capable of taking the pressure off Donovan Mitchell and easing Rudy Gobert into a rim running role. Joe Ingles and the newly acquired Bojan Bogdanovic are also poised to become one of the league’s elite duo of snipers.

FanDuel projected win total: 53.5

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2. player. 73. (54-28). 2019 No. 2 seed. Denver Nuggets

After starting off to a league leading 50-23 record last season, the Denver Nuggets have already proven they’re one of the best teams in the NBA. They probably learned from their late-season strategy and defeat at the hands of the Blazers last year, and will be rejuvenated by the expected return of Michael Porter Jr. and new trade acquisition Jerami Grant. Stealing Bol Bol in the draft could also pay dividends next year while maintaining enough financial flexibility to trade for a star at the deadline. Las Vegas seriously sell this team short while they only look poised to improve on last year’s performance.

FanDuel projected win total: 50.5

3. 86. (36-46). Did not qualify for playoffs. Minnesota Timberwolves. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis

For the first time ever, Karl-Anthony Towns now has the reigns on the Minnesota Timberwolves entering the season and will get to test his mettle against the league’s best. Robert Covington makes his return from injury and will look to return to DPOY form. He will join Andrew Wiggins, Josh Okogie and Jarrett Culver in what looks like one of the most talented wing rotations in the NBA.

FanDuel projected win total: 37.5

Oklahoma City Thunder. 4. player. Pick Analysis. (49-33). 2019 No. 6 seed. 149. Scouting Report

Unlike other teams in the division, the Oklahoma City Thunder are probably the only team that didn’t improve on their current roster. That being said, they also executed possibly the best framework we’ve ever seen for a rebuild with the historic haul they got back from Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Boasting a roster of Chris Paul, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams is still pretty darn good and could outperform expectations. That being said, it’s much more likely these pieces are moved for other draft assets and young players to slot in next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

FanDuel projected win total: 39.5

34. Scouting Report. 2019 No. 3 seed. 5. player. Pick Analysis. (53-29). Portland Trail Blazers

With a low draft pick and no money to pursue elite free agents, the Portland Trail Blazers made the best of a bad situation this summer. By letting the old guard walk in free agency, the Blazers were able to shift their roster to a modern one capable of spacing the floor and switching on defense. Picking up Hassan Whiteside as insurance for Jusuf Nurkic’s recovery could quickly become one of the best moves made this offseason as he looks to play well in a contract year and new environment not clouded by hostility.

FanDuel projected win total: 44.5

Next. Blazers should be afraid after Westbrook trade. dark

That brings the Northwest Division’s projected record for next year to a very conservative prediction of 225-185. While there may still be a few dominoes to fall this summer, one thing’s for sure. The Portland Trail Blazers will have to endure a gauntlet to once again be the team that represents the best of the division in the playoffs next year.