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2016 NBA Draft Needs: Northwest Division

By Jonah Jordan

Dec 9, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Jaylen Brown (0) dunks against the Incarnate Word Cardinals in the second half at Haas Pavilion. Cal won 74-62. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Jaylen Brown (0) dunks against the Incarnate Word Cardinals in the second half at Haas Pavilion. Cal won 74-62. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Northwest Division produced two playoff teams this past season. Oklahoma City and Portland both made the postseason, but lost their picks in the 2016 NBA Draft in the building process. The rest of the Northwest is filled with rebuilding teams on the verge of breaking through.

Denver Nuggets

Picks: No. 7, No. 15 (from Houston), No. 19 (from Portland), No. 53, No. 56 (from Charlotte)

Positional needs: SG, SF, C

Potential targets:

Pick 7: Jaylen Brown, SF, California; Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Kentucky; Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

Pick 15: Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF, KK Mega Leks; Furkan Korkmaz, SG/SF, Turkey

Pick 19: Taurean Prince, SF, Baylor; Cheick Diallo, PF/C, Kansas

Pick 53: Isaiah Whitehead, SG, Seton Hall; Prince Ibeh, C, Texas

Pick 56: Dorian Finney-Smith, SF, Florida; Wayne Selden, SG, Kansas

The Nuggets have a potential trade to make with their multiple first round picks and stack of veterans. Some combination of Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler and picks could help Denver move up in the draft or add another young piece to their core. If they keep up all of the picks they could add some more wing scoring and defense. They are also in desperate need of consistent three-point shooting.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Picks: No. 5

Positional needs: PG, SF, PF

Potential targets: Kris Dunn, PG, Providence; Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Kentucky; Buddy Hield, SG, Oklahoma

The Timberwolves have a great core in Karl-Anthony Towns Andrew Wiggins and Zach Lavine going forward. They are all under 21-years old while point guard Ricky Rubio is 25-years old. His name has been tied to trade rumors for the past few seasons so the Wolves taking a point guard like Kris Dunn who can grow with their young studs makes sense.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Picks: None. Wait. *Double checks.* *Triple checks.* No picks for Sam Presti confirmed.

Positional needs: SG, SF

Potential targets: None

This is the first draft since the Thunder moved to Oklahoma City that they don’t have a first round pick. They could try to trade into the first round, but seem to be lacking the assets to do so.

Portland Trailblazers

Picks: None

Positional needs: SF, C

Potential targets: None

The last first round pick the Trailblazers made was in 2013. It looks like the young and dangerous Blazers will have to find another way to add talent this offseason.

Utah Jazz

Picks: No. 12, No. 42, No. 52 (from Toronto), No. 60 (from Golden State)

Positional needs: PG, SG, C

Potential targets:

Pick 12: Wade Baldwin, PG, Vanderbilt; Demetrius Jackson, PG, Notre Dame; Timothe Luwawu, SG/SF, KK Mega Leks

Pick 42: Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia; Patrick McCaw, SG, UNLV

Pick 52: Cat Barber, PG, N.C. Sate; Gary Payton II, PG, Oregon State; Kay Felder, PG, Oakland

Pick 60: Georgios Papagiannis, C, Greece

The Jazz are going to be a playoff team eventually. If it hadn’t been for injuries it may have been this season. Even with the return of Dante Exum looming they need another point guard who can contribute. Trey Burke and Shelvin Mack aren’t going to cut it at the lead guard spot.

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