2025-2026 NBA Preview: Northwest Division

DENVER, COLORADO – NOVEMBER 6: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on November 6, 2024 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. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

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The 2025-2026 NBA season is less than a month away, so let’s get into some division previews.

Today, it’s the Northwest Division.

Denver Nuggets

After staying stagnant for a few years after their 2023 title, the Denver Nuggets finally made a splash this summer, trading away Michael Porter Jr, signing high-quality bench players on the cheap, and acquiring arguably the best back-up center they’ve had during the Nikola Jokić era.

The most underrated aspect of their summer is who they got back the aforementioned Porter Jr deal: Cam Johnson. The 6’8 wing big is a plug and play offensive player who can do stuff both on and off the ball, and even occasionally initiate the offense.

Denver enters this season as a team that could find themselves in the Finals by June if it all clicks, but given that they need little time to acclimate – as Bruce Brown has been there before, and will get a chance to take over a large bench role – things could accelerate quickly.

Minnesota Timberwolves

All eyes should be on second-year man Rob Dillingham this year, which is a wild thing to say when the team has Anthony Edwards on its roster.

Dillingham, though, needs to play a crucial role, and will have to make a real attempt at becoming the long-term point guard of this franchise, which sorely needs it with Mike Conley nearing retirement age.

The Wolves generally have a wonky roster, and it’s fair to question if Rudy Gobert is in the process of declining, which means they could end up leaning too much on Edwards. This would likely make their attempt at a third straight conference finals appearance tougher.

Oklahoma City Thunder

It’s tough to point a finger at the defending champions. They’re still young, they’re still deep, and their main guys are locked into contracts for the next half decade, which is setting the organization up to potentially become a dynasty.

We know what to expect from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but we’ve yet to fully see the fleshed out potential of both Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. The internal development is such an enormous asset for the organization, and one which simply isn’t spoken about enough.

As the team will unquestionably make tough roster decisions in the near future, this season they’re able to focus fully on the task at-hand, which is a repeat. It’s tough to argue against them.

Portland Trail Blazers

Scoot Henderson is entering Year 3, which makes this season nothing short of crucial for Portland. If their point guard doesn’t become an All-Star caliber player, they’ll need to once again go hunting for a real number one star, despite the impressive quality of role players they’ve found to put alongside him.

That said, there is a chance Deni Avdija could take yet another leap. He broke out during the second half of the season, and became Portland’s most potent all-around offensive performer.

He, along with Shaedon Sharpe, could alter Portland’s path, but things would simply click far easier, if Henderson follows suit. So far, that’s not a given.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz are starting over, and that’s fine. They have draft picks, young players, and patience. It all makes sense, at least on some level.

What doesn’t make sense is the continued presence of Lauri Markkanen on the roster. The seven-foot shooter is unquestionably a solid player, and at a minimum star adjacent. But he’s approaching his prime years, and he’s on a team where the vast majority of players are starting out their careers.

Utah is a team that will consistently feature in trade rumors around the league, starting from now, and lasting probably well into next summer, should Markkanen remain in the roster past the February trade deadline.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.