NBA offseason grades: Northwest Division

With all the major pieces assigned and reassigned, we turn our attention to grading each and every NBA team’s offseason activity.

After exploring the Atlantic, we look at the Northwest Division.

Denver Nuggets: C

You might question if the internet went down in the Nuggets front office given their only offseason moves have been to sign Marvin Bagley and retain Tyus Jones. Though when you remember that Peyton Watson and the underrated Spencer Jones are still restricted free agents, Denver’s lack of activity becomes understandable.

As things stand, Denver’s entire offseason revolves around retaining Watson, which, now that most teams have spent their cap room, has swung in the Nuggets favor. If they can retain their breakout forward for a reasonable price, the offseason is a clear win. If they lose Watson, or have to shed their already threadbare depth to keep him, this grade drops precipitously.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B-

As good as Anthony Edwards is, the Wolves realized he cannot carry an attack deep into the playoffs all by himself. Enter LaMelo Ball. Opinions, of course, vary wildly on Ball’s seriousness as a hooper. That means your own personal grade of the Wolves moves will likely align with your sentiments on Ball.

Ball fills a clear need for Minnesota, but it comes at the expense of their size with the beloved Naz Reid going to Charlotte and Julius Randle shipped out to make room for another playmaker in Ayo Dosunmu. Having two of the best pull-up three-point shooters in roster will dissuade on-ball double teams. Will the sacrifice of size and defense be worth it? That’s debatable.

Jaden McDaniels is talented, but he’ll be asked to play an awful lot of power forward on this team. Is he capable of handling that load? LeBron James would have been handy here, eh? Equally, much falls on youngster Joan Beringer to back up the 34-year-old Rudy Gobert.

Donte DiVincenzo or Josh Green might be moved to fill that gaping hole at the four.

Oklahoma City Thunder: B

The Thunder had perhaps the most inevitable offseason of all NBA teams, as they shed salary/depth in the name of economic flexibility.

That said, they’ve not really lost all that much in on-court production. Isaiah Joe (moved to Detroit) had been supplanted by Jared McCain; Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins (both Atlanta) by Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. That those players moved brought in seven second-round picks is no shock for the pick-heavy Thunder.

The new three-year, $75 million deal for Isaiah Hartenstein flew under the radar, but was one of the most team-friendly extensions signed this offseason.

Portland Trail Blazers: D-

The cost was minimal, but acquiring Ja Morant makes little success for a team that already has veteran stars in Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday, as well as Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.

Morant, still just 26, is a fading force, overtly reliant on athleticism. Despite a relatively quiet 12 months, he is still an off-court discipline risk.

As well as further crowding the backcourt, Morant’s high usage and lack of a jumper cramps the spacing for resident star Deni Avdija, who thrives in getting downhill. If he and Morant fail to gel, does that make Avdija, a free agent at seasons end, look elsewhere?

Oh, "El Cheapo" struck again, too, sacking one of the best broadcast teams in the league.

Utah Jazz: A-

Losing Walker Kessler lowers the Jazz’s ceiling, but when you’re presented with arguably the best trade offer of the offseason, how do you not accept it?

Kessler, despite the Lakers overpaying him, is a fine player, with just enough offense to supplement his elite defense. He will be missed in Salt Lake, though not as much as some might think. Jaren Jackson Jr. will likely close games at center, with Jusuf Nurkic and Jaxson Hayes just about good enough as innings-eaters in the middle.

The drafting of Darryn Peterson gives the Jazz a top five (with Jackson, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George) that is brimming with offensive potential. Watching coach Will Hardy – at long last unleashed – utilize that group will be all sorts of entertaining.

On defense, Jackson is still an elite defender. Josh Okogie will have a license to go full speed on the second unit, knowing that he has the criminally underrated Brice Sensabaugh next to him to cover his shortcomings with the ball.