The Oklahoma City Thunder have been established as the top team in the Northwest division with the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz in the mix as playoff teams in this season. The Trail Blazers and Jazz have assembled some quality young talent but are still at least a year away from challenging the Thunder for Northwest division supremacy. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves continue to rebuild with the hope that they can challenge for a postseason position as soon as next season and there is no doubt both teams are headed in the right direction. Here is a look at the most promising prospect for each team from the NBA’s Northwest division.
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder
The 22-year-old Adams has quickly become an important part of the Thunder’s plans as a pick-and-roll specialist that has fit in perfectly in an offense that features Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant is the only target that has been on the receiving end of more assists from Westbrook this season. Adams has also been a strong force inside both on the glass and defending in the pain and he should only continue to get better with more experience.
Noah Vonleh, Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers were in the unfortunate position of being a small market team with a number of key free agents that wanted the opportunity to make more money in a bigger market this past summer. They lost a strong cast of players but they also took certain risks to stay competitive and there might not have been a more impressive move than the acquisition of Vonleh. Portland traded Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets for Vonleh and Gerald Henderson with the hope that the 6’10’’ forward could develop in to a key piece for them moving forward. His averages this season don’t really jump out but he has quietly developed in to a reliable forward off the bench for the Trail Blazers and at just 20-years-old he still has plenty of time to develop in to a quality starter.
Trey Lyles, Utah Jazz
Utah added to a deep cast of young big men when they made Lyles the 12th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft with Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Trevor Booker already on the roster. The 6’10’’ forward was given the opportunity to show what he can do when Favors was sidelined with an injury in December and he has responded favorably with some strong numbers. Lyles has averaged just 5.5 points and 3.6 blocks in 16.3 minutes per game for the season but he has hit 43-percent of his field goals and 39-percent of his three-point shots. The Jazz have a ton of young talent on an improving roster that is already contending for a playoff spot in the Western Conference and Lyles might very well be their most promising prospect right now.
Emmanuel Mudiay, Denver Nuggets
The No. 7 overall pick from the 2015 NBA Draft leads an intriguing core of young players that Denver has assembled over the last two years. Mudiay has made tremendous progress throughout his rookie season and it is illustrated in his numbers. The 20-year-old point guard has averaged 15.4 points, 4.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game over the last month of action and while he still has a lot of room for improvement it is clear he has the potential to be a star.
Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
There is a good chance that the Timberwolves will have the Rookie of the Year for the second consecutive season. The first-overall pick from the 2015 NBA Draft leads all rookies with 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. The seven-footer has been a double-double monster and he has been excellent defending in the paint considering his overall lack of experience. Towns has the rare size, talent and drive to become a superstar in the NBA and it is clear he is the top player from an impressive 2016 class.
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