What new players will we see in the Northwest division over the coming years? As we already know with the Denver Nuggets, Kenneth Faried and Jordan Hamilton will don powder blue for the team. The Utah Jazz are looking in good shape with the additions of Enes Kanter and former Colorado Buffaloes guard Alec Burks. But will a different team in the division come out on top in this draft?
Maybe the Minnesota Timberwolves will take that spot. Holding the No. 2 overall selection, the T'Wolves drafted Arizona forward Derrick Williams, but after that it's up in the air on how well they did, as Tom Ziller writes in his 2011 NBA Draft Grades. At pick No. 20, the Wolves drafted Donatas Motiejunas and then sent him and Jonny Flynn to Houston for a 2013 first-rounder and cash.
The Blazers took Duke guard Nolan Smith with the No. 21 pick and then made a bunch of trades, sending Andre Miller to the Nuggets for Raymond Felton. To complete that deal, the Blazers sent Rudy Fernandez to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 26 overall pick Jordan Hamilton. Hamilton was then flipped to the Nuggets to complete the deal. The Blazers get a 'D-' from SB Nation.
The Oklahoma City Thunder tapped Boston College guard and Colorado Springs native Reggie Jackson with the No. 24 pick. The Thunder gave Jackson a promise to take him at No. 24, so he didn't do much leading up to the draft, canceling interviews and workouts. They'll look to move Eric Maynor to open up playing time.