By Zak Hanshew
The 2024-25 NBA season is just over a month away, making this prime time for fantasy managers to prepare for their drafts. Rotoworld will have articles dropping during this time, starting with fantasy-related thoughts on each team. Next up in our division previews is the Northwest Division.
Oklahoma City, Denver, and Minnesota finished last season as the top three seeds in the West, with the latter reaching the Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years. And there are multiple fantasy studs in the Northwest, with Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way.
Denver Nuggets
2023-24 Record: 57-25
Speed: 97.4 (26th)
Offensive Rating: 117.8 (5th)
Defensive Rating: 112.1 (8th)
One Possible Sleeper: Christian Braun
For the second straight season, Braun is Denver’s potential sleeper pick. We here at Rotoworld were definitely a season early on Braun. However, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope now in Orlando and no significant additions to the roster, Braun is in line to open the season as a starter. He showed flashes of quality two-way play in two seasons with the Nuggets, and as an NCAA and NBA champion, Braun showed poise under the brightest lights. An extraordinary performance is definitely on the cards.
One Mighty Bust: Jamal Murray
Murray again struggled with availability last season, appearing in just 59 games. Following the regular season, he recorded 12 playoff games and a run at the Paris Olympics for Team Canada. Murray tied his career-best mark by finishing 32nd in per-game fantasy rings value, but fantasy managers should be wary of drafting him for the 2024-25 season after an eventful offseason. His early ADP (per Hashtag Basketball) suggests he’ll cost a mid-fourth-round pick, which may be a bit rich given his injury concerns.
A Remarkable Number: 29.4
Denver ranked sixth in bench points per game last season and eighth in bench minutes (81.4). The Nuggets’ bench was one of the weakest in the Association, and the team relied heavily on its starters. After losing starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the offseason, Christian Braun is expected to replace him in the starting five, which should mean plenty of playing time for the third-year wing.
Denver’s returning starters — Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray — should see heavy minutes again. As Denver’s supposed Sixth Man, Russell Westbrook should see increased playing time off the bench but don’t expect heavy minutes from the rest of Denver’s secondary options.
Minnesota Timberwolves
2023-24 Record: 56-26
Speed: 97.8 (23rd)
Offensive Rating: 114.6 (17th)
Defensive Rating: 108.4 (1st)
One Possible Sleeper: Robert Dillingham
Minnesota traded up to get the outstanding one-and-done pick out of Kentucky, and he should be one of the first guys off Minnesota’s bench to open his rookie campaign. Father Time is undefeated, and Mike Conley will be 37 this season. Dillingham would presumably take over as the team’s starting point guard if he wears out or is forced to miss time. His electric offensive prowess makes him an interesting stash in deeper leagues with the potential to be a viable option in 12-team leagues if given increased minutes.
One Mighty Bust: Rudy Gobert
At this point, you know what you’re getting with Gobert. He will post a double-double average of 13 points and 11.5 rebounds, knock down 1.5-2.0 shots per game, and shoot efficiently from the field. Gobert is the man for you if you like predictability, high floors and low ceilings. According to Hashtag Basketball’s early ADP, Gobert is going to pick 49.3 on Yahoo, and this is now his ceiling. Catching a guy at his ceiling is never the best practice, so Gobert can be considered a potential bust given the draft capital needed to get him on your fantasy team. By drafting him at the current ADP, you’re spending a mid-round pick on a player who doesn’t have the upside for second- or third-round value.
A Remarkable Number: 108.4
Minnesota’s defensive rating is the most notable number of the 2023-24 campaign. The Wolves finished with a below-average offensive rating. However, the elite defense propelled Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals and the second best record in a highly competitive Western Conference. Defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert brought home new hardware with his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award, while Anthony Edwards continued to grow on the defensive end of the court. Jaden McDaniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker hounded opponents on defense, and despite lacking strong fantasy ability, both players were integral to Minnesota’s success last season.
Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24 Record: 57-25
Speed: 100.8 (5th)
Offensive Rating: 118.3 (3rd)
Defensive Rating: 111.0 (4th)
One Possible Sleeper: Isaiah Hartenstein
Hartenstein should be on the radars of fantasy managers after a career-best in New York and a new opportunity to join the starting five in Oklahoma City. Hartenstein should see increased minutes for his new team, which could result in increased rebounding and defensive stats. He’s a prototypical big man who can rack up double-doubles, steals and blocks while shooting at a high clip and rarely turning the ball over. If you load up on other positions early, Hartenstein is a great, late-round C pick that can be had in the eighth or ninth rounds of 2024-25 fantasy drafts.
One Mighty Bust: Jalen Williams
He improved his production in Year 2 and finished 41st in per-game fantasy value. Another top-50 season is definitely within reach, but how much higher can he climb? After being drafted as a value pick in two straight seasons, Williams’ ADP has finally caught up to his numbers, and you’ll likely draft him close to his ceiling if you spend a mid-fourth-round pick on him. Hashtag Basketball’s early ADP has Williams picking 41.8 on Yahoo, which could set him up to break based on draft capital alone.
A Remarkable Number: 53.1
Oklahoma City allowed the fifth-most rebounds to opponents last season, which was a surprising improvement after allowing the most rebounds per game over the previous two seasons. The Thunder made an apparent effort to address this lack on the glass by signing Isaiah Hartenstein to a lucrative, three-year, $87 million deal. Hartenstein is expected to take over as the team’s starting center, which will have a ripple effect throughout the roster. Chet Holmgren will move to PF, Jalen Williams will move to SF, and Lu Dort will come off the bench behind rookie Alex Caruso, who will be the likely two guards alongside Shail Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt.
Portland Trail Blazers
2023-24 Record: 21-61
Speed: 97.8 (21st)
Offensive Rating: 107.6 (29th)
Defensive Rating: 116.6 (23rd)
One Possible Sleeper: Donovan Clingan
Portland is loaded in the backcourt with young talent that presumably fits the bill for the team’s rebuilding effort. Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams certainly aren’t seniors, but it’s unclear whether Portland’s front office views them as cornerstones of the franchise. Williams is likely on the move or set to spend significant time on the bench after the Blazers invested the No. 7 pick in this year’s draft on UConn standout big man Donovan Clingan.
A two-time NCAA champion with the Huskies, Clingan has a winning pedigree, and the big man can be an elite rebounder, shot blocker and effective shooter at the next level, making him a worthy, late-round sleeper pick. At worst, he should see 20+ minutes behind Ayton, and at best, he could become the starting center if Ayton is moved or is forced to miss time.
One Mighty Bust: Jeremy Grant
Grant could be in line for a rebound season after notable declines in rebounds and blocks and an increase in turnovers in 2023-24. Those declines could also be the new norm for a player who has relied heavily on scoring and three-pointers to maintain top-100 fantasy value in recent seasons. The emergence of other reliable scoring options like Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija, as well as a quality rebounder and shot-blocker in Donovan Clingan, means Grant could end up outside the 10th round for the second straight season.
A Remarkable Number: 11.5
Portland made the 28th-most three-pointers per game in 2023-24. It’s surprising, considering the team boasts three-point specialists Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant, but the rest of the roster has failed to consistently convert from beyond the arc. Scoot Henderson has clear room for improvement in his performance across the board, and Shaedon Sharpe is also due for a positive rebound in that department. New addition Deni Avdija shot a career-best 37.6% from downtown last season, so Portland’s 3-pointers should increase during the 2024-25 campaign.
Utah Jazz
2023-24 record: 31-51
Speed: 100.2 (10th)
Offensive Rating: 114.5 (18th)
Defensive Rating: 119.6 (30th)
One Possible Sleeper: Keyonte George
After a slow start to his rookie campaign, George got going and lit up opposing defenses. He tied the rookie record with nine three-pointers made in a single game and posted three 30-point games. George was a streaky and often inefficient shooter, but when he felt like it, he was a great option on offense. He showed off his playmaking chops as the season progressed, and George is an intriguing prospect heading into Year 2 with a presumptive starting job in his hands.
One Possible Bust: Collin Sexton
It’s extremely difficult to predict who on this team will be a bust given the ridiculous early ADPs (according to Hashtag Basketball) of guys like Sexton, Walker Kessler and John Collins. However, Sexton could burn fantasy managers after disappointing in his first season with the Jazz. Was last season’s rebound just a mirage, or are the good times here to stay? Did Sexton get more playing time due to numerous injuries across the roster, or was he really headed in the right direction? There are no huge risks on this team, but Sexton could be the one to disappoint.
A Remarkable Number: 14.8
Utah allowed the most threes per game, and the team allowed opponents to shoot an astounding 39.5% (highest in the Association) from beyond the arc. Utah needs a perimeter defense, and the team should get a boost from No. 10 pick Cody Williams, who profiles as a quality perimeter defender thanks to his length, speed and athleticism. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Isaiah Collier has the size and strength to be a solid perimeter defender. Both freshmen could see significant minutes right out of the gate.
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