2. Northwest Division
The Northwest Division will arguably be the toughest division in the NBA this season. Each of the five teams in that division — the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Utah Jazz, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets — are expected to make the playoffs this year.
Prior to the Carmelo Anthony trade, I would have considered the Blazers to be a contender for the Northwest Division title this season. Following the Carmelo Anthony trade, I highly believe the Thunder are the second-best team in the NBA, and they are the most likely team to take the division title, as well.
So not only did the Blazers lose out on a chance to add Anthony as the fourth cog in their machine, but they also end up allowing a division rival to swipe him up. Safe to say Portland’s battles with OKC this season will be quite interesting.