The lineups we’d like to see from every NBA team

Northwest

Denver Nuggets: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Michael Porter Jr., Jerami Grant, Nikola Jokic

Denver is so deep that I could’ve picked five guys out of a hat and created a fun lineup. Jokic makes everyone considerably better, Porter’s upside is too great to leave out and Grant’s strengths mesh perfectly with the 2019 All-NBA First Team center.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver, Keita Bates-Diop, Robert Covington, Karl-Anthony Towns

The lack of traditional ball-handlers in this lineup could make it difficult, but Towns is an excellent passer and the rookie Culver deserves a chance to refine his playmaking talent. Okogie and Covington will suffocate opposing offenses and Bates-Diop deserves more than 503 minutes this season.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, Hamidou Diallo, Darius Bazley, Danilo Gallinari

Gallinari has minimal experience at the 5, but his size combined with OKC’s army of lanky perimeter defenders could make it a reality this season. Diallo and Ferguson are young but improving defenders, Bazley deserves tick in his rookie season and Gilgeous-Alexander’s silky-smooth game can make this lineup passable offensively.

Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Kent Bazemore, Nassir Little, Zach Collins

LIllard makes every lineup functional, so seeing what Simons can do as a second fiddle will be fun to watch all season. Little and Collins form an unpredictable frontcourt, but they project as switchable defenders who won’t suck offensively, which may be all a Lillard-led cast needs.

Utah Jazz: Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert

The Jazz made moves to perfectly complement their big two, meaning that their fun lineups are also their best ones. So be it. Mitchell with another premier ball handler, two-way forwards and the reigning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year is hard to argue against.