Every NBA Team's X-Factor- Western Conference, Northwest Division
Denver Nuggets- Jamal Murray:
There simply were not a lot of options for the Nuggets X-Factor, which led to Jamal Murray being the choice. Michael Porter Jr. is a 3-point specialist with some off-the-dribble ability. Aaron Gordon is a Swiss army knife who can do it all, but he is the glue more than the X-factor. Murray is the second-best player on the team and the one who can take the Nuggets back to the finals.
Nikola Jokic is the best basketball player in the world, as he is a walking triple-double at 7 feet, but he can't do it all by himself. Murray is a great player, but he struggled last year in the playoffs and struggled this summer in the Olympics as well. It was no coincidence that the Nuggets finally broke through to the finals after Murray returned from injury 2 seasons ago, but he disappeared at times last year, which has led to questions about whether he is still the same guy.
Murray tied his career high last season with 21 points per game, and shot a career-high 42.5% from three, but those numbers took noticeable dips in the playoffs. His points dropped from 21 to 20, but his three-point shooting dropped all the way to 31.5%, an 11% drop off from the regular season. Defenses locked in on Murray and forced him to take tougher shots. The Nuggets only have so many reliable shot-creators on their roster, which makes it even more important that he is at the top of his game when the playoffs come around. Jokic can win the Nuggets enough games, but to get this team over the top, Murray needs to be elite, like he was in the 2022-2023 playoffs. Murray averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, while shooting 40% from three during the Nuggets championship run in 2023 and hit multiple big-time shots throughout the playoffs.
Murray has shown he can be the co-star to Jokic, but he needs to be elite all the time in the playoffs. Jokic sets a floor for the Nuggets, and of course, increases the ceiling, but Murray is what can make this team a champion or a second-round exit.
Minnesota Timberwolves- Naz Reid:
Naz Reid was the answer here before the KAT trade, but with KAT gone, Reid is in line for an even bigger role this year.
Naz won the 6th Man of the Year award last year after averaging 13.5 points and 5 rebounds a game. He shot 41% from three, and he's expected to come off the bench again. Despite being projected as the 6th man this year, Reid will play an integral part for the Wolves this season. He is an elite shooter for a big man and is an underrated shot-creator for his position. Reid also has a chance to close games this year, because he fits better next to Rudy Gobert than Julius Randle, due to his shooting. Between his all-around offensive game and underrated defense, Reid could be in for a fantastic season.
In fourteen games as a starter last year, Reid averaged 17.5 points and 7 rebounds a game, while shooting 42% from three. In games that he started, Reid averaged 30 minutes a game, as opposed to the 24 minutes a game when he comes off the bench. His minutes are likely to be closer to the 30 mark than the 24 mark this year, which means he should have a spike in his averages. While Reid is a great 6th man, he is an X-factor because of his fit next to Rudy Gobert.
Randle is a better player and scorer than Reid, but he is nowhere near the same shooter. With Gobert being a non-shooter on offense, the Wolves must have shooting around him, so they don't clog the paint. Naz being next to Gobert would allow the Wolves to run their offense like they did last year with Towns, as the two are both great shooters. Having Reid on the court opens things up for Anthony Edwards and will create issues for defenses.
Naz Reid is set to have the biggest role of his career and he has the skill to flourish in it. Reid is not the same player as KAT but he can help ease the worry fans may have about losing their former big man.
Oklahoma City Thunder- Isaiah Hartenstein:
The Thunder were great last year, but they really struggled against bigger teams, and that eventually caught up to them in the playoffs. The Mavericks destroyed the Thunder on the glass in the second round of the playoffs, which was a large reason they won the series. Because of those struggles, the Thunder signed the best free-agent center available, Isaiah Hartenstien.
Hartenstien is a big, physical center who will massively help the Thunder's rebounding. Chet Holmgren is an elite defensive anchor thanks to his length and shot-blocking ability, but he struggles with bigger-bodied centers, due to his size. Bringing in Hartenstein will allow Chet to play in a roamer role, where he can help off his defender, and fly around on defense. It's a role that so many players have thrived in, such as Jaren Jackson Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo. It allows them to play to their strengths on defense. Chet should thrive in that role when sharing the court with Hartenstein.
Isaiah solves the biggest issues the Thunder had last year, which was their rebounding and lack of size. He gives the Thunder options on both ends of the court that they didn't have last season. Hartenstein brings rebounds, defense, and underrated playmaking to a Thunder team that desperately needs it. With his addition, it is hard to find any holes on the Thunders roster, as all their problems have been solved with this signing.
Portland Trailblazers- Scoot Henderson:
The Blazers have an exceptionally deep roster, but they are expected to be one of the worst teams in the league. With the season not expected to be great, the Blazers' young players should have plenty of opportunity to play. Scoot Henderson is the most important young player on the roster. He was the third overall pick a year ago and had a very up-and-down rookie season, but he possesses the most upside on the roster.
Last season Henderson averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists a game while coming off the bench for the majority of the season. Those are solid numbers, but Scoot shot just 32.5% from three and 38.5% overall, both of which are below-average percentages. He is an uber-athletic guard who can get downhill, but teams don't fear his jump shot, which makes it tougher for him to get into the paint. Entering his second season, Henderson needs to show improvements in his shot, as it will open up the rest of his game. He is one of the best prospects in recent years due to his speed and athleticism, but his shot will determine how high his ceiling is. He has the potential to be a John Wall type of player, but he has a lot to work on to reach that ceiling.
Scoot is the one player on the Trailblazers roster that can truly elevate them in the future. Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, and others should help the Blazers in major ways, but Henderson is the one who can really make a difference. With Portland expected to be at the bottom of the standings again, their main goal this year should be developing Scoot, as he is the face of that franchise.
Utah Jazz- Keyonte Geroge:
The Jazz are expected to be bad, but it's not all bad for them. Besides Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Collin Sexton, and Jordan Clarkson, the Jazz's roster is full of youth and upside. Taylor Hendricks is intriguing as a 3-and-D wing, and Walker Kessler is a good rim-running center, but Keyonte George can light up the scoreboard.
As a rookie, George averaged 13 points and 4 assists a game. He also exploded for multiple 30-point games, as well as numerous games where he recorded at least 8 assists. He showed the upside of an all-around point guard with his ability to score, shoot, and play.
-make. Clarkson and Sexton are both scoring guards, but Clarkson is 32 years old and doesn't fit the timeline, and Sexton is best suited for an off-ball role. George can play both on and off-ball which makes him a perfect fit on this roster. Finding a point guard who can effectively run an offense and create their own shot is tough in today's NBA. A lot of guards are either playmakers or shot-creators, but George has upside as both.
The Jazz need to see what they have in a lot of their players this year as they build out their team. George may not have the highest upside of all the young talent on the roster, but he has a strong skill set and should be a focal point this season for the Jazz, after a strong rookie year. If he can continue his development as an all-around point guard, the Jazz will have their long-term solution at that position.
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