Camp preview: Northwest division

Burning issues for a division full of question marks

Posted: Friday September 29, 2006 1:12PM; Updated: Monday October 2, 2006 9:12AM

The "great" Northwest? Not during the 2005-06 NBA season. The T'Wolves and Sonics both took nosedives in the standings. The Jazz struggled with injuries. The Blazers were dismal. Only the Nuggets made the playoffs, and they flamed out in the first round.

This year the Northwest should be considerably stronger. Utah appears healthy again, and should battle Denver for the top spot in the division. Kevin Garnett will always give Minnesota a fighting chance, and the Ray Allen/Rashard Lewis combo makes Seattle a difficult opponent.

Here's a look at the burning questions facing each of the Northwest teams as they head into training camp (teams listed in order of last season's finish).

Monday's camp preview: Atlantic
Previous camp previews: Southeast | Southwest | Central

Denver Nuggets (44-38)
	1. Can George and K-Mart get along? After feuding during last season's playoffs, coach George Karl and power forward Kenyon Martin reportedly met over the summer and buried the hatchet. They swear they're on the same page now, but a week of two-a-days should reveal more about this volatile pairing. 2. Who will play shooting guard? The Nuggets are hoping J.R. Smith, acquired in a trade with the Bulls, can fill their hole at the 2 spot. If the 21-year-old former high school phenom can't step up to the challenge, Denver might have to go with DerMarr Johnson. 3. How's Nene? The 6-11 Brazilian sat out last season after blowing out his right knee on opening night. He has worked hard at rehab, but admitted over the summer that he's still just 80 percent recovered. It will be interesting to see how much Nene can contribute right away.
Utah Jazz (41-41)
	1. Are they finally healthy? Last year Carlos Boozer (hamstring), Gordan Giricek (ankle), Matt Harpring (knee) and Andrei Kirilenko (miscellaneous) missed significant time with injuries. They are all now healthy, meaning coach Jerry Sloan might finally get a glimpse of what they can all do together. 2. Can Derek Fisher play the 2? The Jazz acquired the veteran Fisher in an offseason trade with the Warriors, hoping he could help mentor young point guard Deron Williams. But with the shooting guard position unsettled, they also will use camp to see if Fisher can play there alongside Williams in a small backcourt. 3. Can Rafael Araujo find a niche? The 6-11 Araujo, a draft bust in Toronto, is getting a second chance in Utah. The Jazz are being careful not to put any pressure on him, but they're hoping the former BYU pivot can benefit from a return to familiar surroundings and perhaps become a reliable backup to Mehmet Okur and Jarron Collins in the middle.
Seattle SuperSonics (35-47)
	1. Is a Seattle storm brewing? After sitting out the final 46 games last year with what the Sonics called a "sore left knee," forward Danny Fortson is back. But the volatile forward reportedly is not happy with coach Bob Hill, who benched him even before his questionable injury. The Sonics can only hope the Fortson issue doesn't become a distraction in the days ahead. 2. Can Robert Swift take it to the next level? The 7-foot Swift, who came straight out of high school two years ago, averaged six points and five boards in 20 minutes while shooting over 50 percent last season. If he and fellow 21-year-old center Johan Petro can hold down the middle, Seattle has a chance to improve greatly. 3. How is Chris Wilcox's state of mind? Chris Wilcox was hoping to parlay his strong showing down the stretch last season into a big free-agent payday, but he wound up having to settle for a three-year $24 million deal. The Sonics hope he won't let the disappointment affect his play, and that he plays as hungry as he did a year ago.
Minnesota Timberwolves (33-49)
	1. Is Mike James the answer? Seeking to upgrade at point guard, the T'Wolves signed veteran Mike James (Raptors) to a four-year $23.4 million deal. They're hoping the 31-year-old veteran can provided some scoring pop and pressure defense. He'll get his first chance to show it in training camp. 2. Where's the beef? With the likes of Mark Blount, Eddie Griffin and Mark Madsen penciled in as Kevin Garnett's main sidekicks in the front court, Minnesota is thin in terms of big man depth. They can only hope everybody stays healthy in camp or they could be in trouble when the real games begin. 3. Is Randy Foye for real? The T'Wolves parlayed the No. 6 pick in last June's draft for the rights to Foye, the former Villanova standout. The 6-4 combo guard dazzled during summer league play and could battle Marko Jaric, Trenton Hassell and Troy Hudson for backcourt minutes right away.
Portland Trail Blazers (21-61)
	1. Is Jarrett Jack ready? With Steve Blake (Bucks) and Sebastian Telfair (Celtics) traded in the offseason, the Blazers are counting on Jack to take over the role of starting point guard. The 6-3 second-year playmaker was steady as a backup last year, but this will be his first chance to show he can hold down the spot as a full-time distributor. 2. How will the center glut shake down? Say what you want about the Blazers' shaky perimeter, but they are well-stocked up front. Joel Przybilla, Jamaal Magloire and Raef LaFrentz present coach Nate McMillan three solid options in the middle -- and a potential playing time headache. 3. Can the rookies contribute? Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Sergio Rodriguez give the Blazers three more promising rookies to watch in camp. Aldridge won't participate while he rehabs a surgically repaired shoulder, but Roy and Rodriguez will get a long look as the Portland rebuilding job continues.

Top Photo Galleries

	Did You See That?
	Pop Culture Hot List
	Stephen Colbert Outtakes
	SI Cover History: Dec. 13-19
	NFL Fans: Week 14