Dunking With Wolves
Fansided

How does Timberwolves’ Big 3 rank in Northwest Division?

By Max Neuhaus

BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC –  APRIL 26: Paul Millsap #4 of the Atlanta Hawks gets introduced before the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC –  APRIL 26: Paul Millsap #4 of the Atlanta Hawks gets introduced before the game against the Washington Wizards in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Paul Millsap

Last season, Denver was fighting for a playoff spot until the end. Now, they add a premier player in Paul Millsap and they are about to fight for the playoffs again. Rarely, if ever, is that the case. You can thank the stacked Western Conference for that.

Another year for DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis to mesh hurts their case. Jimmy Butler moving to Minnesota hurts their case, too. With the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies as the two most likely teams to drop out of the playoffs, things are about to get interesting.

Back to the Nuggets. They have a chance to have one of the best frontcourts in the league. Not only could they win now, but they have the chance to win later with the young Jokic.

The young Serbian is most known for his ability to pass the ball averaging 4.9 assists per game last season. That tied him with Brandon Jennings and Blake Griffin among all players and put him slightly ahead of NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant. At a position without a ton of playmarkers, that is very impressive. He was also second on his team in scoring behind new Clipper Danilo Gallinari.

Let’s not forget about Millsap, either. The former Hawk is fresh off of a season where he set career-highs in both points (18.1) and assists (3.7) per game. He also comes in with the one thing that all young teams need: veteran experience. With Gallinari heading to La La Land, the best example of veteran presence they had been Wilson Chandler and Jameer Nelson. While they are definitely solid veterans, Millsap is at another level and will be able to work with Jokic and turn his game to another level. Just think of when KG come in and worked with Karl Anthony Towns.

Jamal Murray might be the third player in this Big Three, but he may have the most potential. While Jokic might be the most exciting, we have seen far less from Murray. That’s not a shot at the former Wildcat, of course, but just shows how well Jokic has played.

Murray’s 3-point shooting percentage might not be exciting now (33 percent), but he puts up more than four threes a game. In a league where 3- pointers win games, having a solid shooter who isn’t afraid to let it fly is a very good thing.

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