Draft Needs: Northwest Division

The Northwest division is top-heavy, with a pair of heavyweights in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers firmly entrenched at the top.

It's a collection of rudderless teams from there. The Denver Nuggets are hoping improved health culminates in a return to the playoffs, while the Utah Jazz are simply looking to finally land a bonafide superstar with a high draft pick for once. The Minnesota Timberwolves, meanwhile, are caught in a state of flux with the uncertainty of Kevin Love's potential departure looming large over their decisions.

Here's a look at some of the positions and players the Northwest Division teams may be targeting come draft day.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 21, No. 29

Area of Need: Wing scoring

With yet another playoff failure on the ledger, the Thunder are primed for change. During their locker clean-outs, head coach Scott Brooks admitted that changes are on the horizon for the starting lineup, hinting at new roles for Thabo Sefolosha (who is a free agent) and Kendrick Perkins.

The draft has been kind to OKC, as they famously acquired Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (and James Harden) to form the foundation of their franchise. They'll be hard pressed to find another superstar with the 29th pick, but they can find a scoring option to bolster their bench.

Potential Targets: Kyle Anderson, SF, UCLA; T.J. Warren, SF, North Carolina State

If Brooks opts to shift Reggie Jackson into the starting lineup, they can look to replenish the bench with a player like Anderson. The 6-foot-8 small forward has great ball-handling skills to compliment his Boris Diaw-esque multifaceted skill-set. Otherwise, a pure scorer like Warren would also be a fit.

Portland Trail Blazers

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: None

Area of Need: Back-up point guard

The Blazers surprised everyone with an unexpected fifth-place finish in the grueling Western Conference last season. Led by a pair of All-Stars in Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers surrounded their core with a bevy of quality role players in the starting lineup.

The problem was their bench, which was highly unproductive. Aside from Mo Williams and Dorell Wright, head coach Terry Stotts didn't trust any other player to play a significant role off the bench. With Williams potentially leaving in free agency, they have a sizeable hole to fill.

Potential Targets: Shabazz Napier, PG, Connecticut

Napier would be a perfect fit to steady the bench for Portland. Like Lillard, Napier spent four seasons in college, and his experience should help shorten the transition to the professional ranks. He has the shooting, ball-handling, and facilitating ability necessary to excel as a combo guard.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 13, No. 40, No. 44, No. 53

Area of Need: Perimeter shooting

The Timberwolves, under new management, can go one of two ways this offseason. They can either heed Kevin Love's wishes to leave and trade him for young assets, or keep him and hope to change his mind.

If they trade him, the 'Wolves should look to rebuild by reloading with as much talent as possible. If not, they should use their 13th pick on a player to address their biggest weakness: perimeter shooting.

Potential Targets: Nik Stauskas, SG, Michigan; Rodney Hood, SF, Duke

If the 'Wolves are looking to nab a shooter, Stauskas would certainly fit the bill. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard has a set of decent handles to go along with an automatic 3-point shot. He projects to fit the mould of Warriors guard Klay Thompson. If Stauskas is unavailable, another shooter in Hood would be a suitable consolation prize.

Denver Nuggets

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 11, No. 41, No. 56

Area of Need: Two-way big

Given their lavish spending spree last offseason, this past year has to be viewed as a failure for the Nuggets, who didn't qualify for the playoffs for the first time in a decade. A rash of injuries beset the starting five, as both Danilo Gallinari and JaVale McGee missed most of the season.

However, the biggest change came from the coaching chair, as Brian Shaw's post-oriented system failed to adapt to the Nuggets' up-tempo roster. In all fairness, the team was designed for long-time coach George Karl, but the lack of a multi-talented big threw a giant wrench into Shaw's game plan.

Potential Targets: Aaron Gordon, PF, Arizona; Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana; Julius Randle, PF, Kentucky

Thanks to the New York Knicks' floundering performance, the Nuggets hold the 11th pick. Unfortunately, players like Gordon, and Vonleh will likely be off the board, but Randle could conceivably slip due to injury concerns. Injuries aside, the 6-foot-9 power forward is a bruiser in the paint in the mould of Memphis forward Zach Randolph, who could anchor Shaw's schemes.

Utah Jazz

Picks in 2014 NBA Draft: No. 5, No. 23, No. 35

Area of Need: Talent

Ever since the departure of Deron Williams (and coach Jerry Sloan by way of collateral damage), the Jazz have found themselves groping for a franchise-altering talent to reverse their fortunes.

Unfortunately, although players like Trey Burke, Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors, and Alec Burks are promising pieces, none of them are poised to break out into superstar status. The Jazz, as they have been for two seasons, will be hoping their fifth pick lands them a long-coveted star.

Potential Targets: Dante Exum, PG, Austrailia; Noah Vonleh, PF, Indiana

If they miss out on the trio of Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, and Joel Embiid, the Jazz should look to draft the player with the most upside. If they opt for a wing, Exum would be a great fit alongside Burke. If a big is more of their liking, a defensive anchor in Vonleh would also fit the bill.