Except for Minnehaha, this is possibly the best balanced division as far as talent. Let us explore how I think they finish.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder -

Point Guard - Russell Westbrook, Eric Maynor, Royal Ivey   
Shooting Guard - Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden, Daequan Cook   
Small Forward - Kevin Durant, Morris Peterson   
Power Forward - Jeff Green, Nick Collison, D.J. White   
Center - Nenad Krstic, Serge Ibaka, Byron Mullens, Cole Aldrich 

I pick Oklahoma to win this division because they have the NBA's best player, Kevin Durant (This is my opinion and I am sticking to it). There appears to be depth at all positions and they have a great head coach. What is not to like about this team who challenged the Lakers the hardest in the 1st round last year.

2nd through 4th is anybody's guess and I expect all three in the WC playoffs. They are really evenly matched.

I picked Utah

Point Guard - Deron Williams, Ronnie Price Sundiata Gaines   
Shooting Guard - Raja Bell, C.J. Miles, Othyus Jeffers   
Small Forward - Andrei Kirilenko, Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans   
Power Forward - Paul Millsap     
Center - Al Jefferson, Kyrylo Fesenko, Francisco Elson, Mehmet Okur

Best PG in division, good backup PG, SG, SF. Has Al Jefferson who could break out big here. Kyle Korver does not seem like a big loss. Utah is a model small market franchise with the longest tenured coach. That said, they probably cannot get out of the 2nd round.

3. Denver

Point Guard  - Chauncey Billups, Ty Lawson, Anthony Carter   
Shooting Guard - Arron Afflalo, J.R. Smith   
Small Forward  - Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman   
Power Forward  - Al Harrington, Kenyon Martin, Shelden Williams   
Center - Nene Hilario, Chris Andersen

This team has the capability of giving any team in the league trouble. But the bad intangible is Carmelo's situation of wanting to leave and play in New York. Denver management needs to stand strong and get as much as they can this season for him.

4. Portland Trailblazers

Point Guard - Andre Miller, Armon Johnson, Patrick Mills   
Shooting Guard - Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless, Elliot Williams 
Small Forward - Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, Dante Cunningham Luke Babbitt 
Power Forward - LaMarcus Aldridge, Jeff Pendergraph,   
Center - Marcus Camby, Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla

Injuries, Injries, Injuries is what holds this team back. They have lost Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw which can't help. This team may not make the playoffs or they could gell under Greg Oden and knock out the Lakers in an early round. This is a true wild card team.

5. Minnehaha

Point Guard - Luke Ridnour, Sebastian Telfair, Jonny Flynn   
Shooting Guard - Wesley Johnson, Martell Webster, Wayne Ellington   
Small Forward - Michael Beasley, Corey Brewer, Lazar Hayward   
Power Forward - Kevin Love, Anthony Tolliver   
Center - Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic, Kosta Koufos

I just don't believe this team will win 20 gmaes this year. I am not impressed with their young talent and they are in a over their heads in this division and this conference. Lemme put it to you this way, if Minnesota were one of six teams they contracted in 2012, only three players would make it onto one of 24 NBA rosters.