Northwest Notes: Mitrou-Long, Nuggets, Adelman, Wolves

Naz Mitrou-Long is the latest international player on the Jazz roster, writes Jody Genessy of The Deseret News. The 24-year-old Canadian signed with the team this week, likely for a non-guaranteed camp contract. Mitrou-Long seems to have little chance at a roster spot with Utah, which has Rodney Hood, Alec Burks and first-round pick Donovan Mitchell entrenched at shooting guard. The Jazz also have 15 guaranteed salaries, so Mitrou-Long appears headed to the G League.

Mitrou-Long spent five years at Iowa State, red-shirting during the 2015/16 season because of lingering pain from hip surgeries. He recovered to play 35 games last season, averaging 15.1 points per night and earning All-Big 12 second-team honors. He played for the Kings’ entry in the Las Vegas Summer League, scoring 9.8 points per game.

• The Nuggets improved with the signing of Paul Millsap, but still may struggle to make the playoffs in a tough Western Conference, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. Millsap will team with Nikola Jokic to give Denver an impressive inside game, but the team has several questions to resolve, starting with finding a role for former starting point guard Emmanuel Mudiay.
• David Adelman has formally joined the Nuggets‘ coaching staff, the team announced on its website. The son of longtime NBA coach Rick Adelman, David spent last season as an assistant in Orlando after several years in Minnesota. Denver also promoted Tommy Balcetis to Director of Basketball Strategies and Analytics.
• The impressive numbers posted by Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns should translate into more wins now that he has better talent around him, writes Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype. In Minnesota’s season preview, Sierra says Jimmy Butler gives the team a legitimate two-way star, but the Wolves have to make great strides on defense and outside shooting to become a legitimate playoff contender.