Predicting awards is a futile effort at best, injuries and uncontrollable circumstances change too much in-season, but it is a fun exercise that can give a decent watchlist of individual players and coaches for the season to come.
Basically, this award could go to a coach that wins a lot of games (Steve Kerr, Billy Donovan, David Blatt, Gregg Popovich) or one that makes a big leap in wins from last year, like Stan Van Gundy might in Detroit. Stan Van is a really good coach and appears to have the type of team he wants this season. The Pistons are a hard team to peg, they could be a playoff team or bottom out, a bet on Stan Van for coach of the year is a bet for the former.
This is a pretty easy, logical choice. Okafor is going to be the centerpiece of Philadelphia's offense and play all the minutes he can handle. This will mean lots of points and rebounds, which means rookie of the year votes. Emmanuel Mudiay, Karl-Anthony Towns, or Stanley Johnson might have better overall seasons, factoring both role and defense, but Okafor should be a low-post force on an East coast team that many voters will see, and sadly that matters. One possible sleeper: if injuries ravage Chicago's frontcourt, or they decide to trade one of their bigs, Bobby Portis could put up big numbers, given the minutes
Most Improved Player: Brad Beal, SG Wizards
While this award generally goes to a player coming into a larger role, Beal is now going to be playing in a more wide-open system with more 3-point shooting and space for driving, which happens to suit Beal's game perfectly. Beal could average 18-20 points a game making 2.5+ threes a game. Reggie Jackson is another strong choice after he put up big numbers once traded he was traded to the Pistons last season. A full season running the show in Phoenix could lead to a breakout performance for Eric Bledsoe. Damien Lillard could see his shots go way up an average 27-30 points a game as the only returning starter in Portland.
Sixth Man of the Year: Isaiah Thomas, PG Celtics
This season marks a little bit of a passing of the torch for sixth men in the NBA, with Jamal Crawford aging and losing his role, while incumbent Lou Williams is now on a team that looks to be pretty bad. That leaves Isaiah Thomas as the clear front-runner for an award that usually goes to the shot-happy, defense-averse combo guard that averages the most points per game. A couple of big men could also be contenders for the award: Enes Kanter could put up big points and redound totals for Oklahoma City if he comes off the bench, while Houston's Donates Motiejunas will bring a different package of skills than presumed starters Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones.
Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor, C Sixers
This is a pretty easy, logical choice. Okafor is going to be the centerpiece of Philadelphia's offense and play all the minutes he can handle. This will mean lots of points and rebounds, which means rookie of the year votes. Emmanuel Mudiay, Karl-Anthony Towns, or Stanley Johnson might have better overall seasons, factoring both role and defense, but Okafor should be a low-post force on an East coast team that many voters will see, and sadly that matters. One possible sleeper: if injuries ravage Chicago's frontcourt, or they decide to trade one of their bigs, Bobby Portis could put up big numbers, given the minutes
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, C, Jazz
As good as Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Tim Duncan, DeAndre Jordanand others were last year, a full season of Rudy Gobert would easily have been the defensive player of the year. Provided Gobert provides a repeat performance, the award is his to lose. The usual suspects will still be in the mix, but Gobert is the favorite by quite a margin.
Most Valuable Player: James Harden, SG, Rockets
Harden was close to winning MVP last year and should be even better, more efficient this season with Ty Lawson on board and a healthier season from the rest of the Rockets supporting cast. Steph Curry should be amazing once again, but voter fatigue is a really thing and some of the novelty of Curry's style of play may have worn of for some. Anthony Davis will probably still be the best player in the NBA (at least statistically if not otherwise) but the Pelicana will probably push for the seventh seed in the west at best. Both Kevin Durant and LeBron James obviously have the ability to win the award, but they are likely to be rested enough games to take them out of the running for serious consideration.
All-NBA First Team
G: Steph Curry, Warriors
G: James Harden, Rockets
F: Lebron James, Cavaliers
F: Kevin Durant, Thunder
C: Anthony Davis, Pelicans
Cheating a bit putting Davis at center, but can anyone deny these are the 5 best players in the NBA?
All-NBA Second Team
G: John Wall, Wizards
G: Russell Westbrook
F: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
F: Blake Griffin, Clippers
C: Mark Gasol, Grizzlies
Wall is the only newish name here, but he was all-NBA caliber last season and should be only better this year, possibly MVP-quality in the Wizards new-look offense. Gasol/Cousins and Paul/Westbrook are a bit of a toss-up.
All-NBA Third Team
G: Chris Paul, Clippers
G: Goran Dragic, Heat
F: Chris Bosh, Heat
F: Paul George, Pacers
C: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
Damian Lillard might lead the NBA in scoring, but Portland could be pretty bad. Dragic was All-NBA two years ago when he was allowed to run the show, but he needs to be stay mostly healthy. Sleeper: Gordon Heyward.
First Team All-Defense
G: Mike Conley, Grizzlies
G: Tony Allen, Grizzlies
F: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
F: Draymond Green, Warriors
C: Rudy Gobert, Jazz
Second Team All-Defense
G: John Wall, Wizards
G: Jimmy Butler, Bulls
F: DeMarre Carroll, Raptors
F: Tim Duncan, Spurs
C: Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
All-Rookie First Team
G: Emmanuel Mudiay, Nuggets
G: Mario Hezonja, Magic
F: Stanley Johnson, Detroit
F: Karl-Anthony Towns
C: Jahlil Okafor, Sixers
All-Rookie Second Team
G: Raul Neto, Jazz
G: D'Angelo Russell, Lakers
F: Bobby Portis, Bulls
F: Nemanja Bjelica, Timberwolves
C: Myles Turner, Pacers
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