Predicting Every Major NBA Award Winner for the 2016-17 Season
Rarely, if ever, has there been less suspense surrounding the eventual NBA champion than 2016-17. The Cleveland Cavaliers, last year's title winner, once again look like prohibitive favorites in the East. The Golden State Warriors, with Kevin Durant joining the core of a 73-win club, could be completely peerless across the Association.
Yet, when it comes to the Association's other awards—the ones contingent on votes rather than victories—there's never been so much parity.
MVP candidates will steal votes from each other, as teammates and combatants. A rising tide of young talent should turn the races for Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player into free-for-alls. With so many productive veterans moving to benches around the NBA, the field for Sixth Man figures to be flush with second-unit studs.
And that's to say nothing of all of the big names—players and otherwise—that will draw praise for their defense, coaching and front-office work in the months to come.
Let's handicap the competition for each of the seven major awards, replete with other potential contenders.
Rookie of the Year: Joel Embiid, Center, Philadelphia 76ers
1 of 7
Joel Embiid has hardly had two healthy feet to stand on since the Philadelphia 76ers drafted him third overall in 2014. Now, after two years in recovery, he might be the last man standing among a paper-thin rookie class.
Ben Simmons, the No. 1 pick in 2016, will miss the first chunk of his debut campaign for the Sixers while recovering from a foot injury of his own. Brandon Ingram will begin his career as Luol Deng's understudy off the Los Angeles Lakers bench. The same goes for Kris Dunn behind Ricky Rubio with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jaylen Brown, the No. 3 pick, might be a better bet if not for the Boston Celtics' elite aspirations in the East.
Short of Marquese Chriss or Buddy Hield taking control of their destinies in Phoenix and New Orleans, respectively, Embiid could be the NBA's most productive newbie. The Sixers will shovel the ball to him plenty, after watching him put up 11.4 points in just 14.7 minutes per game during the preseason.
As the Philadelphia Inquirer's Mike Sielski explained, Embiid's light load in exhibition play wasn't the product of any fear on Philly's part:
"He averaged just less than 15 minutes a game, his workload increasing gradually each time out, but the limits they placed and will place on him are a function more of his need to get in proper cardiovascular shape for an 82-game season.
Those restrictions are not about any lingering concern that he might re-injure his right foot, and even Embiid's teammates, those who stand to benefit most from his presence, recognize that they do him and themselves no benefit by tiptoeing around him during practice.
"
The Sixers figure to bring Embiid along slowly, with rest days breaking up a grueling 82-game schedule. But with his talent—and Philly's overall dearth thereof—Embiid could force his team's hand and strengthen his own en route to Rookie of the Year honors.
In the Mix: Buddy Hield (Pelicans), Kris Dunn (Timberwolves), Marquese Chriss (Suns), Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
Most Improved Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Forward, Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 7
Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks offered an extended glimpse at the future of the NBA.
After the All-Star break, Bucks head coach Jason Kidd had Giannis Antetokounmpo—all seven feet of him—try his hand at the point. The 21-year-old responded with averages of 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 3.3 combined blocks and steals.
By late March, Kidd had anointed the Greek Freak as Milwaukee's full-time floor general.
"We're going to go forward with him handling the ball," Kidd said, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Charles F. Gardner. "You can call him point guard, point forward, point center, however you want to look at it."
Antetokounmpo's breakout came with plenty of room for improvement. He shot just 28.6 percent from three and turned the ball over 2.8 times a night during the season's second half. After a summer spent sharpening his skills (and signing a $100 million extension), he should be ready to make yet another key leap toward bona fide stardom.
The Bucks will certainly need him to. With Khris Middleton sidelined by an Achilles injury and Michael Carter-Williams off to Chicago, Antetokounmpo's opportunities to score for himself and set up others to do the same should only grow.
And if he can do more with those chances while helping Milwaukee win again, he'll have a great shot to come away with the Most Improved Player award.
In the Mix: Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves), D'Angelo Russell (Lakers), Devin Booker (Suns), Rodney Hood (Jazz)
Sixth Man of the Year: Andre Iguodala, Guard/Forward, Golden State Warriors
3 of 7
Contrary to popular belief, the Golden State Warriors bench is still loaded, despite a summer purge to make way for Kevin Durant.
David West switched super teams, after spending last season with the San Antonio Spurs. Shaun Livingston might be the best backup point guard in basketball. Ian Clark and James Michael McAdoo proved to be capable subs last season. Sophomore Kevon Looney and rookie Pat McCaw have both drawn high praise for their preseason performances among a veteran Dubs bunch.
Nonetheless, Andre Iguodala remains the most impactful player among the second unit. The former Finals MVP finished a close second to Clippers swingman Jamal Crawford in last season's Sixth Man of the Year balloting, after averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 26.6 minutes per game for the 73-win Warriors.
In some respects, Iguodala could see his role diminished this season. Golden State won't need him to take over as often off the bench, not with another superstar to stagger alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
But during a campaign likely to be marked by blowouts, Iguodala could still rack up strong numbers while shining in extended garbage time.
And with so many quality candidates likely to litter the field for this award, Golden State's overall success could be what puts Iggy over the top.
In the Mix: Jamal Crawford (Clippers), Zach Randolph (Grizzlies), Al Jefferson (Pacers), Enes Kanter (Thunder)
Defensive Player of the Year: DeAndre Jordan, Center, Los Angeles Clippers
4 of 7
DeAndre Jordan has long had the tools to dominate the interior. Few 7-footers in the NBA today—or ever, for that matter—combine speed, strength, length and leaping ability the way he does.
Under Doc Rivers' regime with the Los Angeles Clippers, Jordan has morphed into a bona fide menace in the middle. The former second-round pick has ranked among the league leaders in blocks and rebounds during each of the last three seasons. In 2015-16, he finished just outside the Association's top 10 in defensive field-goal percentage allowed at the rim among those who challenged at least five shots a game, per NBA.com.
Jordan already has the attention of those with the votes. This past summer, he added an Olympic gold medal with Team USA to a career CV that now includes consecutive All-NBA and All-Defensive selections.
All he needs now to end Kawhi Leonard's reign as Defensive Player of the Year? An elite defense around him.
To that end, the Clippers should be ready to oblige. They finished fifth in defensive rating following a slow start last season. With only minor tweaks to implement in 2016-17, L.A. should get off on a much stronger foot this time around and keep Jordan's name atop hypothetical ballots throughout.
In the Mix: Kawhi Leonard (Spurs), Hassan Whiteside (Heat), Rudy Gobert (Jazz), Draymond Green (Warriors)
Executive of the Year: Bob Myers, Golden State Warriors
5 of 7
Two years ago, Bob Myers was named Executive of the Year for what seemed like several years' worth of shrewd moves. That season, the major maneuvers he'd made since joining the Golden State Warriors in 2012 (i.e., drafting Draymond Green, hiring Steve Kerr, trading for Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala, signing Shaun Livingston) coalesced with the rest of the foundation to form a 67-win squad fit to end the franchise's 40-year championship drought.
This year, Myers' stake to the award boils down to one name: Kevin Durant.
As Golden State's general manager, he's the one most poised to benefit from Durant's decision beyond whatever on-court success the squad enjoys. But as Forbes' Darren Heitner noted, many of the same efforts that made Myers the league's top executive in 2015 could propel him to a second statuette in 2017:
"Myers will not make many headlines for the Warriors signing Durant; he deserves a lot more credit than he will receive. Without Myers, the Warriors would not have the make-up of one of the scariest line-ups that any basketball fan can remember.
It is due to Myers that, in 2016, the Warriors will have an on-court set of Curry, Klay, Iguodala, Draymond and Durant.
"
Whatever the size and scope of Myers' role in the recruitment of KD—and, to a lesser extent, David West and Zaza Pachulia—he'll get the credit at the ballot box for blowing the Warriors' championship window wide open.
In the Mix: Danny Ainge (Celtics), Dennis Lindsey (Jazz), Larry Bird (Pacers)
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota Timberwolves
6 of 7
It's deja vu all over again for Tom Thibodeau with the Minnesota Timberwolves—and not just because he began his NBA coaching career with the club in 1989.
Six years ago, Thibs took over an up-and-coming Chicago Bulls squad featuring a dynamic perimeter talent (Derrick Rose) and a versatile pivot (Joakim Noah), turning it into a 62-win team. For his efforts, Thibodeau took home Coach of the Year honors.
In Minnesota, Thibs will have Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns filling those respective roles, along with Ricky Rubio, Zach LaVine and rookie Kris Dunn.
They won't likely tack on 33 wins to last season's 29 to match what Thibs squeezed out of those bygone Bulls. But the Wolves should be well on their way to ending the league's longest playoff drought. For what it's worth, Minny ranked third in defensive rating during the preseason, per NBA.com, after finishing 28th in that regard at the end of last season.
This could all be enough for Thibodeau to bring home his second Red Auerbach Trophy. What's really worth watching, though, is the extent to which he comes into his new gig a changed coach, following a sabbatical season spent examining the NBA at large.
"He studies. He just gets better," Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford told The Vertical's Chris Mannix. "He was a great coach anyway. He's a better coach now.”
In the Mix: Gregg Popovich (Spurs), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Tyronn Lue (Cavaliers), Brad Stevens (Celtics)
Most Valuable Player: Blake Griffin, Power Forward, Los Angeles Clippers
7 of 7
If ever there were a year for a dark horse to ride out of the sunset for the NBA's MVP, this is it.
Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, the last two players to take home the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, are teammates now and figure to split votes as a result. LeBron James, named MVP four times before them, could cede a sizable share of his regular-season responsibilities to Kyrie Irving, after watching the Cleveland Cavaliers' young point guard come up aces in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Russell Westbrook and James Harden will both put up big numbers but might not win enough games with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, respectively, to claim that hardware.
Don't be shocked, then, if Blake Griffin sneaks away with the award.
Before his quad became a nagging concern last season, Griffin looked every bit like the MVP contender he's been for much of his pro career. Through the first 30 games of 2015-16, he averaged 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 34.9 minutes.
Despite the setbacks and subsequent summer surgery, Griffin could be better than ever this season. He came into Los Angeles Clippers training camp completely healthy and hungry, following an offseason filled with leg days in the weight room and jump shots on the court.
"He's just that committed to working out and training and being great," Chris Paul said, per Bleacher Report. "When you're as good of a player as Blake is, you don't expect anything less."
He figures to assume some of Paul's playmaking duties this season, with head coach Doc Rivers staggering minutes between his two biggest stars. At 27, Griffin should be capable of handling a heavier load, thanks to his physical gifts and mental grasp of the game meeting at an apex.
If the rest of the field cannibalizes itself and the Clippers climb another rung up the standings out West, Griffin could be the last one left standing after an intriguing MVP melee.
.png?w=600 "New Mock with Lottery Odds Locked In 🔮")
