50 Bold NBA Predictions for 2012

As the new year is now here and the NBA season is really just getting underway, what better time than now to make 2012 predictions.

Despite it being a shortened regular season due to the lockout, there are so many things that are going to happen around the league in the coming year.

By the time we get to the summer and the NBA champion has been crowned, we will not remember that is was a strange season as we look to the draft and the start of a new one. 

Until we get to that point, fans everywhere will enjoy the season that we have and will wish and hope that things fall into place for their teams. 

Just to help out a little bit, here are 50 predictions for how things across the NBA will turn out in 2012.

The Hawks Will Make a Big Trade

The Atlanta Hawks have ended the season by losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals each of the last three years. 

The team has talented players but has shown that they do not have enough to go that little bit more. 

Competing with the Miami Heat in their own division is tough on the team, and they are going to have to make some changes. 

The Hawks have had contact with the Orlando Magic regarding Dwight Howard and will do something to shake up their lineup and bring in a star player. 

Sophomores Will Beat the Rookies

In each of the last two Rookie Challenge games held during All-Star Weekend, the rookie team has gone away with a victory. 

This year the streak will be broken and the second-year players will run away with another win. 

The rookie class this year is not as strong as it was last season, and we could be looking at a repeat of the 2007 game when the Sophomores won by 41 points.

Ray Allen Will Retire

The first of the aging big three of the Boston Celtics will retire at the end of the season. 

Already the all-time leader in three point shots made, Ray Allen is in the final year of his contract with the Celtics. 

He will also turn 37 this year. 

It remains to be seen if the Celtics will try to trade Allen to a team looking for a shooter, but he will not be back in the league next season. 

Fast-Paced Schedule Will Affect Teams Differently

Trying to squeeze 66 games into less than four months of a season is no easy accomplishment. 

To be able to play all of these games, teams will need to play at a faster rate than they have been in previous seasons. 

This accelerated schedule will not bother the relatively young teams like the Thunder, Bulls and Heat, but will have noticeable effects on the younger or older teams. 

The older teams will struggle through this schedule and will have to keep playing without the rest time they are accustomed to. 

The younger, less-experienced teams will struggle due to not having as much practice time and needing to play games quickly. 

Playing games three nights in a row will be tough for all teams, especially towards the end of the season. 

Bobcats Will Win Less Than 15 Games

The Charlotte Bobcats have only finished above .500 one time in team history. 

This year will not be the second time. 

With a mix of players who are still developing and learning the game and older, past-their-prime veterans, this team is not going to win many games.

The Bobcats will struggle as they use this shortened season to help give the young players time to develop.

Rookie Kemba Walker will be a bright spot on this team and is a piece to build around in the future.  

LeBron James Will Be the Scoring Champion

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has won the scoring title each of the last two seasons, but things will be different this year. 

Miami Heat star LeBron James will keep pace with the top scorers in the league and will come out on top this season. 

James is off to a good start through the first few games, and he already leads the NBA with 29.6 points per game. 

The Bulls Will Win the Most Regular Season Games

For the second year in a row, the Chicago Bulls will end the season with the top record in the league. 

Last year they won 62 games and had a 75 percent winning percentage.

To match that number this season, Derrick Rose will have to lead his team to 50 wins.

The Bulls are off to a good start so far with a record of 4-1. 

Kobe Bryant Will Be the All-Star MVP

The All-Star game is scheduled to be held at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida this year. 

Like last year, the Eastern Conference will have a strong team but the Western Conference will once again come away with a win. 

Kobe Bryant will lead the Western squad and will pick up his second consecutive award and his fifth overall.

Cavaliers Will Beat the Miami Heat

The Cleveland Cavaliers will play the Miami Heat three times this season and will win one of those games. 

The team travels to Miami on January 24 and February 7, and LeBron James and the Heat return to Cleveland on the 17th of February.

Cleveland fans would love the one victory to be at home, but they would be happy to see the Cavaliers taking out Miami in any of those games.

Overseas Players Will Return to Help Playoff Contenders

20 NBA players signed contracts overseas during the lockout and have been unable to return to the NBA. 

When their contracts are finished, several of these players will return to the NBA and will be sought after by teams setting up for a playoff run.

Some players who could help out include Kenyon Martin who will be an unrestricted free agent and Wilson Chandler who will be a restricted free agent of the Denver Nuggets. 

A King Will Make the All-Star Team

No, I am not talking about King James. His making the All-Star game is already expected. 

I am talking about one of the Sacramento Kings, who have not had a player named to the All-
Star game since Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic were there in 2004.

The early favorite to make it from the Kings is Marcus Thornton, but it could also be Tyreke Evans or DeMarcus Cousins.

The Kings have a good group of young players, and one of them will be recognized with a selection. 

The Mavericks Will Miss Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler played one season with the Dallas Mavericks and helped the team win its first-ever NBA Championship.

He was one of the players that stepped up and played well in the Finals for the Mavericks. 

Just before this season, Chandler left the Mavericks to sign a contract with the New York  Knicks. 

If they haven't already, the Mavericks will miss the hard-working, defensive-minded Chandler more than they thought they would when he left to play for the Knicks.  

The Los Angeles Clippers Will Make the Playoffs

The Los Angeles Clippers have only been in the playoffs twice since 1993 with the last time coming in 2006.

That unwanted statistic will change this season as Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will lead the team to the playoffs. 

The Nuggets Will Not Miss Their Players in China

Of all of the teams in the NBA, the Denver Nuggets had the most players sign contracts overseas during the lockout and not come back yet. 

Kenyon Martin, Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith all got locked into contracts that do not allow them back into the NBA until the Chinese season is over. 

Despite losing these players, the Nuggets will not miss a beat and will be just fine without them.

Much like they did after trading away Carmelo Anthony last season, head coach George Karl will have the team ready, and they will find a way to win.

Jason Terry Will Be the Sixth Man of the Year

With Lamar Odom joining the team just before the start of the season, the defending champion Dallas Mavericks now have two of the last three winners of the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Odom and Jason Terry will battle it out every night for who will win, but it will be Terry who takes home this award for the second time in his career. 

The Mavericks are off to a rough start this season, but Terry is second only to Dirk Nowitzki for the team scoring lead. He is averaging just over 14 points per game. 

Pistons Will Use the Amnesty Clause on Ben Gordon

To say that Ben Gordon has been disappointing since coming to Detroit would be an understatement. 

The Pistons need to get rid of his overpriced contract and will use the Amnesty Clause to dump his salary before next season begins. 

Gordon is owed $11.6 million this season, $12.4 million next year and has a player option for the next at $13.2 million that he is sure to take. 

Although he is off to a better start this year, that is way too much money to pay for a guy who mostly comes off the bench. 

The sooner Detroit can get out of that contract, the better. 

Dwight Howard Will Be the Defensive Player of the Year

Dwight Howard has been named the Defensive Player of the Year each of the last three NBA seasons. 

With his defensive dominance over that stretch, there is no doubt that he will continue to be powerful underneath. 

Winning his fourth consecutive defensive award will be a bargaining chip to help him to get a bigger contract when his runs out. 

The Warriors Will Play Defense

Since becoming the head coach of the Golden State Warriors prior to this season, Mark Jackson has tried to teach his team to play defense. 

This is a new concept for a team who is known as running all over the court, shooting a lot of three point shots and simply trying to outscore their opponents. 

This may be a new concept for some of these players who are known as great scorers and are not that far removed from the years of the uptempo "Nellie Ball" that former coach Don Nelson taught. 

It may take some time, but Jackson will be successful in teaching his defensive schemes to this young team.  

Jimmer Fredette Will Win the Three-Point Shootout

There was no doubt heading into last Summer's NBA Draft that Jimmer Fredette could shoot the ball. 

He repeatedly showed in college that he had NBA range and he has already proven that he can hit the long ball in this league as well. 

Jimmer will enter the Three Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend as a rookie and will take home the trophy and the prize money.

Kevin McHale Will Have a Winning Record

The Houston Rockets have not had a losing season since 2006, and that is a trend that will continue for new head coach Kevin McHale. 

So far this season, the team is off to a 2-2 start with wins over the Spurs and Hawks.

A winning season will be nice for McHale, whose last stint as a head coach did not go well when he had a record of 20-43 with the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

This season he will coach his team to a far better record than that and may even make the playoffs.

The Pacers Will Get a Home Playoff Series

The Indiana Pacers made several moves to improve the team during the offseason and will improve their standing in the playoffs at the end of the season. 

Last year, they ended up as the eighth seeded team and were quickly eliminated by the Chicago Bulls.

With the addition of David West and George Hill to the young talent the team had, the Pacers will end with one of the top four records in the Eastern Conference and host at least a first-round playoff series.

If it were not for the Bulls, Indiana would be the favorite to win their division. 

Ricky Rubio Will Be the Rookie of the Year

Ricky Rubio has made a good first impression in Minnesota, where he has averaged 12.3 points and 9.4 assists per 36 minutes played.

Despite not yet moving into the starting lineup, he has already shown off his passing ability and exciting play-making skills.

He will have some competition on his own team for the award from Derrick Willams and from fellow rookies Jimmer Fredette, Kemba Walker, Kenneth Faried and Brandon Knight. 

Chris Paul Will Find a Home with the Clippers

Part of the concern with the Chris Paul trade was whether or not he would stay with the Clippers beyond this season or leave in the first minute of free agency.

Not only will Paul play two seasons for the Clippers, he will sign a long-term contract with the team.

After playing with Blake Griffin and making it to the playoffs, Paul will stick around in Los Angeles and not worry about playing elsewhere.

Lionel Hollins Wins Coach of the Year

Lionel Hollins led the Memphis Grizzlies to an unpredictable playoff series victory over the San Antonio Spurs last season. 

This year the team is expected to perform even better, and head coach Lionel Hollins will pick up the Coach of the Year Award along the way. 

The team is off to a bit of a tough start, but Hollins will get things turned around and they will have a good season.

Lakers Will Lose the Battle of Los Angeles

With Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups joining Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in Los Angeles, there is a now a real threat to the Los Angeles Lakers in their own city.

The Lakers and Clippers face each other three times with the Clippers being the home team in the Staples Center for two of those games. 

The Lakers may end the season with a better overall record, but they will lose the season series to their neighbors.

Grizzlies Will Return to the Conference Semifinals

The Memphis Grizzlies will show everyone that their run to the playoffs last season was not a fluke. 

For a franchise not used to having playoff success, this will be a major accomplishment. 

Depending on which seed they end up in and who their opponent it, they have a good chance of advancing to the Finals. 

This is basically the same team that pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to a game seven in last year's playoffs. 

Kevin Durant Will Be the Most Valuable Player

Kevin Durant will win the Leagues Most Valuable Player award this season. 

He has led the league in scoring two years in a row and led his team deep into the playoffs last season. 

This is the year that Durant leads his talented team further into the playoffs and wins the MVP award. 

Miami Heat Will Not Win the Championship

Although they did not enter the season as over hyped as they did last year when they were predicted to win the NBA title, the Heat are still one of the favorites to take it all.

Unfortunately for Miami, it will have a repeat of last season where they will come up just short.

Teams in the Eastern Conference are stronger than last year, and the West has improved also. 

Miami will once again struggle down the stretch and will end up disappointed again. 

West Will Win the All-Star Game

For the first time since 2003, an Eastern Conference team will host the All-Star game when the exhibition game is played in mid-February.

With players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Deron Williams, it will be a tough task for the Western Conference All-Stars to beat them.

Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Pau Gasol, Kevin Love, Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Paul will find a way to win in a high-scoring game. 

Bucks Will Regret Trading Jimmer

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Jimmer Fredette with the No. 10 pick of the NBA draft last summer and quickly traded him away to the Sacramento Kings. 

So far this season, Fredette has exceeded expectations with the Kings and is showing that he can play in the NBA. 

By the end of the season, the Bucks will regret trading Jimmer away as they watch him develop for another team. 

Stephen Jackson, who the Bucks received in the trade, has already quit on a team that was losing and could do the same if the Bucks have another rough season.

The Timberwolves Will Sign Kevin Love to an Extension

The Minnesota Timberwolves know that Kevin Love is the key player and the future of the franchise and will lock him up with a long term contract sometime this year. 

He currently is underpaid at $4.6 million and stands to make a substantial raise. 

The team has extended him a qualifying offer of $6.1 million for next season, but even that is too low for a player who emerged last season as one of the leagues best big men. 

JaVale McGee Will Win the Dunk Contest

If Blake Griffin would not have jumped over a Kia last year, McGee would have won. 

Dunking three basketballs at one time and on two hoops at the same time was good enough to win. 

McGee will want to win this year and will be even more creative. 

Nets Will Lose Deron Williams

Whether it is by a trade or by free agency, Deron Williams will not be with the New Jersey Nets next season. 

The Nets did not get what they wanted last season when Carmelo Anthony went to the Knicks, and this year will not bring more luck. 

Not only will they not be able to land Dwight Howard, but Williams leaving will make matters worse. 

The Hornets Will Be Sold

The NBA currently owns the New Orleans Hornets, but the team will be sold during the next offseason. 

After the Chris Paul trade helped the team to be more salary-cap friendly, the team is in good shape to be sold to a group of investors. 

This will be a welcome change for the team, although they may be moving to another city depending on what the new owners want to do. 

If the Hornets move from New Orleans, it will be the second time the franchise will have been relocated and the second NBA franchise that moved out of the city. 

The Charlotte Bobcats Will Earn the No. 1 Draft Pick

In their short history, the Charlotte Bobcats have had the second and third overall draft picks, but never the first. 

This is the year that they will finally select from the top spot. 

Fortunately for Charlotte, this year's draft is stronger than last and the team will get a quality young player to match with Kemba Walker. 

Mike D'Antoni Will Not Coach the Knicks Next Season

New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni is in the final year of his coaching contract and will not be back next season. 

Known as an offensive-minded coach, D'Antoni needs to find some defense quickly to save his job. 

With Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks don't need any help offensively. 

Unless the Knicks get past the Bulls and Heat and go deep into the playoffs, D'Antoni will not be offered another contract.

The Thunder Will Win the West

The Oklahoma City Thunder came within a few games of winning the Western Conference Finals last year as the No. 4 seed. 

This year, they are one of the teams that the lockout will have the least effect on, and they will end the regular season in a better position. 

The young players the Thunder have will improve even more this year, and the team will be playing for the NBA Championship.

The Magic Will Find Help for Howard

If the Orlando Magic want to keep Dwight Howard around for the long term, they are going to have to show him a commitment to winning.

They are going to have to do this by bringing in players who can better compliment Howard and help take some of the load off of his shoulders. 

If they could somehow trade the contract of Hidayet Turkoglu, it would free up some money that they could spend on a player that Howard likes enough to stay and play with. 

The Orlando Magic will work harder to make moves to keep Howard happy and with the team than looking for deals of what they can get in return for him. 

Jrue Holiday Will Have a Breakout Season for the 76ers

Jrue Holiday of the Philadelphia 76ers is a young point guard who will have a great third season in the NBA.

Last year, Holiday started every game for the team and averaged 14 points and 6.5 assists per game.

As one of the main pieces of the 76ers and one of the better scorers on the team, Holiday will average a higher point total.

With Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala to pass to, his assist total will raise, and he will help the 76ers to a better season than they had last year.

Steve Nash Will Retire as a Sun

Steve Nash will turn 38 this season and is in the final year of his contract. 

The Phoenix Suns are also not the team that they used to be a few short years ago, and they missed the playoffs last season. 

The Suns are rebuilding, and Nash will not want to be a part of it. 

He is already fighting through a rib injury this season, and the faster pace of games will take a toll on him. 

Nash will retire at the end of the season as a member of the Phoenix Suns.

It will not be long until his number 13 jersey is retired and he is in the NBA Hall of Fame. 

Trail Blazers Will Have an All-Star

In each of his first five seasons, Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge has quietly put up good numbers and has been one of the top forwards in the league. 

He has also gone unnoticed and underrated. 

This season he is averaging over 20 points and seven rebounds per game already and is going to be named to the Western Conference All-Star team.

Don't be surprised if Aldridge and his teammates make some noise in the playoffs this season as well. 

Kings Will Trade for Veteran

Whether it's DeMarcus Cousins who has demanded to be traded, or another combination of talented young players, the Sacramento Kings will make a deal for a veteran player this year. 

The Kings do need to be careful not to just unload the disgruntled Cousins and must find a veteran who still has several seasons left in him so that he can lead this young team. 

Spurs Will Say Goodbye to a Legend

At the end of the season, the NBA will lose one if the greatest players who ever played in Tim Duncan. 

Currently in the final year of his contract, he will opt to retire instead of stick with the Spurs, who are aging and no longer the top contenders in the Western Conference. 

Duncan has nothing more to win in the league and is one of the greatest power forwards of all-time. 

He will enter the NBA Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Derrick Rose Will Be the Finals MVP

Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls will be the Most Valuable Player of this year's NBA Finals.

The award is usually given to the player on the winning team who does the most to help his team win. 

Rose won the League MVP award last season and will add the Finals MVP and an NBA title to his collection. 

Jonas Valanciunas Will Start Next Season Strong

Jonas Valanciunas was the fifth pick in last summer's NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. 

Unfortunately, he could not get out of his contract to play for the team this season and the Raptors will have to wait until the fall to get him on the court. 

Valanciunas was one of the top prospects in the draft and will not disappoint Raptor fans when he does arrive. 

He is a tall, athletic center who will start out the season strong next year and will challenge to be the rookie of the year.

Too bad the Raptors must wait until after this season—they could definitely use him now. 

New Luxury Tax Will Shape Free Agency

In an effort to create more parity in the NBA, part of the lockout negotiation centered on the amount owners will have to pay in penalties for going over the salary cap. 

For this season and next, the penalty will be the same as it has been in the past with a dollar for dollar match. After that, the amount raises incrementally depending on the teams luxury tax history and the amount over the tax they are.

Gone will be the days when richer teams will just sign the big contract and pay the tax to win.

The new guidelines will be closely looked at as players like Dwight Howard and Deron Williams who will want maximum contract move into free agency.

There will be teams that want elite players but will miss out due to no longer being able to afford the tax. 

Jazz Will Trade Al Jefferson

The Utah Jazz are stacked in the front court with promising young players who need playing time. 

Al Jefferson is off to a slow start this season and has not been known as a good defender.

The Jazz, who have already traded Mehmet Okur to the New Jersey Nets, will also deal Al Jefferson to a team in need of a big man. 

In return, the Jazz will look for a wing player who can score and play defense, something the team desperately needs.

David Stern Will Make Another Big Mistake

As if his involvement in the NBA lockout and the controversial Chris Paul trade were not enough, NBA commissioner David Stern will add at least one more blunder to his list during this season. 

It is difficult to say what it will be and when it will come, but he will do something stupid. 

Maybe it is another trade that he disallows, or it will be something with the All-Star game of playoffs. Perhaps he will try to mess with the draft lottery or get too involved with free agency. 

Regardless of what it is, be aware NBA fans—another big mistake is on the way. 

Wizards Will Fire Flip Saunders

The Washington Wizards are winless in their five games this season and things do not look good for the team. 

Head coach Flip Saunders will be fired by the end of another season where the Wizards do not meet expectations. 

Since Saunders took over, the Wizards have actually gotten worse and don't have much to hope for this season other than another high draft pick to add to the talented young players that are already there. 

The Wizards will have a new coach next year who will try to put all of the talent together and turn things around. 

Dwight Howard Will Not Be Traded

Despite the trade rumors surrounding Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic are playing well and off to a good start this season. 

After all is said and done at the trade deadline in March, Howard will still be with the Magic. 

It is going to be difficult to find a team that Howard will re-sign with in free agency who can afford to keep him on the roster. 

Leaving in free agency is not a guarantee for Howard either, as he has a $19.2 million player option to stay with the Magic for one more season that will be hard to pass up.

Instead of looking for a trade for him, General Manager Otis Smith will find a player or two to add to the team that will convince Howard to sign a contract extension.