NBA Award Predictions for the 2012-13 Season

Believe it or not, the 2012-13 NBA season is right around the corner, and we may be in for our most exciting season in quite some time.

There were a lot of major changes this offseason, with star players switching addresses and cellar-dwelling teams making moves to vault themselves into playoff contention. Said moves will have a profound impact on how the NBA awards fall into place this coming year.

Will LeBron James repeat as MVP? Who will be the league's best defender? Is Anthony Davis a sure-fire lock for Rookie of the Year?

My predictions are all in this article.

Most Improved Player of the Year: Darren Collison

I understand that the Indiana Pacers needed a backup big man, and Ian Mahinmi will now fill that role, but I really do not like the fact that they dealt Collison to the Dallas Mavericks for him.

People seem to forget that the 24-year-old Collison appeared to be a budding star in his rookie year with the New Orleans Hornets during the 2009-10 campaign, particularly during his incredible months of February and March in that season when he was recording jaw-dropping numbers (he had a 20-assist game that March).

After being dealt from the Hornets to the Pacers (for some inexplicable reason on New Orleans' part), Collison never got a real chance to shine, as he was forced to share point guard duties with George Hill this past season and actually was relegated to a bench role in the playoffs.

Well, Collison will undoubtedly be the main man now, as he is clearly the Mavericks' best (and only) true floor general, and you can bank on the notion that Dirk Nowitzki will make him a much better player.

Collison joins a new-look Dallas team that also brought in the likes of O.J. Mayo and Chris Kaman this summer, giving him several options at his disposal.

I really like Collison's chances of winning the Most Improved Player of the Year award this coming season. He is in a great situation, as he should see the most minutes of his career and has the personnel to aid him in putting up good numbers.

Watch out for this kid. He could end up joining that seemingly ever-growing group of very impressive NBA point guards.

Other candidates: Mayo (Mavericks), Gordon Hayward (Jazz), Isaiah Thomas (Kings), JaVale McGee (Nuggets), Kenneth Faried (Nuggets)

Sixth Man of the Year: James Harden

As long as Harden remains on the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder, this is an easy choice. He is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, coming off a season in which he averaged just under 17 points per game off the pine.

Yes, Harden plays starter minutes, but he is still technically a bench player. I really don't have much else to add, as I don't see any reason why one of the league's best young guards won't repeat.

Other candidates: Jason Terry (Celtics), Manu Ginobili (Spurs), Wilson Chandler (Nuggets), Jamal Crawford (Clippers)

Rookie of the Year: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

To be perfectly honest, I am not a huge Kidd-Gilchrist fan, as I think in terms of potential, his ceiling is not as high as some of the other draftees. However, just like all of the awards, you have to take a player's circumstances into account, and I think Kidd-Gilchrist's environment is very conducive to winning the Rookie of the Year award.

Why?

Because he is playing on a team with very few reliable offensive weapons. Ben Gordon, Kemba Walker, and Gerald Henderson are really the only guys on the team who can consistently score in double-figures. That means Kidd-Gilchrist will likely get a lot of touches and a lot of shots, and the more shots you get, the more your stats are going to be inflated.

Some of you may be wondering why I didn't pick Anthony Davis here, as he is in a rather similar situation in New Orleans. Well, my reasoning is that Davis is a big man, and it is historically much harder for a big man to step in and produce right off the bat than a wing, especially one of Davis' build. I'm not too big of a Davis supporter anyway, but I think even if he does become the player many think he will, it is going to take a few years for him to really develop.

Kidd-Gilchrist, on the other hand, has the size to hold his own at the small forward position, and I expect to see him put together an impressive rookie year, even though I don't think he is ever going to be much more than a good complementary player in this league.

Another name to keep an eye on? Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. By all indications, he will be the starting point guard for the Trail Blazers this coming season, and the kid can flat out play.

Other candidates: Davis (Hornets), Lillard (Trail Blazers), Jared Sullinger (Celtics), Harrison Barnes (Warriors), Thomas Robinson (Kings)

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett

One can make a legitimate argument that Garnett should have won this award this past season, as he led the league in defensive rating and helped the Boston Celtics to the best defense in the NBA.

KG already has a Defensive Player of the Year award under his belt, and at the age of 36, he is more than capable of adding another to his illustrious résumé. He is clearly the backbone of the Celtics' defense, as he's helped Paul Pierce evolve from a mediocre defender into a more than adequate stopper. He also clearly had a significant effect on Kendrick Perkins during his time in green, not to mention that the C's haven't missed a beat defensively without Perkins.

Of course, Garnett will have to beat out the likes of Dwight Howard, Serge Ibaka (although Ibaka is more of a pure shot-blocker than a great all-around defender), and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler, but given his savvy on that side of the floor and the fact that he is arguably the best defender in the game even at his age, I see absolutely no reason why he can't.

If Boston ends up with the league's best D again, I really think it would be a travesty for him not to win the award. That is, unless Howard vaults the Los Angeles Lakers into the top spot defensively. Then we'd have a fun debate.

Other candidates: Howard (Lakers), Chandler (Knicks), Ibaka (Thunder), James (Heat), Tony Allen (Grizzlies), DeAndre Jordan (Clippers)

Coach of the Year: Keith Smart, Sacramento Kings

This is a huge stretch, as the Sacramento Kings finished second-to-last in the Western Conference this past season, but that is also a part of the reason why I am selecting Smart: I think the Kings will improve significantly this coming year.

Sacramento is absolutely loaded with young talent, from budding superstar center DeMarcus Cousins to one of the most underrated scorers in the league in Marcus Thornton. I think the Kings have a great shot of making the playoffs this season, and don't think Smart's influence on these young guns won't have much to do with that.

Yes, Sacramento's front office has blessed Smart with a very talented roster to work with, but he still has to make sure these kids reach their full potential, and it has been documented that Smart is well-liked by his players, particularly Cousins, the team's most important player.

If the extension that the Kings gave Smart is any indication, it's that they trust him with the reins of this ballclub.

Do not be shocked to see Sacramento sneak into the playoffs this year.

Other candidates: Doc Rivers (Celtics), Mark Jackson (Warriors), Mike Woodson (Knicks), Scott Skiles (Bucks)

Note: The reason you don't see Gregg Popovich listed? No coach has ever won back-to-back Coach of the Year awards.

Most Valuable Player: Dwight Howard

I expect this to become a trendy pick, but if not, let me at least give my reasoning for selecting Howard over the likes of LeBron and Kevin Durant.

The key factor that you have to take into consideration here is that Kobe Bryant just finished playing in the Olympics at the age of 34. Because of that, Bryant is likely going to conserve energy for the playoffs, and that would mean that Howard would have to shoulder more of the load during the regular season.

Given the strong possibility of Kobe deferring a bit over the course of the 82-game campaign, I expect Howard to put up huge numbers. The fact that he will get a fresh start after the nightmare that was the 2012 season with the Orlando Magic may also play a strong role in Dwight's 2012-13 performance.

Finally, there is a very good chance that the Lakers finish with the best record in the NBA this season given their stacked roster, and we all know how much the voting committee values wins when determining who the league's most valuable player is.

Yes, Howard may miss some time at the start of the season while recovering from back surgery, but I don't think that will hinder his chances too much, if at all.

Other candidates: James (Heat), Durant (Thunder), Rajon Rondo (Celtics), Chris Paul (Clippers), Carmelo Anthony (Knicks)