NBA MVP Predictions For 2009-2010: Can The King Do It Again?

It's never too early to try to predict an MVP in the NBA, but to do so requires an awful lot of thought.  It is common knowledge that the MVP voters have a certain bias towards the best player on the best team during the regular season.  Dirk Nowitzki accepted his award after the Dallas Mavericks were swept out of the first round of the playoffs in 2007, but not before compiling a 67-15 regular season record and finishing atop the NBA Standings. 

Therefore, predicting the league's MVP is not unlike attempting to predict the best team in the regular season-- after all, each player, Most Valuable or not, only moves as far as his teammates.  That said, with a couple blockbuster trades occurring in a most curious off-season, judging chemistry, systems, coaching, and the group dynamic plays a huge role in predicting the upcoming season's MVP.

So without further ado.

4.  Brandon Roy, SG Portland Trail Blazers:  They're not championship caliber just yet, but they're definitely not the Jail Blazers.  The Trail Blazers have come a long way from the years that literally went up in smoke, and all marijuana jokes aside, they look like one or two pieces away from chasing rings.  If those one or two pieces come and Portland somehow shocks the world and sits on top of it at the end of the season, Brandon Roy could be a very serious contender for MVP.

3.  Kobe Bryant, SG Los Angeles Lakers:  Kobe is a decent argument for MVP literally any year in the new millenium, but his team has been successful only very recently.  With the addition of Ron Artest, this season could either explode in the Laker's face and leave them somewhere like third or fourth at the end of the season, or it could turn them into absolute monsters, as unlikely as that situation might seem.  The departure of Trevor Ariza and Derek Fisher's date with father time inches near, both causing minor setbacks to the Lakers, but the re-signing of Lamar Odom is a step in the right direction for this successful franchise.  The Lakers could be building a dynasty, so Kobe's MVP trophy opportunities might be in the rear-view as long as they remain on championship road.  Besides, I think Kobe learned that when he won MVP, he didn't win a ring, and he'd much rather have rings...

...right?

2.  Dwight Howard, C Orlando Magic:  A consummate example of "it depends on what you make of it."  On paper, Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic have the best team in the league, bar none.  You've got Jameer Nelson at the point, Vince Carter at the 2.5, Rashard Lewis at the 4, and the Man-Child at 5.  That's four All-Stars, plus White Chocolate coming out of retirement to play backup for Nelson.  Mikhael Pietrus is a pretty sticky defender to play at 3, and can hit threes if the situation calls for it.  On PAPER they are the best team-- now if they can convert that into W's on the stat sheet, Dwight Howard can easily take the MVP trophy for himself by putting together a 20-13-2.5 season.  If Stan Van Gundy doesn't get off to a hot start with this team (regardless of Lewis' 10 game suspension), I can't say much for his job security.

1.  LeBron James, SF Cleveland Cavaliers:  Let's face it-- his numbers are Jordan-esque.  Ever since his Airness went 32-8-8, LeBron's been the only one to get close at 30-7-7.  Now, with Shaq in the mix, one can only wonder what this will do for the Cleveland offense.  Does it clog the lane?  Does it crowd the basket?  Does it, just maybe, make one of the most exciting, fun franchises in NBA history?  I'm wagering on the last one, and if Cleveland cruises to a number one seed and has all kinds of goofy on-and-off-the-court action doing it, here's one guy who won't be surprised, and the King will inevitably repeat as MVP.