Brooklyn Nets: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards

Most Improved Player: Caris LeVert

LeVert is one of those Brooklyn backups who could be a starter. From my unofficial survey of Nets fans on social media, a lot of them believe LeVert is flat-out better than starting shooting guard Allen Crabbe and should have his job.

Last season, LeVert averaged 12.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, coming off the bench for 26 minutes a night. Given a bump in minutes, he could be a 15-5-5 producer or better.

If LeVert works his way into a promotion to the starting lineup this season, he could enter the discussion for Most Improved Player. It sounds like LeVert is going into this season with a chip on his shoulder.

"“I feel like I get snubbed from a lot of things, but that’s just motivation,” he said in a recent interview with SLAM magazine."

At 24 years old and going into his third pro season, he’s also at the perfect time in his career to make that leap to the next level.

The average age of the last 10 winners of the Most Improved award is 24 years old. Four of those MIPs won the award in their third season, and four more were in their fourth season. It appears the timing is right for LeVert, and he has the motive. Now he just needs the opportunity.

Odds: Good, if he becomes a regular starter