Fireworks have happened to say the least with it only being mid-July. Multiple moving blockbusters have escalated, early enough, most were around the NBA Draft. Franchise cornerstones that had been at home since they entered the NBA in near-decade or more figures’ Marcus Smart and Bradley Beal.
Easily the two most shocking transactions with Kristaps Porzingis going to Boston and Chris Paul heading to Washington, briefly. A close second? Paul getting swung to Golden State as they parted with Jordan Poole. Basketball fanatics truly can’t help but think of the Hall of Fame PG historically voicing, both with the Clippers and Rockets his main concern. The main task: taking down the Warriors.
Paul has even already showed cautiousness toward potentially playing with the second unit when he was introduced as there are now reports of his belief, he could play aside the splash brothers. Already goes to show how wild it is imagining him in blue and gold.
All these escalations already throughout the summer typically make some around the league wonder who could take leaps. Both individually, teams and personnel. That being said, here are some nominees that could be up for contention within each NBA award at the end of the 2023-24 season.
NBA Most Improved Player: Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
The NBA’s Most Improved Player award can be really exciting. Breakouts and explosions escalate in sudden formations that mostly come very unexpectedly, hence, Lauri Markkanen last season. Similar to his Euro Cup play last summer, the long wing brought an array of art to the scene that was never witnessed before.
This is one of the more difficult awards to not only predict but declare a winner. Many young, blossoming talents continue to grow and display performances of certain skillsets that they attempt to master throughout the work.
We have also seen many players in prime-years or later show improvements through development with everyone going through different instances and stages. A likely, strong contestant when it comes to many voters this season, Mikal Bridges utterly hatched out of his shell and evolved once became a Brooklyn Net in February.
The 26-year-old had already shown improvements offensively through the 56 contests with the Suns. Bridges averaged 17.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists shooting 38.7 percent from three. Suddenly dealt to the Nets for Kevin Durant at 1 a.m. the day of the trade deadline, Bridges entered a whole new world and never looked back.
His limited offense was put to sleep as he became the focal point of a rebuilding Brooklyn squad. In one of his first few Nets’ outings, Bridges had a career-high 45 on Miami Heat shooting over 70%. He averaged 26.1 PPG and 4.5 RPG shooting 47.5 FG/37.6 3P/60.7 TS% in 27 contests with Brooklyn.
Something to maybe highlight towards Bridges’ chances, he insanely has never been inactive through his five-year campaign on top of college. He has even battled through certain wounds to remain in games.
The Nets will be an improving playoff team and beyond amongst the development of their two-way swingman. A high-chance we get exhibits of Bridge’s growth come October, expect him to make his first All-Star game and be in the most-improved conversation.
NBA Sixth Man of the Year: Chris Paul, Golden State Warriors
Yes, there is already a slight reluctance being shown towards the bench, as previously mentioned. We will see a ton of lineups with the three Hall of Fame guards. Paul will also likely start more than expected, noting some of the injury woes Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have dealt with in recent years. That does not indicate that CP3 would not be a lovable Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
Like many have been voicing, the most underrated asset of Paul’s out-of-this-world basketball mind is his ability to adapt. No matter the system’s or the organization’s trajectory. That incredible IQ of his always finds a way to make a notable impact on that team’s season. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s tenure is a perfect example. Given those capabilities, if Paul were to go into the season as Golden State’s sixth man, it would be a huge boost for the Warriors.
The Dubs already did not have that strong of a second unit given the franchise’s resume. No more Poole; Donte DiVincenzo is in New York now. Their other young bench pieces failed to provide strong offensive help for a lot of the season. Speaking of what he did in OKC as the Warriors’ sixth man, Paul could be another excellent mentor in the locker room while making them better on the court.
Players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, etc. can provide more constructive consistency next to Paul, giving Golden State a deeper, more reliable bench. He has chemistry with new addition Dario Saric from their trip to the Finals together in 2021.
The 12-time All-Star will certainly receive plenty of playing time with Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green. He can also help evolve Andrew Wiggins, with them both likely playing with the second unit a good amount. Steve Kerr will have the perfect combination of Hall of Fame minds to help this team return to the championship stage after a one-year absence.
Though Paul took a bit of a backseat in his effectiveness on the stat sheet last season, finally showing his age, the potency he provides is clearly felt throughout. It was in the Suns’ first-round win over the Clippers. Really, if you think about it, it could turn out to be a perfect marriage for however long it ends up being, with CP3 getting his first ring as a honeymoon.
NBA Coach of the Year: Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault had an impressive season last season, with Oklahoma City widely exceeding expectations. Many thought they were still lottery-bound when they went from 24 wins to 40 losses in the Play-In tournament. It earned Daigneault as much Coach of the Year consideration behind Mike Brown as it did. The team is even better now with the young and exciting Thunder growing in the playoff tree.
Thunder cornerstones Shai Gilgeous-Alexander making the All-NBA First Team and Jalen Williams being the Rookie of the Year runner-up opened eyes. Josh Giddey’s magnificent play as well The team easily became a basketball junkie’s cup of tea, and top draftee Chet Holmgren had not even played.
Oklahoma City had the 13th-rated defense and the 16th-rated offense. As an exciting premiere show for the league with what they had to offer, they had nights of beating some of the league’s best teams.
Integrating Holmgren into the lineup will help the Thunder unlock a lot more, with them finally having height and high-level rim protection in the front court. Adding him to Oklahoma City’s thunderous trio, glorified by their guaranteed leaps, could put the team in the upper echelon of the West postseason. Kind of like last year’s Sacramento Kings.
NBA Rookie of the Year: Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard has finally stated his trade request to the Trail Blazers. Not that there was not already a slight lead up to Lillard’s decision, but that makes for a youth movement. Portland will have more than enough leeway for a number of years to help Scoot Henderson blossom. In this month’s NBA 2K24 Summer League, Henderson gave the glimpses that everyone needed to see.
With Lillard gone, Henderson will instantly have the keys to the organization. He has a huge portion of potential to build around with the high-flying Shaedon Sharpe and the heavily paid Jerami Grant. He can also provide a lot of scoring and explosiveness from the perimeter, developing with Anfernee Simons as well.
This amount of playmaking and athleticism can open up a ton of chemistry for their core to build upon. Portland also has more length on the defensive end than it has in quite some time.
Henderson’s Westbrook-like play can give the Blazers and their fans a switch between different types of shows. From perimeter rain to thunder bringing down the house Henderson will be a box-office prodigy standing out in a draft class where it definitely will not be easy with otherworldly talent surrounding him.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics
When Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year with the Celtics in 2022, he signaled that with Robert Williams’ defensive prowess, the center could win the award soon. Williams’ health and durability issues have put his potential on ice throughout his young career.
Many teammates, most prominently Jayson Tatum, have expressed how his ceiling is a main ingredient in where Boston wants to be and their potential as a championship team. There were some believers in a different 2022 Finals outcome had Williams not suffered that knee injury to end the regular season and enter the playoffs. The Celtics played at their best when he looked at least 80% or better through that Finals’ run.
Despite a need for roster balance, another main reason for Boston’s Porzingis movement also had a little to do with Timelord’s inconsistent health. Not only was it time for a new look with their championship desperation, but it would have been hard to be in the mix in May with a frontcourt of someone frequently ailing and someone turning 38 in Al Horford. The new acquisition not only makes life a lot easier for Boston’s dynamic duo but also their defensive anchor.
Brad Stevens stated during the Celtics’ summer league game the other night that this is the healthiest summer Williams has had in quite a while. The team is excited, as he is building from it. Integrating Porzingis takes a lot of pressure off of Timelord, giving him more room to roam and grow. Williams now has multiple years of battling experience as a core member of the Celtics, and he understands the expense and significance of his maintenance and presence.
Experts around the league acknowledge how much a healthy Williams changes Boston’s landscape and their title contention. Timelord just ignites fear in opposing teams’ with his freakish defensive instincts. He made the All-Defensive team in 2022. His mastery on that end showed when his last season, which did not debut until around Christmas, quickly ranked atop the DPOY ladder in limited play.
Williams has been labeled one of the best-premiere defenders in the NBA in just a couple of seasons of being at the forefront. There may not be another center in the league that can guard any position, anywhere on the floor, from both the paint and the arc, and switch at the speed of a guard. He can alter shots with both perimeter jumpers and layups in the paint with his unreal length, as there have been plays of him blocking three-point attempts and taking it to the floor.
If Timelord can maintain consistency for a full season next to Porzingis and the Celtics’ core, He will have a sky-rocketing chance of taking home his destined award. Stevens’ words on the center’s current status are very promising for its chances.
NBA MVP: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant is excitingly entering his first full season aside Devin Booker, now Beal with the new-look Phoenix Suns. He has encountered tough injury in the winter of the last two seasons, but that does not erase his scorching MVP-odds prior. The Suns have had notable regular seasons throughout the last few with the future only exceeding in the hands of one of the best scorers to play the game and another tremendous tandem.
In 47 contests with both the Nets and Suns, it was a common off-the-charts 29.1 PPG on a ridiculous 56 FG/40.4 3P/67.7 TS%. He and Booker only excelled as each critical game approached with extremely loud numbers as a duo.
KD put up 26 PPG with Phoenix only 53% shooting from three and 69.7 true shooting through his eight games before the playoffs. They only went up in the Suns’ two rounds at 29 points on 47% from the field and a near-60 true shooting percentage.
Durant has been having a ton of fun this July on Twitter conversing with other lovers of the game like himself. Offense or defense, whatever it may be. Expressing opinion and of course, bickering with the haters that continue to stick around him like gnats the last seven years.
It may not be easy, but everything is easy to the sniper. Easy money, actually. KD will have plenty of competition, but he is motivated for his new full chapter in the desert with perfect complementary support that will take a bunch of weight off his shoulders. Durant can go out with a clear mind and just do his thing: dominate the game. He will be in the conversation and so will the Suns when it comes to the NBA’s championship contenders.