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NBA: Predicting the 2018-19 regular season award winners

By Colin Cann

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 4: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Bucks 111-100. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 4: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Bucks 111-100. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 15: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors during a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 82-68. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 15: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Chris Boucher #25 of the Toronto Raptors during a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 82-68. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Who will win this year’s NBA regular season awards? We explore that with a few nominees and a prediction

As the 2018-19 NBA season quickly approaches, we predict the individual regular season award winners. Beginning with the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

Rookie of the Year

Honorable Mentions: 

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks 

Doncic may be the most NBA ready prospect of the draft. He has a natural feel for the game with court vision and a basketball IQ far beyond his years. He may end up being the best player from the draft down the road, but for now he will be ceding touches to high flying sophomore Dennis Smith Jr., incumbent volume scorer Harrison Barnes, newly signed DeAndre Jordan only a season removed from an all-star bid and of course, future first ballot hall of famer, Dirk Nowitzki.

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If he was drafted by a different team he would likely be atop this list, but Dallas has too many veterans who need the ball for Doncic to put up the numbers to win. He may be the best rookie and help a team looking to make their way back into the playoffs, ROY has long been decided by numbers, though, not team success.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks 

Let’s get this out of the way now. Trae Young will very likely not shoot the ball well and Trae Young will very likely not be the best rookie next season. He will have the green light and get free rein to take as many shots as he likes from day one, though.

The Hawks have a lot riding on Young after passing on Luka Doncic. They will hand him the keys to the franchise immediately and encourage him to play as he did for the Oklahoma Sooners. He will put up big numbers on sheer volume alone, and to win ROY sometimes that is all you need.

Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers

The King is gone and there will be a lot of touches to go around in Cleveland. Many of those will go to Kevin Love regardless, but depending on which direction the Cavaliers decide to take during the course of the season, Collin Sexton could have a very heavy workload coming his way.

The Cavaliers are still trying to compete after the departure of Lebron James. It’s clear this is no longer a team in contention for titles, but this is a squad that could easily make a playoff bid in a historically weak Eastern Conference.

If the front office feels like a 7th or 8th seed and first-round exit isn’t worth sacrificing their future for and makes some moves to ship out veterans for draft picks Sexton could have a Trae Young type green light to fire away for the rest of the season. If he finishes with huge numbers post-all-star break he could get some real consideration. For now, George Hill still stands in his way.

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