By Projectsiix 
Joel’s Picks
MVP: Luka Doncic
I’m going to double down on my selection from last year and select Luka Doncic as my pick for MVP this upcoming season. With LeBron going to Philly, this team is officially 1000% Luka’s team now, and the Lakers clearly showcased that with the way they moved this summer. Whether it was bringing back Austin Reaves on a lucrative four year, $185 million max deal or giving the Utah Jazz two first round picks and two first round swaps in exchange for Walker Kessler, who they also had to give a four year, $130 million extension to. The Lakers also brought in significant free agents like Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who seem like the perfect role guys to play alongside Luka. The Los Angeles Lakers are completely built around Luka Doncic, and what better year for Luka to get his first MVP than this one? It’s time for Luka Magic to turn up this season and take home his first MVP award.
DPOY: Victor Wembanyama
As I’m sure everybody knows, this award will be given out to Wemby almost every year of his career purely due to the fact that every single offense in the league has to adjust when playing against the man himself. It’s impossible to really put into words how incredible Wemby will be this season and going forward on the defensive end due to his pure intangibles and sheer abilities that no other player in the NBA currently can replicate. So, with all that being said, Wemby will be taking DPOY honors this year and for many years to come.
ROTY: Cameron Boozer
Cameron Boozer will be my selection for Rookie of the Year this upcoming season, as he is the most “NBA ready” prospect going into the season with the perfect opportunity to excel. Boozer has already shown through Summer League and going into the preseason that he has many more of those intangibles, along with that sheer strength of his and abilities that most players at his age don’t have. Cameron Boozer will be a double double machine from day one and will take home the Rookie of the Year award at season’s end.
MIP: Ausar Thompson
This is probably the hardest award to really assess, as far as what the Most Improved Player award really is. Is it simply the best stat boost from one year to the next? Or is it the sheer responsibility from one year to the next? Regardless of which one I choose, I end up with the same answer, and that is none other than Ausar Thompson! Why do you ask? Well, I mean, Ausar barely dropped 10 PPG last season, as well as right around 3 assists per game. He was also the first Piston to get a huge extension this offseason, unlike his teammate Jalen Duren, who was a literal All Star last season. With all that being said, the Pistons didn’t really go out there and grab more firepower as far as playmaking, so who’s going to be that secondary playmaker for the Pistons? It’ll be Ausar, and I’m expecting him to maybe land around 16 to 17 PPG and right around 5 to 6 APG by season’s end. The Pistons will be right around where they were last year, so Ausar Thompson will be the Most Improved Player by season’s end.
6MOTY: Colin Sexton
When I think of the Sixth Man of the Year, I think of a Jamal Crawford type of guy or a Lou Williams kinda guy, ya know? So, for this season’s pick of mine, I might as well go with a guy who’s got one hell of an opportunity in front of him, being Colin Sexton, who’s found himself as the third best playmaker the LA Lakers have on their roster. Again, it’s a probable winning situation where he can actually excel and contribute to winning unlike any other year of his career. He’s also a very quiet, efficient shooter from inside and outside the arc, averaging 48% from the field and 39% to 40% from three point land. Colin Sexton’s got the opportunity to make a name for himself, and he’ll take the Sixth Man of the Year award at the end of the season.
COTY: Eric Spoelstra
Despite Eric Spoelstra being the highest regarded head coach in the NBA by all his peers, as even displayed in the yearly GM survey, and despite being crowned the next head coach of Team USA, taking over for Steve Kerr, as well as being a two time champ who has been to the Finals a variety of times across different rosters, Head Coach Eric Spoelstra has never taken home the Coach of the Year award. I do believe this’ll be the year he brings one home, as now, with Giannis on the Miami Heat bringing so much attention and noise, most of all to Miami, when I mention noise, it’s mostly the critics of this team and how they say the Miami Heat still may be a play in team despite bringing in Giannis. This might be the year where all the attention is highlighted and turns all that noise into winning basketball, and Spo comes away with the award at season’s end. There’d be no other way Coach Spo would want it, too, which would make it even more special when he’s awarded it at the end of the year.
Final Thoughts:
Lots of my selections took me a couple of days to really wander and go through the motions of all of it. The only real point I was missing here was certain picks in my heart going to Heat guys, like Giannis possibly winning MVP this season, Tim Hardaway Jr. taking the Sixth Man of the Year award, and even Davion Mitchell being a serious contender for Most Improved. But nonetheless, I’m happy with my selections, and I’m even more excited we’re getting NBA basketball back! Good luck to our selections, and may this season consist of pure joy and health, as all these guys have an opportunity to put a mark in NBA history!
Angel’s Picks
THE NBA IS BACK!!! In what could be one of the most anticipated seasons in recent memory, with LeBron James making his “decision” to head to Philly for a last dance. Or a reunion tour in Toronto for Kawhi Leonard. We have tons of changes, meaning it’s time to predict how the season awards will go for the year. Last year I predicted some winners correctly, but can I stay consistent?
MVP: VICTOR WEMBENYAMA
For this year’s MVP it’s going to be Victor Wembenyama. The rising megastar is looking to add more to his impressive resume after coming off a unanimous Defensive Player of The Year. Now I don’t entirely value MVP as much as the other awards due to this being a media award, it’s all propaganda to me, to keep it honest. But at the same time, if the Spurs finish top 2 in the West, and Wemby plays 65 games, I feel like there’s no chance he doesn’t get the award.
DPOY: VICTOR WEMBENYAMA
Now as for this award, it should just be named the Wemby award because he’s going to win it every year that he’s healthy. Do I believe he’s the best defender on the planet? No, but that’s why I don’t work for ESPN, I’m sitting here in my room instead. All jokes aside, Wemby is already showing what his defensive upside can be like as a rim protector and also roaming the floor to make it impossible for defenses to score. He’s gonna become even smarter and more disciplined as the year goes so expect him to win back to back unanimously again.
ROTY: CAMERON BOOZER
We have one of the deepest classes of all time according to many, including myself. This class has #1 overall pick potential all in the top 10. But with that being said, I’m confident Cameron Boozer will be the winner of this award. He has a great opportunity to win it and he looks the most NBA ready out of everyone in this class. He dominated in college, and sorry to break it to the haters out there, but his game will indeed translate. Cameron Boozer is my pick for ROTY.
MIP: DAVION MITCHELL
The Most Improved Player award is always tricky because it’s one of those awards that show who truly developed their game the most over the offseason. It comes to find out that someone sneaky always wins the award (unless u were already good and had an All-NBA leap like Tyrese Maxey or Ja Morant). But I’m looking over there in South Beach, Davion Mitchell looks hungry as ever. He’s due to blossom into a good starter and key piece to the Miami Heat’s future. Every time I watch Mitchell play, he never fails to play hard and produce with what he has, truly someone who’s put in the work and it will show this season.
6MOTY: TOBIAS HARRIS
Usually when someone wins this award, they’ve pretty much been a sixth man or a bench role player most of their career. However, given how stacked the NBA is getting, we may see someone who was a 20 ppg scorer in the playoffs last season and a consistent starter for his career win this award. Tobias Harris is the caveat of my choosing for sixth man. The Spurs are rolling with the 3 guard lineup of Dylan Harper, Dearron Fox, and Stephon Castle, while havingDevin Vassel at the Power Forward spot. It leaves room for Harris to come in and be a great microwave scorer for the Spurs and take home this award.
COTY: ERIK SPOELSTRA
All great rosters always start with a great coach, a brilliant mind to orchestrate the team. There’s so many coaches who have an IQ for the game like no other. A coach who can hold people accountable, and also make the most with what they have. This is going to be the year that a phenomenal coach like Erik Spoelstra wins this award finally. Already deemed as the best coach in basketball by his peers, Erik Spoelstra has consistently turned nothing into something, with his house still being one award empty. Year after year I’ve always wondered when the time will come for Spo to grasp this award and cement himself among the great coaches. With Giannis Antetokounmpo landing in Miami, all the spotlight will be in Miami, and I expect the Miami Heat to finish in the top 2 for the Eastern Conference this year. If all that turns out, we can be looking at Erik Spoelstra for Coach of The Year.
Final Thoughts:
Honestly I’m extremely excited for this season. The new look Timberwolves are gonna be on my radar, as well as seeing how the fit in Portland turns out. There’s a lot of players who are looking to prove others wrong and send an emphatic message. I’ll even take a home run at this and say the 2027 NBA finals will host the San Antonio Spurs vs the Miami Heat in an old rivalry that finished even after the 2013 and 2014 NBA finals. Aside from that we have a ton of rookie potential. Also, Sophomore stars who are looking to leap and some guys who were established and wanna get back to where they left off. Everything that can possibly happen, all starts October 20th, stay tuned…….
Kevin’s Picks
The thought of absolutely bombing my award predictions has already crossed my mind after last year’s “incident.” Let’s just reset and nail it this year by going with more confident picks. Also, Joel said that if I don’t take this more seriously, he won’t pay me next month. So, without further ado, here are my NBA award predictions!
MVP:Victor Wembanyama
Wemby goes from the guy everyone and their mom says will be the face of the league to the guy actually being the face of the league. He averages something other worldly (alien joke) like 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks, and the Spurs are fighting for the second best record in basketball. ESPN spends six months explaining why a seven foot four Monk (NOT MALIK MONK) is the most skilled basketball player alive. We all pretend we didn’t see this coming.
DPOY: Ausar Thompson
Like my fellow compatriots, I have high hopes for the fellow out of Detroit, but I have even higher hopes, obviously. The reason I went with Ausar for DPOY instead of just doubling down on Wemby is because, well, that’s boring. And Ausar isn’t boring. He’s a player who, given the right circumstances, could absolutely obliterate offenses. Let’s be honest, this would be cool as shit.
ROTY: Cameron Boozer
The Booze Man (hope this sticks) is something else. He might honestly be the most NBA ready prospect in this draft class. Not that I think he’ll necessarily end up being the best pick in this draft ten years from now, but man, it’s impressive what he can do across the board. And he’s joining an already lowkey scary Grizzlies squad? Yeah, I like this one.
MIP: Kel’el Ware
This one hurts a bit for me as someone who wasn’t the biggest fan of the Giannis trade. Two of my favorite Heat players were sent out, and Kel’el is simply too promising to be kept out of a starting role. He’ll get elevated minutes in Milwaukee and certainly shine. What’s even more concerning is that I don’t think he’ll peak anytime soon. He’s destined for more in my eyes. Hopefully, for the sake of all Heat fans, I’m wrong, but this jump feels almost guaranteed.
6MOTY: Dylan Harper
Let’s be real, would this pick even be in consideration if Fox wasn’t locked in as their starting point guard? This Spurs team is absolutely loaded with talent, and Harper just happens to be coming off the bench. Easy pick here.
COTY: Eric Spoelstra
The guy just got a HUGE upgrade this offseason. What’ll be interesting to see is how many different lineups we get around Giannis and Bam. Spo has been doing this for way too long to mess this one up. This one also feels like a slam dunk, seeing as he swept the prediction board.
Final Thoughts:
As far as how I think my picks will go this year, I think I’ll at least end up in 3rd place again, which doesn’t sound so bad to me. The NBA is chaotic and unpredictable, and honestly, I’d almost prefer it if none of my picks came true. It’d be way more entertaining if someone like Cade won MVP or if we got a James Harden resurgence season out of nowhere.
At the end of the day, we all love basketball. Hopefully, we can sit back, enjoy the ride, and not let the season fly by too quickly. Best of luck to everyone, and have a wonderful season!
Joel Perez 
Joel Perez