DBB Boredcast 2.0: The NBA Awards Part 2

Let’s start out with one big caveat (that word is way overused but fits here): these votes were all cast before the big Boston Celtics/Cleveland Cavaliers trade was made, but seeing as how that could be rescinded any day I guess these results might actually be still completely valid.

In Part 2 of 3, we dig into our predictions the best and worst of new additions, offseasons, and chances of teams moving up or down.

As with Part 1, we gave our writers each three votes, #1 being worth 5 points, #2 worth 3 points, and #3 worth 1. The number of #1 votes is in parentheses.

(Note: Not every voter cast votes three all three in each category)

Best New Addition

1 - Paul George: (4) 23
2 - Jimmy Butler: (2) 13
3 - (tie) Paul Millsap (1) 5, Chris Paul: 5

Also receiving votes: JJ Redick: 4, Gordon Hayward: 1, Dwight Howard: 1

Paul George seems far and away the addition most likely to pay dividends. He’ll be playing on a team with a massive drop off from Russell Westbrook to his other teammates in terms of offensive capability. The big question that could throw a Durant-sized wrench in the works is whether or not he’ll be able to effectively coexist with Westbrook.

Worst New Addition

1 - Derrick Rose: (2) 10
2 - Tim Hardaway, Jr: (1) 8
3 - (tie) Danilo Galinari: (1) 6, Kelly Olynyk: (1) 6

Also receiving votes: Timofey Mozgov: (1) 5, Miles Plumlee: (1) 5, Jeff Green: 3, Jose Calderon: 3, Jonathan Simmons: 3, Victor Oladipo: 1, Jamal Crawford: 1

Not as clear a consensus but Derrick Rose takes the #1 spot here. He could really muck things up for the Cavs with his ball dominant style and lack of a three point shot (and a massive chip on his shoulder for not getting the huge multi-year contract he fancied he was worth). And remember, he was voted this before the Isaiah Thomas for Kyrie Irving trade. Imagine if that goes through and Thomas misses a big chunk or all of the season and he’s the starting point guard....aye carumba.

Best Team Offseason

1 - Minnesota Timberwolves: (3) 15
2 - Brooklyn Nets: (2) 10
3 - (tie) Golden State Warriors: (1) 9, Oklahoma City Thunder: (1) 9

Also receiving votes: Houston Rockets: (1) 6, Los Angeles Lakers: 3, Charlotte Bobcats: 3

Tom Thibodeau made some big, big moves this offseason. I don’t know if he thought his young guys needed more veteran presence or just is impatient as all hell but after adding Jimmy Butler, he doubled (quadrupled?) down by also adding Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson to his young core. They should make a giant leap this season if it all works, but that’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of young egos being asked to share the load with vets.

Worst Team Offseason

1 - Indiana Pacers: (3) 18
2 - Chicago Bulls: (1) 12
3 - (tie) Cleveland Cavaliers: (1) 8, Los Angeles Clippers: (1) 8

Also receiving votes: Atlanta Hawks: (1) 6, Miami Heat: 3, New York Knicks: 2

The Pacers should be bad this year, really bad. Not only did they lose their superstar player in Paul George, they got fleeced in the process in only returning Victor Oladipo and Domanatas Sabonis for him. Miles Turner is promising but not that promising. Maybe Lance Stephenson can...

Biggest Team Turnaround (East)

1 - Detroit Pistons: (3) 16
2 - Charlotte Hornets: (2) 14
3 - Philadelphia 76ers: (1) 11

Also receiving votes: Brooklyn Nets: (1) 6, Boston Celtics: 3, Washington Wizards: 3

Some may cry homerism on this vote (which, hey) but really their aren’t many candidates in the East this year. The Pistons and Hornets are the two teams that most disappointed last year and would expect a return to the mean this year. Philadelphia, well, color me not sold and my glasses not that rose-tinted. I’m partial to only one flavor of kool aid, thank you very much.

Biggest Team Turnaround (West)

1 - Minnesota Timberwolves: (4) 26
2 - Los Angeles Lakers: (2) 14
3 - Oklahoma City Thunder: (1) 9

Also receiving votes: Denver Nuggets: 6

After winning our Best Team Offseason Minnesota continues with this award. They really should win this, hands down. If they don’t and don’t find themselves at least in the playoffs Thibs is going to have a lot of difficult decisions to make. But at least it’s easy getting into the playoffs in the West right?

Biggest Team Dropoff (East)

1 - Atlanta Hawks: (6) 33
2 - Chicago Bulls: (1) 13
3 - Indiana Pacers: 9

Congrats Hawks, you got the highest number of votes of any of these categories! Only Kent Bazemore, Dennis Schröder, and Mike Muscala are left from their 60 win team of 2014-15, and they haven’t replaced the guys they lost with anything near their worth. Their most interesting offseason move besides drafting John Collins was using the 60th pick to draft a guy who sounds like a college frat: Alpha Kaba.

Biggest Team Dropoff (West)

1 - Utah Jazz: (2) 22
2 - Los Angeles Clippers: (4) 19
3 - Dallas Mavericks: (1) 5

Also receiving votes: Portland Trailblazers: 2, Memphis Grizzlies: 2

Poor Utah. They did pretty much everything right: building slowly through the draft and then last year sneakily signing a couple of crafty veterans and finally made the playoffs. Then Gordon Hayward gave them a haymaker, bolting for the Celtics. The Jazz did make a few good moves in picking up Ricky Rubio to replace George Hill and drafted a guy many Pistons fans hoped would be our pick in shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, but a few players will have to majorly step up (Dante Exum? Derrick Favors?) for them not to earn this award.

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What do you all think? What did we get right? Wrong?

Please copy/paste and give us your predictions in the comments below, and look out for Part 3 of 3 followed by Boredcast 2.0: The Pistons Awards.

Best New Addition

Worst New Addition

Best Team Offseason

Worst Team Offseason

Biggest Team Turnaround (East)

Biggest Team Turnaround (West)

Biggest Team Dropoff (East)

Biggest Team Dropoff (West)