New Orleans Pelicans: Way too early NBA awards predictions

The New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson have a good chance to take home an NBA award.

Last season, Brandon Ingram won the Most Improved Player award for the New Orleans Pelicans, and they might have a chance to make it back-to-back.

The Pelicans should be improved behind new coach Stan Van Gundy, and the addition of five new players, most importantly Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams.

Teams who make the playoffs are far more likely to have players take home individual awards, so if the Pels can get in, I expect they will be rewarded.

Here is a far-too-early breakdown of the NBA awards. Can the New Orleans Pelicans win back-to-back Most Improved Player awards? If so, the winner will not be who you think it will be.

New Orleans Pelicans: Early season choices for Coach of the Year and 6th Man of the Year

Coach of the Year

Steve Nash

There are a lot of coaches who could win this, even Stan Van Gundy if the Pelicans make a leap into the top half of the Western Conference.

In fact, if the Pelicans’ defense continues to improve and they make the playoffs, SVG will be a frontrunner for the award.

But Nash has a chance to have a special team in Brooklyn. They are absolutely loaded with at least 12 guys who could see playing time.

They have two of the best players in the league, are going to play fun, team-oriented basketball and get a lot of national press.

Steve Nash, like Steve Kerr before him, is stepping into a 50-win situation and will be rewarded when the Nets are the best team in the East in the regular season.

6th Man of the Year

Caris LeVert

Sticking with my “The Nets are going to dominate the East” theme, Caris LeVert will take home the 6th man of the year.

I don’t think his statistical improvement (if there is one) will be enough to get him Most Improved Player, but the Nets are going to have the best bench in the league and he will be their best bench player.

The Nets are going to be very good and get rewarded for it.