New Orleans Pelicans: NBA season awards odds and predictions
New Orleans Pelicans: Odds for NBA season awards
Most Improved Player
Zion Williamson: +1800
Jose Alvarado: +11000
Herb Jones: +13000
Trey Murphy III: +13000
First off, putting Zion Williamson on this list is just a clear way to draw bets with a name, as he doesn’t really fit the bill. Zion averaged 27 points and seven rebounds in his last full season, so for him to be the Most Improved he’d basically have to lead the league in scoring and grab 10 boards a game. Not impossible, but he falls into the “Comeback Player of the Year” category far more than Most Improved, as he was already very good, just hurt.
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The guy I love for this award is Trey Murphy III, who is going to get increased opportunity, a ton of open shots, and looked fantastic in the preseason. I could easily see him being the first man off the bench and making a huge leap in statistics that will get noticed if the Pelicans are good.
He could potentially triple his scoring output, double his rebounds and be even more efficient from 3-point range this season. I also think he’s going to have some huge games where he hits eight or nine 3-point shots and gets on all of the highlight reels.
TMII as Most Improved Player is a great value bet at +13000 as a $10 bet wins you $1,300, which is not a bad payoff. I love this bet, as if the Pels improve dramatically, someone is going to get rewarded.
6th Man of the Year
Trey Murphy III: +5500
Jose Alvarado: +25000
TMIII is once again the Pelicans’ frontrunner for this award, though I feel the field is a lot more crowded for this one. It is possible that TMIII could make a leap into the Tyler Herro (last year’s 6th Man winner) level as a bench player, but that would be a big leap, as Herro averaged over 20 points per game last season, grabbed five rebounds and added four assists.
It’s hard to see TMIII getting those kinds of numbers next season, but I think him jumping into the 15-18 ppg. territory is very possible, which is why I like him for MIP more than 6th Man this season.
Next. Season predictions for the Pelicans' guards. dark