The Lottery Awards

Handing out the awards for the best players (and coaches) of the 14 lottery bound teams.

Individual awards always seemed to be the potential consolation prizes for the players who didn’t get to host the Larry O’Brien Trophy. That is unless someone like LeBron James decides to take over the NBA and snag the MVP, the O’Brien and the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. They’re merely a glimmer of sunshine on a season that didn’t produce an NBA ring — again, unless you’re James.

MVPs, Most Improved Player, etc., they all reinforce individualism within the game. Most of the time, those accolades are shipped off to players on playoff teams, but what if we only focused on the 14 teams who were bad enough to get dibs on the top portion of the NBA Draft?

Yes, ladies and gentleman, it’s time to roll out the red carpet because these are the Lottery Awards.

I wish we could have gotten Bill Simmons to host.

MVP (On a Lottery Team)

First, let’s talk about the MVP of those 14 bottom dwellers.

1.  Kevin Love

Well it looks like we found Love in a hopeless place. He averaged a double-double with 27 points and 12.5 rebounds  on a .500 team. Let’s not ignore his 38 percent shooting from three and his 46 percent shooting overall. Love was in the air — who else would hoist up shots? He also was able to create for his teammates with about four assists a game, and for the most part, he was healthy. He only missed seven games this season. Plus, to have the Minnesota Timberwolves eight games back of making the playoffs speaks to how much he carried that team. With as many injuries as Minnesota had, and a still offensively hesitant Ricky Rubio, Love was “the guy,” as he should be.

2. DeMarcus Cousins

Boogie only fell short because of the difference in team record and the fact that Love is more versatile. We still can’t ignore how great of a season the man-child had. He too had a double-double average with 22.7 points and 11.7 rebounds. He hovered around 50 percent from the field and played 32 minutes a game for 71 games, but the 3.8 turnovers also added to his second-place finish. Also, let’s not forget Rudy Gay, Isaiah Thomas and Derrick Williams served as viable options compared to what Minnesota gave Love.

3.  Anthony Davis

On a 32-48 team, Davis went against the grain and refused to “brow” down — oh yeah, I said it. His double-double average took shape with 20.8 points and 10 rebounds, making him look like the second coming of Tim Duncan… but with more hops. We can’t forget his 2.8 blocks a game. Any time an opposing player released the rock, Davis was there to erase it. Plus, he was extremely efficient with  52 percent shooting from the field. The good news is Davis will probably be in the running next year as well. The bad news? These are the LOTTERY AWARDS. Sorry, brow — I mean “bro.”

Most Improved Lottery Player

Now let’s get to the award that highlights your season mainly because you were awful the year before but made a huge leap forward this season… Most Improved Player.

1. Gerald Green

Before the season started, we all saw Phoenix sign him and thought, “just another dunker who never made the transition.” Since he was taken with the No. 18 pick by Boston in the 2005 NBA Draft, that’s really all Green was good for. It’s nine years later, and he still has more bounce than a super ball. But he reached new heights this year. Even though the Suns are still technically in the playoff hunt because they’re a game back of Memphis with two games to go, they’re currently on the outside looking in. Also, Green deserves the recognition with his 16 points a game. He shot 40 percent from three and 84.6 percent from the line. He was a big part of what happened in the desert this year.

2. Andre Drummond

Even though the Detroit Pistons covered their eyes and told Josh Smith, “Here, take my money,” Joe Dumars and company knew Drummond was going to be a building block for the future. He made a big jump forward this season, nearly doubling his points per game and shooting 62.4 percent from the field in 80 starts. His 5.4 offensive rebounds a game adds emphasis to the 13 rebounds he totaled each contest. Though it’s only his second year in the league, you can’t deny he improved despite a dysfunctional Pistons squad

3. Kendall Marshall

It’s ironic how Phoenix traded him just to watch him return to the Pacific Division. All the former UNC Tarheel needed was a little playing time on a point guard-starved team. Marshall nearly tripled his points per game and assists per game. He also dropped 38.7 percent of his threes. He hit double figure in assists 23 times, including five games in which he had at least 15 assists. Of course that’s much easier when Nick Young acts like he’s Kobe Bryant from 2006. Still, Marshall probably played his way into a multi-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Good for him.

Sixth Man

We can’t ignore the help. Someone has to be the go-to guy off the bench — even on a losing team.

1. Nick Young

How do you not go with Swaggy P? He dropped 17 points a game with 38 percent shooting from deep. I want to give him this award purely based on the fact that he’d willing take the same shots Larry Bird and Michael Jordan took in that McDonald’s HORSE commercial… but his would be in an actual game. His quick trigger and swagger were enough to give him the best-off-the-bench belt this year.

2. J.R. Smith

Yes, the human ink blot cracked this list. It’s a bit ironic because he’s usually a candidate for the actual Sixth Man of the Year Award. He dropped in 14 points a game on 39 percent from deep and 41 percent shooting from the field. His value this season was behind the arc. Smith proved that by jacking up 468 threes. Too bad for James Dolan and Phil Jackson that Smith couldn’t shoot them into the playoffs because that first round pick is probably on its way to Orlando.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Greek Freak is the only thing Milwaukee has going for itself right now. He only averaged about seven points a game on 41 percent shooting, but… okay, there’s a slight chance he only cracked this list because both of his names are amazing. Is that so terrible?

Coach of the Year

And now we get to the Coach of the Year, which is different because you’d think the coach of the year for the lottery teams would be the one who had his team at the very bottom of the league. I chose to stay traditional and give it to the best record. Therefore, it has to go to Jeff Hornacek took Phoenix above and beyond this season, and he has them one game out of the eighth seed. If the Suns can knock off Memphis, then maybe David Joerger takes Hornacek’s spot. But right now it goes to Hornacek because he improved Phoenix’s record by more than 20 games in his first year. Bravo, Jeff, bravo.

Rookie of the Year

Do we really need to discuss who the Rookie of the Year is? Michael Carter-Williams walked into the league, said “I’m the man” and put on his Beats headphones. He dropped 16 points and six assists a game for a team that lost 26 straight games. He was Philly’s only bright spot. If Victor Oladipo got more playing time, it might have been closer, but the runaway favorite is “MC Dubs.”

All Lottery Team

Now, to place the cherry on top of this lackadaisical sundae, it’s time to announce the All-Lottery Team:

Guard – Goran Dragic (20.4 ppg, 5.9 apg, 21.51 PER)

Guard – Kyrie Irving (20.9 ppg, 6.1 apg, 20.1 PER)

Forward – Carmelo Anthony (27.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 24.5 PER)

Forward – Kevin Love (26 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 27.19 PER)

Center – DeMarcus Cousins (22.7 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 26.23 PER)

Soak it up, fellas. Some of you will be right back here next season. Some of you will hope the ping pong balls land you in the playoffs next year.