Season preview - Most improved player
Before torching the Raptors in the playoffs, Hedo Turkoglu walked away with the most improved player trophy. His ascension halfway through his career gives Andrea Bargnani fans hope that the big man will put it all together one day.
This season, there are a number of good candidates for the award:
Devin Harris, Nets:
Harris lit it up for the Nets after Rod Thorn bamboozled the Mavericks into trading him for the washed up Jason Kidd.
Harris averaged 15.4 points 1.4 steals and 6.5 assists for the Nets. The Nets will be awful this year, but Harris should put up big-time stats, getting him into the conversation for this award.
Odds of winning: 25%
Andrea Bargnani, Raptors:
Bargnani took several rather large steps back after a solid rookie campaign and strong playoff performance against the Nets in 2007. His jumper was off, he showed no desire to rebound or block shots, etc.
The Raptors blamed a lot of his struggles on adenoid troubles. Bargnani has had surgery and has been working hard in the off-season on his post play and rebounding.
If he finds his jumper and can average even 5 rebounds a night, he could find himself in the running for the award and more importantly, lift the depth-challenged Raptors to a high seed in the East.
Odds of winning: 15%
Tyrus Thomas, Bulls:
Another high pick from the class of 2006, Thomas has off the charts athleticism but has been slow to adapt to the NBA. Derrick Rose was chosen over Michael Beasley largely because he has a great shot at getting Thomas to develop.
Thomas has all-star talent and it's more likely he unleashes it in a couple of years, once Rose has adapted to the NBA, but there's still a chance he explodes this season.
Odds of winning: 15%
Charlie Villanueva, Bucks:
Villanueva has the best opportunity of his career to prove he is a solid NBA player. The Bucks dumped Yi Jianlian for Richard Jefferson, opening up tons of minutes for Villanueva. He's extremely talented offensively and an excellent rebounder, but needs to show more consistency and heart and stay away from injuries.
Odds of winning: 10%
Yi Jianlian, Nets:
Like Villanueva, Jianlian is no longer in a timeshare and should get tons of chances and minutes in the swamp.
He showed great talent early in his rookie season plus an ability to defend and a future as a shot blocker. He was inconsistent at the Olympics, ranging from terrible to excellent, but again, the Nets will be terrible and players like Jianlian and Harris will be able to put up great stats.
Odds of winning: 10%
Ramon Sessions, Bucks:
Sessions came out of nowhere to drop 20 points and 24 assists against the Bulls late in the season. Sessions was an unknown, coming off a terrible pre-season, but a great D-League campaign when the Bucks gave him a shot in March. He played limited minutes that month, averaging just 3.1 points and 2 assists, but in April he got 38 minutes a night and averaged 11.5 points and 11.3 assists in 10 games.
Don't expect those numbers this year, but if he can supplant newly acquired Luke Ridnour as the starter and put up 8 and 8, he'll get some votes.
Odds of winning: 10%
Others to watch:
Thaddeus Young, 76ers; Nick Young, Wizards; Nene, Nuggets; Marcus Williams, Warriors and Oklahoma's Kevin Durant, who won rookie of the year but appears ready to become a superstar in year 2.
