NBA Season Preview 2019-20: Predictions for each individual award
Sixth Man of the Year
- Lou Williams, LA Clippers
- J.J. Redick, New Orleans Pelicans
- Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers
- Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic
- Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets
Picking Lou Williams, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year and one of only two players to ever win the award three times, is boring on the surface. But honestly, this is his award to lose once again, especially as the captain of one of the league’s most fearsome second units.
Seeing Lou Will win his fourth 6MOY trophy would be fun, but there are plenty of candidates worth talking about. J.J. Redick, coming off a career-high 18.1 points per game last year, will be bringing his trademark 3-point touch off the bench for an exciting Pelicans team that badly needs floor-spacing.
Williams’ main running mate, Montrezl Harrell, finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season, and should be a monster off the pine once again. Terrence Ross posted 15.1 points a night off the Orlando Magic’s bench last year, shooting 38.3 percent from 3 for a playoff team.
Spencer Dinwiddie was more of a Most Improved Player candidate, but should get more consideration in this category as he backs up Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert. After all, he posted 16.8 points and 4.6 assists per game off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets last season.
Maybe Bogdan Bogdanovic takes the statistical leap we’ve been waiting for despite playing behind Buddy Hield. Perhaps Joe Ingles‘ numbers take a jump if Snyder continues to bring him off the bench behind Bogdanovic and Jeff Green. Domantas Sabonis could be a candidate yet again if the Indiana Pacers give up on trying to start him next to Myles Turner. It’s unclear if Eric Gordon will start or not.
Derrick Rose and Dennis Schroder will get shots up. Rodney Hood and Dion Waiters should supply a scoring punch off the bench for their respective teams. Fred VanVleet proved his value in the Toronto Raptors’ championship run with an insane hot streak in the playoffs, and if that transfers over to a full regular season, opposing second units are in trouble.
This category feels as wide open as ever, but because of all that uncertainty, it’s best to stick with what we know, and what we know is this award goes to guys who get buckets off the bench. There’s nobody better at that than Lou Will.