Dallas Mavericks: End of season awards predictions roundtable

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ORLANDO, FL – APRIL 19: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors talks to the media after the game against the Orlando Magic during Game Three of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2019 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Most Improved Player

Pascal Siakam

“Siakam has slowly grown from an intriguing prospect to a borderline All-Star. He’s quickly gaining on Kyle Lowry as the Raptors 2nd best player. I mean no disrespect to Lowry only admiration for what Siakam has become. He’s a complete player that brings so much to the table. He was a big part of why the Raptors might make it all the way to the Finals.” –Sean Bush

“He stepped up in games that Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard were out. He even took Jonas Valunciunas’s starting spot. Pascal Siakam! He must’ve learned something this season, because you never that much progression from 7 points per game to almost 17 points. He’s also been an effective shooter from the three, at 36 percent. He seems to be the player that made Toronto more than Kawhi’s team.” –Arsal Hussain

“Pascal Siakam carried the Raptors this year. No, he wasn’t their best player. That was Kawhi Leonard. Siakam logged 79 games this season, as opposed to Leonard’s 60 and Kyle Lowry’s 65. Siakam was willing to be whatever the Raptors needed, and he did whatever was needed well. He increased his scoring average from 7.3 to 16.9 points per game while raising his field goal percentage from .508 to .549. De’Aaron Fox should get some buzz, but this is all Siakam.” –Ben Zajdel

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 21: D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against De’Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings on January 21, 2019 at Barclays Center in New York, NY. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

“Pascal Siakam looked like he was going to be full-time energy guy for his entire career, until this season. The Cameroonian forward has had himself an incredible all-around year and has proven to be more than just a good on-ball defender.

Siakam has developed into an excellent all-around scorer, and has cemented himself as one of the key contributors to a Raptors team looking to compete for a championship. Siakam has developed into a more athletic version of Shane Battier, which has made Kawhi Leonard’s life much easier.” –Evan Siegel

D’Angelo Russell

“Narratives are a dangerous crutch when it comes to forming opinions. It’s easy to go with what’s hot around the water cooler, instead of doing the proper homework on the subject at hand. With that said, D’Angelo Russell had a seemingly crippling label mostly molded by his former boss, Magic Johnson.

“He isn’t mature”, is one of the most ironic accusations to say about a 21-year-old player, especially when you see how Magic left his respected position.

Russell, to his credit, shattered the deceitful perception with an All-Star selection and by leading the Brooklyn Nets to its first playoff berth since 2015.” –Lance Roberson

De’Aaron Fox

“This is probably my favorite award after this season because there are so many players who deserve recognition. Pascal Siakam’s presence on the 2nd best team in the league makes him a big vote getter, but I am going to go with De’Aaron Fox. Fox went from being a pretty average rookie after a lot of hype, to leading a Sacramento Kings team that looks really good going forward. He gets my vote.” –Kohl Rast