2. DPOY – Robert Covington
The Portland Trail Blazers have won every major award at least once besides Defensive Player of the Year.
It’s tempting to go with Jusuf Nurkic here, as his impact on that end is undeniable and centers can affect a defense more than any other position. Realistically though, Nurk will never be the best rim protector in the league, as there’s too many great defensive bigs roaming the paint nowadays.
Instead, Robert Covington has a better chance of stealing the trophy by picking pockets and intercepting passing lanes with his elite help defense. RoCo is absolutely one of the most impactful defenders in the league, but since his man-to-man clamping hasn’t shined in awhile, he’s become a little underrated as a stopper.
If the rest of the Blazers can hone in on defense like Billups wishes and allow Covington to exert more energy on his own assignment, he could rejoin the ranks of the top-tier perimeter defenders. Then, he can pick his spots more as a free safety and disrupt offenses when they’re vulnerable.
If all goes well — including a case of big man voter fatigue — it wouldn’t be a complete shocker to see RoCo named DPOY.
3. 6MOTY – Larry Nance Jr.
Larry Nance Jr. is set to receive a much bigger role with the Portland Trail Blazers as the team desperately needs his versatility and defensive prowess. With a clear lack of a true small forward on the team, Nance should expect to fill in as the “sixth starter” for the Blazers, the first man off the bench who can play nearly as many minutes as some of the starters.
Dennis Schroder played this role in Oklahoma City when he nearly won the Sixth Man of the Year award while featuring in the Thunder’s three-headed monster lineup comprised of three guards: him, Chris Paul, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Nance has been steadily improving his ball skills and his perimeter shooting, and will get ample opportunity to show off his new bag in Portland next season.
Anfernee Simons could be gunning for this spot as well if he can improve as a ballhandler and slasher, but the team’s needs point to Nance as the most likely candidate on the team.