Dunking With Wolves
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2017-18 NBA Award Predictions: Donovan Mitchell wins Rookie of the Year

By Trey Flynn

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speaks with the media after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 2: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz speaks with the media after the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 30: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 30, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 30: Lou Williams #23 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 30, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Can Lou Williams win his second Sixth Man of the Year award? Yes, we believe he can.

This race is arguably tighter than the actual MVP race, which is the not at all how these awards should be set up, but here we are. Lou Williams was close to leading the Los Angeles Clippers to a playoff berth, even after Blake Griffin was traded away for a bag of peanuts – only missing the playoffs by five games.

Williams made quite an argument for him to get his first All-Star nomination this year, but he unfortunately couldn’t get the votes – most likely due to his teams poor performance. Williams averaged 22.6 points per game, while averaging 5.3 assists, every combo guard coming into the NBA should look at Lou Williams when trying to figure out their game.

Lou Will came off the bench as a spark plug, immediately forcing the coaching staff to play him for the majority of the game. Only starting 19 games this season, Williams still pulled off playing over 32 minutes a game, leading a team of players who a normal NBA fan probably couldn’t name after DeAndre Jordan.

You can definitely argue for Eric Gordon to win his second straight Sixth Man of the Year award, but is it warranted? Gordon is playing with the (probable) Most Valuable Player, James Harden, as well as one of the best 3-point shooting systems in the history of the NBA.

As for Fred VanVleet, he lead the Toronto Raptors to the best bench they’ve ever seen – helping them to the Raptors best record they’ve ever seen. How do you choose between one of the greatest spark plugs in NBA history (Lou Williams), one of the greatest sixth men in NBA history (Eric Gordon), and the most efficient bench player in the NBA this year – it’s pretty difficult.

Surprisingly, the only one of these players who didn’t get into the playoffs deserves this award the most, Lou Williams.

Timberwolves Sixth Man of the Year:

Even though Jamal Crawford is leaving the Timberwolves after we saw his opt-out last week, he still deserves our Sixth Man of the Year nomination.

After playing 80 games this season, Crawford proved again why he is one of the best sixth men in the history of the NBA, if not the best one ever. It would be almost disrespectful or criminal to not nominate Crawford here.

Even though his stats were somewhat lacking when we needed them the most, it’s difficult to rely on a late 30’s sparkplug, and I don’t even care if his name was Michael Jordan. We also must shout out Derrick Rose, because if it wasn’t for his late playoff run, I’m not sure if the Timberwolves would’ve even came close to winning a game against Houston.