Empire of the Suns’ 2017-18 NBA season predictions

It’s been a crazy offseason that somehow drew more attention than the playoffs.

That’s because the playoffs and the NBA Finals went as everyone expected. And in the NBA, that set off a domino effect as teams got innovative in stocking their rosters to compete with the reigning champion Golden State Warriors.

Houston’s Daryl Morey put together what seemed like a dozen smaller contracts to land Chris Paul. Oklahoma City dealt for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, teaming them with 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook. The Eastern Conference powers in Cleveland and Boston swapped point guards, just because.

The Phoenix Suns, meanwhile, mostly stood pat. But beyond Phoenix, our Empire of the Suns writers Kevin Zimmerman and Kellan Olson see a lot of intrigue. To preview the NBA season tipping off, they’re making their picks for champions, MVP and more.

One bold prediction

Kevin Zimmerman: The Pelicans won’t finish above .500 despite having two of the 10 best players in the league. After Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, their third-best player is usually-injured Jrue Holiday. After him, it’s Rajon Rondo and a bunch of guys who would be the eighth-best player on a good team.

Kellan Olson: The Utah Jazz will finish in the top-five of the West. Out of all of the teams outside of Golden State, Houston and Oklahoma City, I am the least worried about Utah’s question marks compared to others. Alec Burks and Rodney Hood are ready to become more legitimate scoring options with Gordon Hayward in Boston, and the additions of Ricky Rubio and Ekpe Udoh will make their defense even better than last year.

Which “super” team is most worth watching?

KZ: Houston will be functioning just fine with Chris Paul and James Harden (and P.J. Tucker) in tow. The Thunder will have to work out their kinks. But give me Brad Stevens coaching his most talented Boston squad yet after adding Kyrie Irving and Hayward. Their hybrid forward lineup of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris will be fun.

KO: From a pure fascination standpoint, it has to be the Thunder to see how George and Anthony work together, let alone mixing in Westbrook. The answer here, though, is always the Warriors.

MVP

KZ: LeBron James, because he deserves to win more years than he has. His team should have no business winning the Eastern Conference but just might have a shot.

KO: Kevin Durant. He showed how well-rounded of a superstar he is in the NBA Finals and I think that will extend into the regular season.

ROY

KZ: After all that draft hype and even including Ben Simmons in this rookie class, it’s going to be Clippers point guard Milos Teodosic, isn’t it? *Crosses fingers that Kellan picks Jordan Bell*

KO: Much like how people are slowly realizing how good Joel Embiid is, there will be a similar process for Simmons. (Bell wins this award in my heart). 

A fun team that will lose many games

KZ: The New York Knicks will be very sad in a very league-pass worthy way. Kristaps Porzingis will be relying on the very raw rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina, and the defense will be atrocious if Enes Kanter and Doug McDermott play a lot. But any team that went through hell last year and thinks it will be better off replacing Carmelo Anthony with Michael Beasley has my attention. Also, no way Kellan does not pick the 76ers.

KO: Ha! I can’t pick the Sixers because they are making the playoffs and you can’t do that and lose many games! For Hinkie!!! Anyway, I’m picking the Kings. Wait, did I just say that? While I was lower than most on De’Aaron Fox, he’s awesome to watch and Bogdan Bogdanovic is just as fun. There’s also something low-key intriguing going on with their bigs. Is Papa Johns (Georgios Papagiannis) actually going to be good?

A not fun team that will lose many games

KZ: Chicago and Atlanta will be very bad because they don’t have talent. But I’m very afraid to see what happens in Orlando, where the Magic have collected a lot of multi-tool talents (Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac) who individually are promising. But the Magic don’t have a single one who projects as a No. 1 No. 2 offensive option for a playoff contender. Maaaybe Evan Fournier. It’s basically like if the Suns had their current roster minus Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe.

KO: Orlando is my pick too, so I’ll say the Pacers, even though Myles Turner is going to be fantastic and can take over games on both ends. Is Bojan Bogdanovic their second-best player?

MIP

KZ: It would contradict myself if I went Aaron Gordon here. With Hayward off to Boston, the shots and opportunity to play more open up for 24-year-old Rodney Hood, who could jump from 12.7 points per game last season to a 20-point per game scorer.

KO: D’Angelo Russell is really good at basketball despite what you were led to believe when he had to play under Byron Scott and share the ball with Jordan Clarkson, Nick Young and Lou Williams.

Conference Champions

KZ: Celtics and Warriors. This isn’t very hard, people.

KO: Hey, I’m always the guy that picks against LeBron! Anyway, I’m going Boston too. No Kyrie, Isaiah Thomas’ injury and Dwyane Wade making the defense even worse scares me too much.

NBA Champion

KZ: It’ll be the Warriors behind Finals MVP Nick Young.

KO: Kevin was going good there until he said Nick Young instead of JaVale McGee. It’s the Warriors, by the way.