Nothing is dumber than giving MIP to top 3 picks still in their rookie deal!
I think at this point I just hate the idea of MIP. I have no idea who to give it to but it’s dumb to me that it’s now just which top pick is making an expected top pick leap after 3 years.
Also valid. But if top 3 picks become significantly better in year 4 than they were previously, at what point do they get credit for that improvement? Tons of lottery picks bust, including in the top 3. It isn’t a given that you will be an All-NBA player just because you were drafted high.
And if those players aren’t eligible and stars aren’t eligible, is the award just which role player was a bit better this year than they were last year? Malik Beasley, stand up!
I’m saying that nothing about Cade or Mobley’s trajectory is atypical or even extraordinary. It is true you aren’t guaranteed to be good when picked there but they have had very standard career archs for the types of players they are and giving them an award for that just make the whole award dumb to me. I do not care about rewarding future AS and ALL league guys an award for being the guy that made that jump this year
And yes, unironically giving it to Malik Beasley makes more sense to me than giving it to Cade.
Don Draper that’s what the money’s for dot gif
They’re gonna get all kinds of accolades for the rest of their careers. The vets who get way better out of nowhere and will now have decent careers but make no All Star games and all of that stuff seems way better to reward w that award.
Beasley it is then! And I’m fine with that too. My original point was the MIP award feels made up and there is no rhyme or reason to the criteria that makes someone the MIP.
And JJJ is an even worse example than Cade/Mobley because he is a top pick that has already had major accolades!
at least he’s not in his rookie deal anymore 
Cool. So if Cade doesn’t win it this year, he can get it next year then when he is off of his rookie contract
Personally I’d ban any #1 pick from ever winning the award
Personally Personally I’d have ended the award after Ja won it
Which pick would be your cutoff?
I feel like Herro is closer to Jordan Poole than Donovan Mitchell.
True… true.
maybe @kturnup disagrees but i think it’s tough to make hard and fast rules for. like, if Lonzo comes back next year and is anything like his old self, i’d be pretty happy to give it to him.
If they would just ask me before, I will make a decision based on vibes. Some players just should not get MIP!
But then is that “improvement” or just finally being fully healthy again?
Ha. Just such a made up award with made up criteria based on whatever vibes the voter feels
They should not! That’s my point!
It’s def vibes and I’m cool with that. I like recognizing guys that grinded to make themselves useful NBA players.
Danny made a strenuous case for Norm Powell, fwiw!
Shocking
More seriously, yeah, I think Powell is a cool story and one the NBA should be happy to reward. There have been past hints that Powell could be this but putting it all together at age 31 when the team needed him most after George left is legit af.
Fwiw - here is the text of the criteria
So there is obviously nothing there that prevents a #1 pick who makes entirely predictable progress towards their end point
I do think that it’s sort of why Nate and Danny don’t let 2nd year guys win.
