NBA GMs favor Cavs as 2016 champs, would start team with Davis
Who is the league's toughest player?
Which rookie was the biggest steal in the draft?
Which player has the highest basketball IQ?
These questions, and many more, were tackled in the NBA's annual general manager survey that was released by the league on Tuesday.
Here are some of the highlights from the 49-question poll, including last year's (2014-15) predictions:
| Which team will win the 2016 NBA Finals? |
|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers - 53.6% |
| San Antonio Spurs - 25% |
| Golden State Warriors - 17.9% |
| Oklahoma City Thunder - 3.6% |
| LAST YEAR: Spurs - 46.2% |
Prior to the 2014-15 regular season, GMs believed the Spurs would win a second consecutive championship for the first time in franchise history.
The Warriors received a mere 3.8 percent vote of confidence before embarking upon an historic 67-15 campaign, en route to their first title in 40 years.
This year, the majority of team execs favor the Cavaliers as the likeliest team to become owners of the Larry O'Brien trophy come June.
| Who will win the 2015-16 MVP? |
|---|
| LeBron James - 39.3% |
| Anthony Davis - 25.0% |
| T-3 Kevin Durant - 10.7% |
| T-3 James Harden - 10.7% |
| T-4 Stephen Curry - 7.1% |
| T-4 Russell Westbrook - 7.1% |
| LAST YEAR: LeBron James - 67.9% |
King James' annual dominance in this category remains as strong as ever, as the superstar has been the top pick for MVP among GMs every year since 2012-13.
"The Brow", however, is no longer a sleeper pick for MVP honors. One quarter of the league's decision-makers expect Davis to take the next step toward superstar status this season by grabbing the holy grail of individual accolades.
Davis also received 86.2 percent of votes for the player executives would choose to build their franchise around, if given the opportunity. Durant and James tied for second with 6.9 percent of the vote apiece - the latter having earned 50 percent of votes in this category last year.
After incremental month-by-month improvements, burgeoning Minnesota Timberwolves star and reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins (17.2 percent) was tabbed as the player who is most likely to have a breakout season. Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.8), Bradley Beal (10.3), and Jabari Parker (10.3) rounded out the field.
LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs' marquee offseason addition, was the runaway winner of the choice for which offseason acquisition will make the biggest impact, garnering 79.3 percent of the votes.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets landing Ty Lawson was one of three moves deemed to be the "most underrated player acquisition" of the summer; the Los Angeles Clippers signing Paul Pierce and San Antonio landing David West also earned 10.3 percent of the votes.
The Philadelphia 76ers' Jahlil Okafor (44.8 percent) was a shoo-in choice to win this year's Rookie of the Year award, while the Wolves' Karl-Anthony Towns (62.1 percent) was projected as the rookie who will be best player in five years.
Marc Gasol was cemented as the league's best international player with 62.1 percent of the votes, while last year's selection in this category, future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, checked in at 53.6 percent.
Spurs bench boss Gregg Popovich ran wild over his competition once again, as 93.1 percent of general managers called him the best head coach in the NBA.
Also with 93.1 percent of votes, the Warriors were once again selected as the team that's the most fun to watch. They took home this same category last year, albeit less convincingly at just 57.1 percent before 2014-15.
The general managers also voted on the league's best players by position:
- PG - Curry (55.2%)
- SG - Harden (79.3%)
- SF - James (89.3%)
- PF - Davis (82.1%)
- C - Marc Gasol (65.5%)