Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson didn’t play enough games last season to qualify for awards, but next season we could see both of them make a run at Most Improved Player.
Thompson missed the beginning of last season as he fully recovered from blood clots, which cost him a chance at the All-Defensive team, as he only played 59 games and you have to play at least 65 to be eligible for postseason awards.
Jaden Ivey had already put himself in the conversation for Most Improved Player, as his shooting stats had spiked and he was playing well before a freak injury cost him his season after only 30 games.
Both players are in a position for big improvement, as Ivey should have a bigger role and Thompson will be off his first full offseason as an NBA pro, something he didn’t have last summer.
FanDuel currently has both players on the list for Most Improved Player, with Jaden Ivey tied for 4th with +2000 odds and Ausar Thompson right behind him with odds of +2500. Andrew Nembhard, Deni Avdija and Bennedict Mathurin make up the top three, choices which reflect the thought process behind these way-too-early odds.
One of Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson could win NBA Most Improved Player
There is logic behind these early odds, though a world of things could change between now and when the award is finally given out.
Both Nembhard and Mathurin figure to have much larger roles with Tyrese Haliburton out with an injury and Myles Turner jumping ship to Milwaukee. Nembhard will likely move into more of a primary creator role and Mathurin will likely move into the starting lineup and get more than the 11 shots per game he got last season, so both players could see a big jump in stats.
Same with Avdija, who will be a full-time starter for Portland next season after he had a strong finish last year and put up monster numbers.
As for the two Pistons players, either of them could have a shot at this award, but it will depend on which one steps up as the second star behind Cade Cunningham.
Ivey is the logical choice, as he’ll start alongside Cade as the second scoring option and get a chance to take over in spells when Cade is on the bench.
Thompson may see an increase in his time on the ball as well but would likely have to defend his way in by making first team All-Defense and at least being in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year, a lofty goal he has set for himself.
If either of these players make a big leap and the Pistons improve in the standings, they will be given a lot of credit for it, especially if they do it in the flashy style both players are capable of. I wouldn’t be shocked to see both of them finish in the top 7-8 of the voting next season and for the guy who steps up most to win the award.