NBA.com 2015 GM Survey: Cavs predicted to win title, Okafor projected as Rookie of Year

The results of the annual NBA.com general managers survey have been announced, with 53.6% of the league's GM's predicting that the Cleveland Cavaliers will capture their first ever NBA title in 2015-2016.

Cleveland’s four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James received 39.3% of the MVP votes, followed by New Orleans Pelicans center/forward Anthony Davis (25%), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (10.7%), Houston Rockets guard James Harden (10.7%), and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (7.1%) and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (7.1%).

Davis received an overwhelming 86.2% of the votes from general managers for the player they would want to start a franchise with today.

Additionally, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard was tabbed the league’s top defender (27.6%), while San Antonio’s three-time NBA Coach of the Year Gregg Popovich received 93.1% of the votes for the league’s best coach.

In a vote that should make Lakers fans cringe, Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor received 44.8% for NBA Rookie of the Year.  The Lakers passed on Okafor to select D'Angelo Russell, who thus far has not performed nearly as well. Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns (62.1%), was projected to be the 2015 NBA Draft’s best player five years from now.

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (62.1%) was named the league’s top international player, only the second time (San Antonio guard Tony Parker was the first in 2013-14) that someone other than Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has held that distinction.

Top honors from NBA.com’s 14th GM survey also include the Thunder (25%) as the top vote getter for most improved team, Alvin Gentry (32.1%) topping Billy Donovan (28.6%) as the new or relocated coach who will make the biggest impact this season, Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (20.7%) as the league’s best role player, and Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins (17.2%) as a breakout player for 2015-16.

Additional noteworthy 2015-16 NBA.com GM Survey results include:

• Stephen Curry, Golden State – Best Point Guard (55.2%)
• LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio – Most Impactful Free Agent Acquisition (79.3%)
• Marc Gasol, Memphis – Best Interior Defender (27.6%)
• Ron Adams, Golden State – Best Assistant Coach (24.1%)
• Justise Winslow, Miami – Biggest Draft Steal (31.0%)

The general managers were not allowed to vote for their own team or personnel.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services