Be sure to check out Hoop Heads North’s “Best of the Worst” Awards, as voted by the unhappiest of NBA bloggers, i.e., those who blog about teams in the draft lottery.

Here’s the ballot I submitted:

Most Valuable Player – The best player from the worst of the league, must be from a non-playoff team
1. Danny Granger
2. Kevin Durant
3. Troy Murphy (Whaaa?)

During the offseason, one of the first things I read is NBA.com’s FSPI list, and that list tells me that the top three best-of-the-worst are the above. Granger and KD are understandable, but Murphy?
 
Let’s look at Murphy’s numbers: 11.8 rebounds/game (#2 in the NBA); 9.8 defensive rebounds/game (#1); hits 45% 3-pointers (#3); efficiency ranking of 22.15 (#15). Ah. Murphy, it’s you.
 
Besides, if I were to skip Murph, the next non-playoff MVP would be … *shudder* … Vince Carter.
 
Rookie of the Year – The best rookie of the worst teams of the L,  self explanatory, must be from a non-playoff team
1. O.J. Mayo
2. Brook Lopez
3. Eric Gordon

Same deal as my MVP list — hat-tip to FSPI. Personally, I’d give honorable mention to Kevin Love, who grabbed much needed boards for my smallball fantasy team.

Least Valuable Player -  A player on a non-playoff team that you call a “bum” or a “disappointment” who doesn’t deserve the salary he’s making, maybe you call him a “sorry excuse of $5-10 million (or whatever salary he’s making)”
1. Eddy Curry
2. [blank]
3. [blank]

Sorry, I’m not much for mudslinging. Curry is the only non-playoff bum that comes to mind (first LVP that comes to mind is now-Celtic Stephon Marbury).
 
Why nominate Curry as LVP? Well, he chose to go out of shape, sit on the sidelines, and be a negativity magnet for Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks. He has the talent that warranted the $11+ million/year salary(!), but he just didn’t wanna use it.
 
But who knows? Curry might be valuable again after his new offseason training regimen.
 
Most Valuable Excuse – Your top three excuses either the GM, the players, the coach or even you, the blogger uses for why your team didn’t make the playoffs
1. “Our starting point guard was injured.”
2. “Our starting small forward broke his leg … two years ago.”
3. “Our franchise player was distracted by his ex-fiancee who was suing him for child support.”

What would you have put on the ballot? Cast yours at HHN.

(Related reading: Upside and Motor’s B.O.W. 2008)