Ranking all 30 NBA teams' Most Improved Player Award candidate

Save for remaining barn burners between teams like the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, the 2018-19 campaign is pretty much in the books.

So let's dive into one of this year's hottest award-season debates: Who should win the Most Improved Player Award?

The only criteria to keep in mind is that improvement can take many forms. The MIP could be a second-year player enjoying a breakout year, or it could be an MVP candidate taking his game to previously unseen heights.

Without further ado, here's a list of each team's most improved player, ranked by their degree of improvement:

1. Pascal Siakam, Raptors

2017-18: 20.7 MP, 7.3 PTS, 4.5 REB, 22.0 3P%
2018-19: 32.0 MP, 17.0 PTS, 6.9 REB, 36.8 3P%

Siakam was often the Raptors' No. 2 option, with both Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry missing time. He's literally improved across the board - shooting, driving, finishing, passing, running the floor - while showing an ability to guard almost any position. He's dramatically elevated the Raptors' odds of making The Finals and could be an All-Star as early as next season. Not bad for a former No. 27 pick.

2. D'Angelo Russell, Nets

2017-18: 25.7 MP, 15.5 PTS, 5.2 AST, -6.9 NETRTG
2018-19: 30.4 MP, 21.2 PTS, 7.0 AST, 0.0 NETRTG

The Nets' first All-Star since 2014 had a fantastic campaign, increasing his offensive burden while honing his efficiency. A neutral net rating might not look like much, but it's a testament to Russell's all-around improvement this year after the Nets were nearly seven points worse with him on the floor last season.

3. Nikola Vucevic, Magic

2017-18: 29.5 MP, 16.5 PTS, 9.2 REB, 31.4 3P%
2018-19: 31.4 MP, 20.8 PTS, 12.0 REB, 36.4 3P%

The Magic drafted approximately 47 big men over the last five years, only to have their longest-tenured player emerge as top dog. It'll be very interesting to see how Orlando addresses Vucevic's impending free agency.

4. Myles Turner, Pacers

2017-18: 28.2 MP, 12.7 PTS, 1.8 BLK, 2.9 PF
2018-19: 28.6 MP, 13.3 PTS, 2.7 BLK, 2.6 PF

Turner has somehow managed to increase his blocks per game to a league-leading 2.7 while slightly reining in his fouls. He's making the leap many expected to see a year or two ago.

5. Paul George, Thunder

2017-18: 36.6 MP, 21.9 PTS, 5.7 REB, 3.3 AST
2018-19: 36.8 MP, 29.1 PTS, 8.1 REB, 4.1 AST

It's safe to say George has erased any injury concerns surrounding him. A former MIP winner in 2012-13, he's superseded Russell Westbrook as OKC's MVP. This is the case of an A-grade player making the jump to A-plus.

6. Montrezl Harrell, Clippers

2017-18: 17.0 MP, 11.0 PTS, 4.0 REB, 0.7 BLK
2018-19: 26.4 MP, 16.5 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.3 BLK

In a year where the Clippers had 20 players log at least 100 minutes thanks in part to several mid-season trades, Harrell's efficient scoring off the bench helped stabilize the team's playoff trajectory. In a just world, he'd be on the shortlist for Sixth Man of the Year, an honor rarely bestowed on big men.

7. James Harden, Rockets

2017-18: 35.4 MP, 30.4 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.8 STL
2018-19: 36.8 MP, 36.1 PTS, 6.6 REB, 2.0 STL

Harden kept the Rockets alive during numerous injuries by hunting scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates with a ruthlessness not seen since mid-aughts Kobe Bryant. This is what it looks like when an All-NBA player cements himself as a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

8. Buddy Hield, Kings

2017-18: 25.3 MP, 13.5 PTS, 11.3 TOV%, -4.3 NETRTG
2018-19: 32.1 MP, 20.8 PTS, 9.2 TOV%, -0.7 NETRTG

The Kings tailed off after an impressive first half, but it's clear that the Hield-De'Aaron Fox-Marvin Bagley nucleus isn't far off from a playoff appearance.

9. Malcolm Brogdon, Bucks

2017-18: 29.9 MP, 38.5 3P%, 2.7 PF, -2.4 NETRTG
2018-19: 28.6 MP, 42.6 3P%, 1.6 PF, 10.5 NETRTG

Brogdon will become just the eighth member of the 50/40/90 club at season's end, joining Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Larry Bird, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Reggie Miller, and Mark Price. (Nowitzki achieved the feat in 2006-07, before the minimum for made 3-pointers was raised from 55 to 82 in 2013.)

10. Justise Winslow, Heat

2017-18: 24.7 MP, 7.8 PTS, 13.0 AST%, 102.6 OFFRTG
2018-19: 29.8 MP, 12.6 PTS, 22.0 AST%, 107.5 OFFRTG

Winslow's calling card has been defense, but it was his playmaking ability that took a step forward in Year 4. Drafted as a forward, Erik Spoelstra successfully turned Winslow loose at point guard during stretches this season.

11. Bradley Beal, Wizards

2017-18: 36.3 MP, 22.6 PTS, 4.4 REB, 4.5 AST
2018-19: 37.2 MP, 25.7 PTS, 5.0 REB, 5.5 AST

The best version of the Wizards doesn't feature Beal playing a league-high in minutes while John Wall is sidelined. Still, when the straits were dire, Beal elevated his play. He's established himself as Washington's most important player.

12. Kemba Walker, Hornets

2017-18: 34.2 MP, 22.1 PTS, 3.1 REB, 5.6 AST
2018-19: 34.9 MP, 25.5 PTS, 4.5 REB, 5.9 AST

Cardiac Kemba became Contract Year Kemba this year. The Hornets have a big decision to make this summer with Walker hitting free agency.

13. Blake Griffin, Pistons

2017-18: 34 MP, 21.4 PTS, 49.2 eFG%, 7.4 REB
2018-19: 35.2 MP, 24.8 PTS, 53.2 eFG%, 7.6 REB

Griffin's transition from high-flying dunker to point forward has been a decade in the making that reached new heights in 2018-19. This season was also the healthiest he's been in years.

14. John Collins, Hawks

2017-18: 24.1 MP, 10.5 PTS, 7.3 REB, -6.2 NETRTG
2018-19: 29.9 MP, 19.5 PTS, 9.5 REB, -1.6 NETRTG

Collins has benefited from first-time head coach Lloyd Pierce giving him more of everything - more pick-and-rolls as the roll man, more cuts, more post-ups. Collins has rewarded Pierce with improved points per possession numbers in all three play types.

15. Marcus Smart, Celtics

2017-18: 29.9 MP, 44.0 eFG%, 1.3 STL, 2.4 TOV
2018-19: 27.5 MP, 53.3 eFG%, 1.8 STL, 1.5 TOV

With the Celtics' injury situation stabilized, Smart was able to play more within himself. The tenacious guard's shot selection improved while his decision-making on defense was slightly more restrained, though no less potent.

16. Jonas Valanciunas, Grizzlies

2017-18: 22.4 MP, 12.7 PTS, 8.6 REB, 1.1 AST
2018-19: 22.3 MP, 15.6 PTS, 8.6 REB, 1.4 AST

Valanciunas' year-over-year stats don't tell the whole story. After being traded from the Raptors to the Grizzlies in February, he averaged 19.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game over his final 19 contests.

17. Rudy Gobert, Jazz

2017-18: 32.4 MP, 13.5 PTS, 62.2 eFG%, 10.7 REB
2018-19: 31.8 MP, 15.8 PTS, 67.0 eFG%, 12.9 REB

A perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Gobert has shown increased prowess on the offensive end this season, posting career highs in points, assists, and free-throw percentage.

18. Kelly Oubre Jr., Suns

2017-18: 27.5 MP, 11.8 PTS, 0.6 BLK, 2.9 PF
2018-19: 28.0 MP, 15.2 PTS, 0.9 BLK, 2.6 PF

Oubre played his best basketball to date after being traded from the Wizards. Increasing his blocks per game while reeling in his fouls is a subtle sign of on-court maturation.

19. Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers

2017-18: 26.4 MP, 14.3 PTS, 9.0 REB, 1.8 AST
2018-19: 27.4 MP, 15.6 PTS, 10.4 REB, 3.2 AST

Before Nurkic's season-ending injury, the big man showed improvements in scoring efficiency and rebounding while beginning to display a deft touch as a passer - perfect for playing alongside the Trail Blazers' star backcourt. Here's to a speedy recovery.

20. Julius Randle, Pelicans

2017-18: 26.7 MP, 16.1 PTS, 22.2 3P%, 16.3 TOV%
2018-19: 30.6 MP, 21.4 PTS, 34.4 3P%, 13.8 TOV%

Randle has made the most of Anthony Davis' sporadic absences. No matter what happens with Randle's frontcourt mate, the Pelicans will have a solid player to build around.

21. Zach LaVine, Bulls

2017-18: 27.3 MP, 16.7 PTS, 3.9 REB, 3.0 AST
2018-19: 34.5 MP, 23.7 PTS, 4.7 REB, 4.5 AST

A year removed from his ACL tear, LaVine appears to be back on his pre-injury trajectory. Even with a substantial increase in playing time, his per 36 scoring and assists numbers are up while his fouls are down.

22. Joel Embiid, 76ers

2017-18: 30.3 MP, 22.9 PTS, 11.0 REB, 3.2 AST
2018-19: 33.7 MP, 27.5 PTS, 13.6 REB, 3.7 AST

Embiid's scoring efficiency hasn't improved substantially, though he's getting to the line more frequently. Also, his turnover rate has dropped slightly and his fouls have stayed flat despite playing roughly three-and-a-half more minutes per game.

23. Derrick Rose, Timberwolves

2017-18: 16.8 MP, 8.4 PTS, 23.3 3P%, 45.4 eFG%
2018-19: 27.3 MP, 18.0 PTS, 37.0 3P%, 51.8 eFG%

Rose's year-to-year scoring increase is misleading, as he spent the 2017-18 campaign on the fringes of both the Cavs' and Timberwolves' rotations. Still, you have to respect how he's dramatically improved from beyond the 3-point arc in a more consistent role.

24. Monte Morris, Nuggets

2017-18: 8.2 MP, 3.3 PTS, 0.7 REB, 2.3 AST
2018-19: 24.0 MP, 10.3 PTS, 2.4 REB, 3.6 AST

Logging just 25 total minutes last season, Morris was the NBA equivalent of a redshirt freshman. Still, his play has been so solid that Isaiah Thomas has been bumped from the Nuggets' rotation.

25. Derrick White, Spurs

2017-18: 8.2 MP, 3.2 PTS, 1.5 REB, 0.5 AST
2018-19: 25.8 MP, 9.8 PTS, 3.7 REB, 3.9 AST

White went from being a deep-bench reserve to a starter this season due to Tony Parker's free-agent departure and Dejounte Murray's torn ACL. He's still had a nice breakout year.

26. Brandon Ingram, Lakers

2017-18: 33.5 MP, 16.1 PTS, 49.7 eFG%, -2.6 NETRTG
2018-19: 33.8 MP, 18.3 PTS, 51.8 eFG%, -1.1 NETRTG

With all the upheaval that came with LeBron James' arrival and eventual injury, Ingram took some baby steps forward in Year 3.

27. Dwight Powell, Mavericks

2017-18: 21.1 MP, 8.5 PTS, 62.6 eFG%, 0.5 NETRTG
2018-19: 21.4 MP, 10.6 PTS, 63.9 eFG%, 1.1 NETRTG

Powell has elevated his points per game average into double digits for the first time in his career without a major increase in playing time.

28. Noah Vonleh, Knicks

2017-18: 16.2 MP, 4.9 PTS, 48.7 eFG%, 5.8 REB
2018-19: 25.3 MP, 8.4 PTS, 52.3 eFG%, 7.8 REB

If Vonleh can continue to hone this 3-point shooting, the former No. 9 pick might have more staying power than originally thought.

29. Cedi Osman, Cavaliers

2017-18: 11.0 MP, 3.9 PTS, 8.7 AST%, 13.4 TOV%
2018-19: 32.0 MP, 13.0 PTS, 12.4 AST%, 11.2 TOV%

It's good to see Osman's assist and turnover rates trending in the right direction, even if his counting stats have more or less stagnated with increased playing time.

30. Kevon Looney, Warriors

2017-18: 13.8 MP, 4.0 PTS, 3.3 REB, 0.6 AST
2018-19: 18.6 MP, 6.3 PTS, 5.3 REB, 1.5 AST

By virtue of receiving a five-minute per game bump in playing time, Looney is the Warriors' most improved player by default.