NBA Predictions 2019: Lakers' Playoff Run, Warriors' Title Defense, Anthony Davis Trade Rumors

With the calendar changing to 2019, we are no longer in the early part of the NBA season. The contenders have started to separate themselves from the teams that don’t have much of a chance to go far in the playoffs, and the list of MVP candidates is not a very long one.

Here are five predictions for the remainder of the 2018-2019 NBA season:

The Los Angeles Lakers will reach the Western Conference Finals

The Houston Rockets were the one clear threat to the Golden State Warriors last season. With no such challenger in 2019, LeBron James and the Lakers probably have the best chance to be Golden State’s final obstacle before reaching the NBA Finals.

James Harden is putting up ridiculous numbers, but the Rockets aren’t the same team now that Chris Paul no longer seems to be a top-10 player. The Denver Nuggets didn’t even make the playoffs with largely the same team last year. The Oklahoma City Thunder can only go so far with Russell Westbrook as their No.1 star. LeBron has the Lakers just four games out of the No.1 seed after two and a half months. We know how unstoppable the NBA’s best player becomes in the biggest games, and he’ll likely have his season ended by the Warriors for a third straight year.

Golden State will win the championship after being tested in the NBA Finals

For the third straight year, it’s no secret how the season will end. The Warriors are simply too good to not win the title with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant playing better than ever.

Golden State’s secondary stars have not lived up to expectations this season. Klay Thompson is shooting a career-low 34.4 percent from three-point range, and Draymond Green can’t shoot at all. Even if Thompson turns it around, the Warriors’ lack of depth could force them to actually lose a few games in the NBA Finals. A well-balanced team like the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics might take the champs to six or seven games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will win the MVP award

Entering the season as the MVP favorite, Antetokounmpo has reached all expectations with an incredible start to the season. Leading the Bucks to the NBA’s best record on a 59-win pace, the MVP award is the Greek Freak’s to lose.

No one in the league fills up the stat sheet like Antetokounmpo, who’s averaging 26.3 points, 12.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game as the NBA approaches the halfway mark. Curry and Kawhi Leonard will miss too many games to win the award, and James’ lack of defense will hurt his candidacy. Anthony Davis won’t even be in the running if the New Orleans Pelicans continue to be among the West’s worst teams. Harden might have a case, but he won’t receive as many votes as he should after being named the MVP a season ago.

Anthony Davis won’t be traded before the offseason

The trade rumors surrounding Davis will only continue as the New Orleans Pelicans fall further out of playoff contention. That doesn’t mean the team will trade him, at least not before the end of the 2018-2019 season.

Don’t expect New Orleans to entertain the idea of trading Davis until the superstar lets the organization know that he won’t sign the five-year, $239 million supermax this summer. Even if the Pelicans have plans to deal the All-Star, they’ll get better offers after the NBA Finals. The team that wins the NBA Lottery could become the leading candidate to trade for Davis. Boston will be a top suitor for Davis, but the rules won’t allow them to acquire the big man without giving up Kyrie Irving until July.

The New York Knicks will finish with the NBA’s worst record

New York could very well become the favorite to acquire Davis this summer. The Knicks are headed for a top draft pick, and they might enter the lottery with the best odds to land the No.1 selection.

The Knicks are tied with the Phoenix Suns and a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who’ve got the NBA’s worst record. The Suns have gone .500 over their last 10 games with Devin Booker back from injury. Cleveland is at least somewhat competitive after losing 11 of their first 12 games. New York is an abysmal 1-13 in their last 14 games, and they will continue to rely more on their young players as they look to develop former lottery picks. With their eyes on free agency and getting a high draft pick, the Knicks’ front office has little interest in winning games over the next three months.