Dark-horse 2015-16 NBA MVP candidates

The 2015-16 NBA season's start is merely days away, so it is officially award prediction time.

When it comes to this year's MVP award, there are some clear front-runners, starting with LeBron James. James has been in the MVP conversation every year for the past decade, and this season will be no different. He remains the league's best player, and is arguably more valuable to his franchise than any other player in the league.




Behind LeBron, there are several other players that all figure to be in the conversation. There's the reigning MVP, Steph Curry, and the runner-up, James Harden. Both will be back, and potentially better. Speaking of back, a fully-healthy Kevin Durant returns this season, and will be looking to reclaim the his spot as the league's Most Valuable. Then there's Anthony Davis, who will be looking to claim the throne as his own.

Any of these players could potentially win the award, but there are also some other, slightly less heralded players positioned for big 2015-16 campaigns. Let's take a look at some potential dark-horse MVP candidates:

Jimmy Butler: Following a season in which he was named the league's Most Improved Player, Jimmy Butler could take another serious step forward this season. In a shallow Eastern Conference, the Bulls are a playoff-lock, and one of the few teams that could pose a serious threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference. Butler has supplanted a too-oft-injured Rose as the Bulls' most important player, and he will have every opportunity to produce this season. If he bumps his scoring average up from an impressive 20 points per last season to a mid-20s average this season, and the Bulls win a lot of games, as they likely will, Butler could be a real factor in the MVP discussion.

Chris Bosh: Bosh has spent the majority of his career toiling away in Toronto and playing in the shadow of LeBron James in Miami. Now, with an aging Dwayne Wade taking a lighter regular season role, Bosh is the statistical leader for a formidable Heat team. He averaged 21 and 7 last year before missing the season's second half. Slight improvements on those numbers, combined with a Heat team that could be better than people think, could have him in the MVP conversation by the end of the year.

John Wall: John Wall is a solid jump shot away from being virtually unarguable. He is the clear leader of a young, exciting Wizards team that could make some serious noise in the East again this season. Last year he was three points per game away from averaging 20 and ten per from the point guard spot. Slight overall improvement and another solid season from the Wizards could see John Wall as a legitimate MVP candidate.

Russell Westbrook: What needs to be said about Russell? He led the NBA in triple-doubles last season, and likely will again this season. He single-handedly dominated games and kept the Thunder in the playoff picture while his running mate, Kevin Durant was battling injury issues. He is arguably the league's most exciting and explosive player, and in my opinion, the most fun to watch. The presence of an other offensive assassin like Durant on the same team makes it unlikely that Westbrook would win however, but the talent is there.

Blake Griffin: High expectations exist for the Clippers this season, and in order for them to live up to the potential that some have bestowed upon them, Blake Griffin needs to have a monster season. Griffin has emerged as one of the league's most versatile forwards. He can score the ball in a variety of ways, rebound, and he can also pass, as he averaged a career-high 5.3 assists per game last season. The Clippers have Championship aspirations, and an MVP-caliber season from Griffin could be their catalyst.

Damian Lillard*: Lillard has an asterisk next to his name because the Blazers won't win enough games for him to truly contend for the award. However, 2015-16 Lillard is going to be something to watch. Fresh off of inking a new deal over the summer, he is the only remaining starter from last season's playoff team, and, surrounded by a cast of young, largely unproven talent, he is the unquestioned leader, and top player. He will basically have a green light on the court, and while it might not result in a lot of wins for Portland, it will likely result in some solid stats from Lillard.