The awards season has officially begun, and there's no way I'm going to be left out.  Here's my list of the top candidates for each major award, plus my pick for the winner.

Most Valuable Player

The Candidates

Jason Kidd ?  He played great this season, and led the long-awful New Jersey Nets to first place in the East.  Kidd dominates on the defensive game and takes over games with his passing in a way the league hasn't seen since Magic Johnson.

Kevin Garnett ? Garnett has been brilliant and the Timberwolves are the best they've ever been.  He does more dirty work than any other superstar and looks like he loves doing it.

Tim Duncan ? The Big Fundamental is a deserving choice because of his consistently high production.  He leads the league in double-doubles and the Spurs are one of the league's five-best teams.

Tracy McGrady ? He has his detractors, but where would the Magic be without him?  When Grant Hill went down yet again, McGrady stepped up and played even better.  He has continued to produce even while contending with back pain and myriad nagging injuries.  Without McGrady, the Magics would be in the running for the league's worst record.

Shaquille O'Neal ? Shaq has been dogged by a persistent toe problem but still managed to play 66 games.  While this hasn't been his most productive season, he's the league's second leading scorer and he leads the league in field goal percentage.  Without Shaq, the Lakers are the Orlando Magic.  With him, they'll win their third straight championship this season.

The Winner: Shaquille O'Neal

Defensive Player of the Year

The Candidates

Tim Duncan ? Duncan is a good shot blocker and gets a surprising number of steals for a big man.  But it's his sublime positioning, long arms, great instincts, and fantastic timing that make him a dominating defender.

Ben Wallace ? Think Dennis Rodman with better hair and less attitude.  Wallace personifies the warrior mentality and takes over games with his shot blocking and rebounding.

Allen Iverson ? Iverson is as relentless and competitive as they come.  He's the league's leading scorer, but he also changes games with big defensive plays and sets the tone for his teammates.

Raef LaFrentz ? He's not what I normally think of when I'm listing top post defenders, but what he does becomes more apparent the more I watch him play.  LaFrentz is rarely out of position and is a superb help defender and intimidating shot blocker.

Jason Kidd ? Justifiably, Kidd is known for his brilliant passing, but he's also one of the league's best defenders.  He can lock up opposing guards and play the passing lanes, and he's made the steal and breakaway a regular event for the Nets.

The Winner: Ben Wallace

Sixth Man of the Year

The Candidates

Quentin Richardson ? This second year guard was indispensable to a still-improving Clippers team.  In 26 minutes per game, Richardson average 13.4 points, helped on the boards (4.2 per game) and even played some defense.

Corliss Williamson ? I admit that I thought Joe Dumars was nuts to give Williamson a long and lucrative contract this past offseason.  But Williamson has helped the Pistons to their best record in years with his instant offense off the bench.  Williamson plays just 21 minutes per game, but ranks eighth in points per 48 minutes.

Chauncey Billups ? Billups has actually started more than half the Timberwolves' games, but he's still a sixth man.  He has provided stellar shooting and defense for Minnesota, and has filled in at point guard for the injured Terrell Brandon.

Bobby Jackson ? Jackson provides the Kings with terrific backcourt defense and a do-everything scrappiness the high-powered team needs.  He has been a terrific compliment for Mike Bibby, and when he's teamed with Doug Christie, the team can actually shut down opposing guards.

Popeye Jones ? He may not be pretty, but he rebounds, defends, knocks down open shots, passes creatively and gives nightly lessons on being a pro.  In just 24 minutes per game for the Wizards, Jones was the league's eleventh best offensive rebounder.  And he can't jump.

The Winner: Quentin Richardson

Most Improved Player

The Candidates

Quentin Richardson ? A deep bench reserve for the woeful Clippers in his rookie season, Richardson improved his defense and all-around game enough to become one of the league's top reserves.

Jumaine Jones ? Jones was a scrub for the Sixers last season, but blossomed with steady playing time in Cleveland.  He's a guy who does a little of everything, and plays with high energy and competitiveness.

Jermaine O'Neal ? O'Neal had a breakout season in 2000-2001, so how does he get on the list this season?  By finding yet another level.  After four seasons languishing on Portland's bench, O'Neal became pretty good in his first regular minutes, but this year he played like an All-Star.

Desmond Mason ? In his rookie season, Mason showed promise; this year he started to deliver.  Mason emerged as a quality defender at guard and small forward, and also showed he's a quality supplemental scorer.  He's a big reason Seattle is going to the playoffs this season.

Brent Barry ? Two Sonics up for Most Improved?  Yup.  Barry has been a pedestrian shooting guard throughout most of his eight seasons.  He's always been a good athlete and a great shooter, but he never combined the two and turned it into production.  This year, he's outstanding, and has combined with Gary Payton to give the Sonics the NBA's best backcourt.

The Winner: Brent Barry

Rookie of the Year

The Candidates

Shane Battier ? He was easily the most accomplished player in last year's NBA draft yet he slid to sixth as teams went for kids with upside.  Battier hasn't disappointed Memphis, averaging nearly 40 minutes per game and providing the team with classy, steady leadership it has so desperately needed.

Jamaal Tinsley ? Indiana coach Isiah Thomas, a pretty good point guard in his playing days, handed Tinsley the Pacers reins in the preseason and the kid has produced.  He turns the ball over too much and he needs to find a jumper, but he competes with passion and is already a superb playmaker.

Pau Gasol ? He has been the league's best rookie by a bunch.  His averages of 17.6 points and 8.9 rebounds are a solid foundation and Gasol has shown every sign that he'll continue to improve.

The Winner: Pau Gasol

Coach of the Year

The Candidates

Rick Carlisle ? Most experts predicted another losing season for the Pistons, but Carlisle has called the shots for a division championship ? Detroit's first in more than a decade.  He convinced Jerry Stackhouse to take fewer shots and found ways for nearly everyone on the roster to contribute.

Jim O'Brien ? Few coaches have as intriguing a challenge as O'Brien.  In Paul Pierce, he has one of the league's truly dynamic superstars.  In Antoine Walker he has a great, but sometimes hardheaded talent.  Coaching genius Rick Pitino couldn't figure out how to make things work, but O'Brien has.  He constructed an unorthodox scheme that took his players' weaknesses (their propensity for jacking up nutty three-point shots, for example) and turned it into an asset.

Flip Saunders ? The Timberwolves are always prepared to play and they've made the best use of the league's new defensive rules.  Until point guard Terrell Brandon went down with his usual injury, Minnesota was one of the league's three best teams.

Doug Collins ?  He belongs on this list even though the Wizards didn't make the playoffs.  Collins had a rusty Jordan, limited veteran role players and talented but inexperienced kids.  Yet he took them into the All-Star break five games over .500 and had people talking seriously about the Wizards going to the NBA Finals.  Injuries to Jordan and Richard Hamilton derailed the playoff push, but Collins did a great job getting this team close.

The Winner: Jim O'Brien

Executive of the Year

The Candidates

Jerry Krause ? I know, the Bulls stunk this year just as they have since Jordan departed.  Krause belongs on the list for the sheer cojones it took to trade Elton Brand for a high school kid.  He also gets credit for acquiring Jalen Rose, who is now the franchise's on the court focal point and team leader.  With Twin Toddlers Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, the Bulls have a start on building a future contender.

Joe Dumars ? With the exception of the Clifford Robinson heist, I thought every offseason move he made was a mistake ? but they've all worked.  Corliss Williamson has been huge for the Pistons, Zeljko Rebraca was a find, and Carlisle has turned out to be a terrific coach.  Dumars has managed things well enough that the Pistons will likely be free agent players again in 2003.

Gregg Popovich ? Derek Anderson wanted more money than he was worth, so Popovich shipped him to Portland for classy veteran Steve Smith.  He also brought in elite defender Bruce Bowen, re-signed David Robinson to a reasonable contract, found Charles Smith, and drafted Tony Parker who emerged as the Spurs floor general.  All have been important components in the Spurs' success this season.

Rod Thorn ? Sent Stephon Marbury to Phoenix for MVP candidate Jason Kidd, signed Todd MacCulloch to play center when many thought it was a mistake, and swapped Eddie Griffin for Richard Jefferson and increased depth. He did a superb job of constructing the best team in the Eastern Conference.

The Winner: Joe Dumars

All NBA First Team

G ? Gary Payton, Seattle
G ? Tracy McGrady, Orlando
F ? Tim Duncan, San Antonio
F ? Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
C ? Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers

Second Team
G ? Jason Kidd, New Jersey
G ? Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers
F ? Paul Pierce, Boston
F ? Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
C ? Ben Wallace, Detroit

Third Team
G ? Andre Miller, Cleveland
G ? Allen Iverson, Philadelphia (by popular demand)
F ? Chris Webber, Sacramento
F ? Elton Brand, LA Clippers
C ? Alonzo Mourning, Miami

All Defensive Team
G ? Jason Kidd, New Jersey
G ? Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
F ? Ben Wallace, Detroit
F ? Tim Duncan, San Antonio
C ? Shaquille O'Neal, LA Lakers

All Rookie Team
G ? Jamaal Tinsley, Indiana
G ? Jason Richardson, Golden State
F ? Pau Gasol, Memphis
F ? Shane Battier, Memphis
F ? Andrei Kirilenko, Utah