PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Boban Marjanovic #51, Angel Delgado #31, Lou Williams #23, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers wait to be photographed dsuring media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 24, 2018 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

At the end of the 2018-19 season, it is possible that the Los Angeles Clippers could have three individual award winners: Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

We are one preseason game in to the 2018-19 season, so what better time than now to look at end of season awards? With the way the Los Angeles Clippers are constructed this season, the team has the potential to have not one, not two, but three individual award winners.

Those awards? Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

Let’s start with Most Improved.

Most Improved Player

Montrezl Harrell has set this goal for himself. After a great season off the bench for the Clippers last year (11.0 points on 63.5% shooting, 4.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes), Harrell gave himself the goal of winning Most Improved Player.

He went as far as pinning a tweet to his profile at one point stating his intention to win the award. Although respectable, this is a lofty goal for Harrell. Seven of the last eight winners have all gone on to become All-Stars, so it might take a significant jump in Harrell’s game for him to be in the conversation. Still, if Ryan Anderson (2011-12) can win this award, why not Harrell?

This trophy is probably the hardest one to predict early in the season as there is not a lot of evidence as to who will make large strides in their game. Harrell will certainly have some stiff competition, but if he can elevate his game similarly to what he did last year, he will have a shot.

Sixth Man of the Year

This one might be the easiest to predict of all the awards. Lou Williams walked away with the award last year after putting up career highs across the board. His points per game (22.6) was 5.1 points higher than his second highest scoring year (17.5 points in 2016-17).

Williams will look to become only the second player (Jamal Crawford) in NBA history to win three Sixth Man of the Year trophies. With the Clippers not having a huge star, Williams could project similar numbers to last season.

I don’t want to say he has this award in the bag, but his stiffest competition last year in Eric Gordon now finds himself in a starting role for the Rockets. Outside of Carmelo Anthony having a surprise year off the Rockets bench, Williams main competition will likely come from Dennis Schroeder in Oklahoma City. With Schroeder likely having a big role on a playoff contender in OKC, Williams will need to heavily contribute while helping the Clippers fight for a postseason berth.

Rookie of the Year

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might have a tough time taking home this trophy, but it isn’t out of the question. Obviously, there will be some super tough competition here as Gilgeous-Alexander won’t have the starting role as the season opens up.

The likely favorite to win the award will be Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, who has already won several trophies in his overseas play. First overall pick Deandre Ayton may also make a case, as could Trae Young if he puts up big numbers on a bad Atlanta Hawks team.

Nothing is guaranteed in the league however and if (god forbid) an injury happens to one of the Clippers’ starting guards, SGA could get major minutes. The young point guard impressed in Summer League and continued to look NBA ready in the lone preseason game played thus far.

Shai might only have an outside shot at this award, but there is still a chance.

Likelihood of all three

Is it possible that all three Los Angeles Clippers players win these awards? Yes. Is it likely? Not really.

Out of the three, Williams winning Sixth Man of the Year would be the safest bet, but if he is putting up big numbers off the bench, how much can Harrell really show? The two may take away from each other and while it will help the team in the long run, it may hurt their individual chances at getting some hardware.

Meanwhile, Shai will also be coming off the bench while others in his draft class will be forced into the starting role and therefore likely will have more opportunities to impress voters.

All we can hope for is that each player has a season worthy of being in the individual award conversation. If so, it’s likely that the Clippers are right in the midst of playoff contention.