We've covered how each team in the East and West will finish and who will be the top rookie. Now our panel is projecting which player will be awarded the NBA's ultimate individual prize in 2016-17.

We asked the ESPN Forecast team to rank the top three choices for Most Valuable Player.

Then we totaled up the ballots, with a first-place vote receiving five points, a second-place vote receiving three and a third-place vote receiving one (Here's how ESPN Forecast works).

To participate in the discussion and perhaps get your opinion published on this page, #ESPNForecast is the Twitter hashtag to use.

MVP projections

1. LeBron James

Cleveland Cavaliers | SF

First-place votes: 18

Total points: 145

2. Russell Westbrook

Oklahoma City Thunder | PG

First-place votes: 15

Total points: 112

3. Kevin Durant

Golden State Warriors | SF

First-place votes: 6

Total points: 50

4. Kawhi Leonard

San Antonio Spurs | SF

First-place votes: 4

Total points: 41

5. Stephen Curry

Golden State Warriors | PG

First-place votes: 2

Total points: 37

Others receiving votes: James Harden, Rockets (15 points); Chris Paul, Clippers (11); Paul George, Pacers (3); LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs (3); Blake Griffin, Clippers (2); Anthony Davis, Pelicans (2); Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves (1); Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers (1).