Derrick Rose Picked as MVP, Los Angeles Clippers Will Be in NBA Finals, Says Stephen A. Smith (Watch Video)

Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose may have only recently returned from a serious ACL injury, but ESPN NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believed D-Rose could win another MVP award this season.

In a rapid fire question and answer portion on ESPN, Smith was asked if who he thought would likely win the MVP this coming 2013-14 NBA season, and the popular analyst confidently answered "Derrick Rose."

Rose, who was sidelined for one full season to give more time to rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee, has been putting up impressive numbers this offseason - including a 32-point and 9-assist explosion against the Indiana Pacers.

Impact of Rose's Comeback Storyline

Other than Smith, several basketball followers believed Rose's chances of winning his second MVP trophy will depend not only on his stats but his amazing comeback storyline. Voter fatigue could also be a factor for the Bulls guard to steal the league's highest individual award from perennial favorite and four-time MVP LeBron James.

"Rose has a very strong comeback storyline brewing already; and Paul can lay claim to single-handedly turning around a big-market franchise while playing a highlight-laden yet fundamentally sound brand of ball. James' narrative -- that he is running uphill to catch the game's all-time greats -- might just trump all of that," Sports illustrated NBA writer Ben Golliver stated in his bold prediction for the upcoming season.

Rise of the Clippers

Meanwhile, Smith also picked the Los Angeles Clippers as the likely team to come out of the Western Conference and reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

The ESPN analyst believed the arrival of head coach Doc Rivers and solid free agency decisions made during the summer will really help the Clippers overcome a  loaded Western Conference, which also features the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

"I believe that the Los Angeles Clippers can represent the west in the NBA Finals," Smith said in the interview. "Chris Paul is a flat-out superstar as a point guard. I think Doc Rivers and those boys did a good thing in the offseason by acquiring better perimeter shooters [JJ Reddick and Jared Dudley]."