COAST TO COAST

My choice as:

MVP -- 1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers 2. Chris Paul, New Orleans, 3. Kevin Garnett, Boston.

The three most deserving candidates in one race I can remember.

The envelope please

Rookie of the year -- 1. Kevin Durant, Seattle. 2. Al Horford, Atlanta. 3. Luis Scola, Houston. 4. Al Thornton, Clippers.

Durant was all over the lot, but he’s a lot better than Horford, even if he’s rock solid.

Coach of the year -- 1. Byron Scott, New Orleans, 2. Rick Adelman, Houston. 3. Phil Jackson, Lakers, 4. Doc Rivers, Boston.

Blunt, tough but still a player’s coach, Scott’s teams overachieve as consistently as those of the biggest-name coaches. As Toronto’s Sam Mitchell said, “We all run the same sets, but there’s something about Byron as a man.”

Sixth man -- Manu Ginobili, San Antonio.

This is a setup because he’s an All-Star whom they prefer bringing off the bench but as one of the game’s most exciting players, it’s nice he gets something.

Executive of the year -- Mitch Kupchak, Lakers and Danny Ainge, Boston (tie).

For all the jokes about Minnesota’s Kevin McHale donating Kevin Garnett, KG would never have gone there if Ainge hadn’t previously stolen Ray Allen from Seattle.

Kupchak is finally getting credit -- for the wrong thing, the Gasol deal, which was like hitting the lottery. Kupchak deserves the award for the tougher, more controversial call that turned this season around, drafting Andrew Bynum in 2005.

Donald T. Sterling crummy executive of the year -- Donald T. Sterling.

Turning down Mike Miller, who would have been as much a gift as Gasol, because your coach can’t make his case because you aren’t talking to him because he fired back after you ripped him in public although you had no intention of firing him?

You still take my breath away, big guy.

Hold up those covered wagons

Brushed off by the state legislature in his attempt to get taxpayer money for the usual pleasure palace, Commissioner David Stern did everything but declare war, announcing if the SuperSonics leave Seattle, the NBA may never return.

Last week the league approved the move to Oklahoma City, but it’s not out of there yet.

With the city obtaining the team’s e-mails in its suit to enforce its lease, the Seattle Times published some that suggested owner Clay Bennett wasn’t completely candid with Stern as well as with local politicians.

After minority partner Aubrey McClendon said they always intended to go to Oklahoma City -- for which Stern fined him $250,000 -- Bennett assured the commissioner:

“I would never breach your trust. As absolutely remarkable as it may seem, Aubrey and I have NEVER discussed moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City, nor have I discussed it with ANY other member of our ownership group.”

Four months before, according to more e-mails, Bennett carried on a running dialogue with McClendon and another minority owner about playing in Oklahoma City.

Whether that was a discussion will be decided in court, but the docket is filling up.

Former owner Howard Schultz, the Starbucks magnate, is suing to get the franchise back, alleging Bennett broke his promise to try to keep it in Seattle.

Somebody had better tell these people about Stern’s fabled temper, or tell Stern about anger management.

-- Mark Heisler