Of course this depends on if the team continues this success so let’s imagine it does for the sake of this argument.
Now, did I place a $5 bet that he would win COTY at the beginning of this season? Yes. However, I would say their aren’t too many coaches that are crushing it right now. And if anything, showing a dramatic improvement mid season shows exactly how big of an impact he was able to make in corrections.
If not Payton, then who?
Ultimately I say no. You can’t win the award because you corrected your own fuck up.