NBA 2011-12 Preview: 5 Players Who Will Be First Time All-Stars Next Season

Yes, I know what you're all thinking.

We don't even know if there's going to be a season next year, right?  

That's true, but it's also true that being an optimist—along with the residual good feelings of seeing the NFL lockout officially come to an end this weekend—is enough to make me think that there's no way the NBA is going to let this go so far as to keep the 2011-12 season from starting on time.

We may not know where Randy Moss is going to play next season, but I'm pretty sure it won't be in the NBA, and I know it won't be in the next All-Star game.

With several mainstays at the game from the last few years getting older, and several new stars rising, now is the perfect time to think about how this year's newcomers might be.

Here are five players who should make the jump from borderline All-Star very soon. 

1. LaMarcus Aldridge

LaMarcus Aldridge was practically there a year ago, and this should be the season that finally makes that jump people have been waiting for him to make his whole career.  

With the injuries to Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, Aldridge was forced to step into the roles of primary scorer and focal point of the offense, in which he was able to thrive.  With his mix of length, outside shooting and a developing but potent game in the post, he is a very difficult match up for most defenders.

He's no slouch defensively either, and that, along with the fact that his team wins games, should give him the nod over either Blake Griffin or Kevin Love this year.

Another possibility is that Tim Duncan, clearly on the decline, loses his starting spot to Griffin this year, with Aldridge taking up the spot behind him.

Either way, Aldridge's time has come, if he continues with the strong play that carried the Blazers through lots more injuries and into the first round last season. 

2. John Wall

John Wall had a really tough rookie season, missing several games due to injuries and being hampered by the lingering effects of those injuries throughout the year.

On top of that, his team is terrible, with a bunch of selfish scorers who don't do much else.  Wall was expected to jump right in and carry the team on his shoulders, and he did what he could, but a little help is in order.

Regardless of his team's situation as a whole, I expect Wall to come out and have a strong sophomore campaign in 2011-12.  Most people probably don't realize that he still averaged 16.4 points per game and 8.3 assists per game last year, which are really good numbers for someone of his age and experience.  

He just kind of got drowned out in all the Blake Griffin buzz.

The main thing he has going for him is that he's only going to improve.  He has a good coach and I really could see him averaging 21 points and 10 assists per game next year if he's healthy and able to continue making his teammates look better than they really are.  If he does that, he could give Derrick Rose a run for his money as the starting All-Star point guard.

3. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is the guy whom I think will have the most difficult time of anyone on this list of cracking the All-Star roster next season, primarily because he's competing with Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker for a spot in the point guard rotation.

Even so, he's got a legitimate shot at doing it anyway, for a few reasons.

Having Deron Williams in the Eastern Conference now is a big boost to his chances.  In addition, the likely trade of Monta Ellis after the lockout is over means more shots, more assists and a better rhythm for Curry as he will have the ball in his hands much more often.

Last year he averaged 18.6 points and 5.8 assists per game, and had a player efficiency rating of 19.46, despite only playing about 33 minutes a game.  Expect all those numbers to rise next season, along with his teams overall success on the court.  The Warriors have grown used to being decimated by injuries, year after year, but with a little luck they can stay healthy and even challenge for the eighth playoff spot.

That would be a feel-good story that could give Curry the needed boost in order to make the team.

4. Wesley Matthews

Sorry, but yeah, I am a Blazers fan, so maybe I am a bit biased in saying that two new Blazers should make the team next year.  And yeah, I may also be rooting for Wesley Matthews to make the team because his first name is really, really cool.  

But hear me out...

Brandon Roy, the team's former All-Star, isn't likely to return to his same role with the team that he had before last season.  He's shown himself to be a potent impact player off the bench, and if he can reinvent himself in that role, I think he can have a similar role to what Jason Terry did with the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks this past year.

Matthews, it appears, is the Blazer's two-guard of the future, a surprising turn of good fortune for someone who went undrafted just two years ago.  But he's earned it with hard work and dedication to honing his skills.

He's a strong two-way player, meaning he's really good on both ends of the floor.  Last season he averaged 15.9 points per game in just more than 33 minutes each contest, and he only started for a little over half the season.  He also shot over 40 percent from behind the three arc, making 154, and was at 84 percent from the free-throw line.  

His minutes and points per game averages should rise this year, especially with Rudy Fernandez now gone.  In addition, last year he received four votes, including two first-place votes, for All NBA Defensive Team honors.

There will be some decent competition for this roster spot on the All-Star team, but I think Matthews will—with more consistency in his role on the team—make the leap next year.

5. Taj Gibson

Maybe it doesn't make sense putting Taj Gibson on this list, especially since he isn't even a starter on his team right now.  But I think he should be, and that's why I'm putting him here.

His stats from last season weren't all that impressive (7.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game), and he even saw a decrease in his production from the previous season, thanks to the addition of Carlos Boozer to the roster.

Most of my opinion on Gibson comes from the tenacity and athleticism that he displayed against Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.  He is extremely effective defensively, and I would argue that Chicago is better with him on the floor because of it and would do well to start him in place of Boozer next year.

I'm not sure what it would take for this to happen, especially since Boozer is still a good player and only going into the second year of a really big contract.  But I think Gibson could be a better, more athletic version of Boozer if given the right opportunity.  He may not score as much, but he doesn't give it all right back on the defensive end either.

This pick is all about opportunity.  I believe that Gibson could become the legitimate second option that the Bulls need behind Derrick Rose, but only if Boozer was traded.  If the Bulls were to lead the league in wins again next season, it could likely give Gibson the recognition he needs to make the jump from strong bench player to first-time All-Star in one year.