Most Intriguing Storylines Going into the 2012 NBA Offseason

Despite the intriguing nature of what's going on in the NBA right now, namely the conference finals and the revealing of the official draft order, it's not too soon to look ahead and speculate about the most intriguing storylines going into the 2012 NBA offseason. 

These storylines deal with many things. 

We've got superstars potentially changing teams. Long-time members of certain squads possibly moving to new locales. Free agents and the incoming class of rookies making an impact.

So what will the most intriguing stories be? Read on to find out. 

Dwight Howard

It's amazing that this storyline hasn't reached a conclusion yet, but the annoying Dwight Howard saga continues to drag along. 

After Stan Van Gundy was fired by the Orlando Magic, something that Howard claims he had no part in, I believed that he may actually be OK staying with the team. Alas, that is not the case.

Now we're back to square one with no idea where the best center in the league will be calling home during the 2012-2013 season.

According to Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski, Howard regrets staying with the Magic and wants out. Again. 

Frankly, I'm sick of this story, as intriguing and impactful as it may be on the landscape of the NBA. Maybe Howard should just retire and use his flip-flopping skills in politics. 

Deron Williams

This story is starting to go hand-in-hand with the Dwight Howard one. 

The Brooklyn Nets desperately want to retain the services of Deron Williams, one of the elite point guards in the NBA, but it seems as though D-Will doesn't want to stay with the newly-relocated squad unless he's playing alongside Howard. 

Williams was supposed to be the cornerstone of the Nets franchise, but they may be starting over and attempting to build around someone like MarShon Brooks if he doesn't return. 

If Williams has his way and signs with a contender, like say the Dallas Mavericks, then we need to start talking about a new team fighting for the 2013 title. 

Jeremy Lin

As big a story as Jeremy Lin was during the part of the season when he exploded, took over ESPN and forced the media machine to only play his highlights, it's hard to imagine Lin's free agency not becoming a major storyline during the offseason.

The point guard is a restricted free agent, and the New York Knicks do have the money necessary to re-sign both him and Landry Fields without another squad luring either young guard away.

However, according to the New York Post's Marc Berman, it's not set in stone that Lin will be returning to the city that never sleeps.  

Steve Nash

Steve Nash has spent his entire career with the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, but he'll most likely end up playing for a different team—one that he could win his first ring with—now that he's an unrestricted free agent. 

Nash is one of the prizes of a decent free agent class, and the options are unlimited for him.

He could join the Los Angeles Lakers and attempt to pry the ball out of Kobe Bryant's hands. He could sign for less money and make the Miami Heat the unquestioned favorites for next year's titles. He could sign with a team like the Atlanta Hawks or Indiana Pacers and elevate them from near contenders to true contenders. 

Regardless, the veteran point guard's decision is very much worth monitoring. 

Other Players Changing Teams

Free agency in general always makes for one of the most intriguing storylines during the offseason. Although this year's class isn't anything to write home about, it is significantly better than last year's slim pickings. 

Here are some of the top free agents, listed in alphabetical order: 

Ray Allen, Nicolas Batum, Michael Beasley, Aaron Brooks, Marcus Camby, Goran Dragic, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Eric Gordon, Gerald Green, Jeff Green, Spencer Hawes, Roy Hibbert, Kris Humphries, Ersan Ilyasova, Chris Kaman, Jeremy Lin, Brook Lopez, O.J. Mayo, Steve Nash, J.R. Smith, Jason Terry, Gerald Wallace, Deron Williams and many more. 

End of Boston's Big 3

It's the end of an era for the Boston Celtics, even if they somehow manage to retain both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Father Time mysteriously affected the two quite differently, as Allen has looked completely washed up and KG has appeared rejuvenated during the postseason. 

Paul Pierce will still be on the squad, but this team will belong completely to Rajon Rondo next season, living and dying by the amount of triple-doubles and assists he produces. 

While we figure out where Allen and Garnett will play during the 2012-2013 season, pause and remember just how good they were for the last few years. 

Brooklyn Nets

There's plenty of intrigue surrounding the players of the Brooklyn Nets, but this one cuts deeper. 

Sure, the potential arrival of Dwight Howard is intriguing enough. Similarly, we have to monitor what Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace and the rest of the Nets' boatload of free agents will choose to do. 

After all, there's a chance that this team could be completely gutted. 

However, the most intriguing part of all simply comes with the move from New Jersey to Brooklyn. With that move comes new fans and tons of hype, especially in a market as big as Brooklyn. 

Can you imagine the uproar when the new jersey designs are released for example?

Miami Heat

There are three remaining scenarios for the Miami Heat and each one will produce a media frenzy. 

1. The Heat somehow manage to blow the series against the Boston Celtics and exit in the Eastern Conference finals. In this case, the concept of the Big Three will immediately be proclaimed dead and everyone will start calling for one of the members to be traded. No forgiveness will be allowed. 

2. Miami gets by Boston but loses in the NBA Finals for the second-straight year, this time to a historically great San Antonio Spurs team. Once more, we get to hear about how LeBron James came up short and will never win a title for the duration of the offseason. Trade discussions involving Chris Bosh will be ever-present. 

3. Miami wins a title and LeBron's fingers are no longer bare. In this case, the Miami love starts up again and the bandwagon grows bigger and bigger. The amount of pro-Miami articles published grows so large that even an admitted LeBron supporter like myself wants to gouge his eyes out. 

Regardless, prepare for a lot of news concerning this team in the offseason. 

Rookie Class

Of course, what fun would the NBA offseason be if we didn't get to overanalyze the newest crop of NBA players? 

We can project their stats all we want know, speculate about how good they're going to be and try to predict their futures in The Association, but the picture becomes more and more clear as the offseason progresses. 

First, the NBA draft shows which teams they'll actually play for, then free agency alters the depth charts until we have a better understanding of how much playing time they'll receive. 

For whatever reason, young players are always the most intriguing, and it doesn't get any younger than the incoming rookies.