NBA Pre-Season: All-NBA First Team

The NBA season is fast approaching. And after an offseason filled with intrigue, the perennial All-Stars are ready to once again take the floor and start the quest for each teams ultimate goal: an NBA Title. 

But, that won't be decided until mid-June. What we can speculate about are individual performances in the regular season and who will be holding up the individual hardware come playoff time. With that I give you the way too early All-NBA First team.

Guard: Dwyane Wade

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MIAMI - SEPTEMBER 27: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat pose for photos during media day at the Bank United Center on September 27, 2010 in Miami, NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user

Wade can do nothing but benefit from playing alongside the best player in the world in LeBron James and one of the league's best hybrid power forwards in Chris Bosh. Wade will be left one-on-one much of the time with the defense over compensating for the potential King James explosion. This will allow him to penetrate and get to both the rim and the free throw line more often. I would be surprised if Wade isn't the Heat's leading scorer this season.

Guard: Kobe Bryant

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 17: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds both the Larry O'Brien trophy and the Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics 83-79 in Game Seven of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center on J

Make no mistake about it, Kobe's game is deteriorating a tad, but he is still one of the five best players in the game and you cannot ignore the clutch factor. There is no question who takes the game winning shot in any situation for the Lakers and Kobe will still produce enough in the meantime to validate this selection.

Forward: LeBron James

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BOSTON - MAY 13: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers directs his teammates in the second quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA playoffs at TD Garden on May 13, 2010 in Boston, Mass

LeBron has made no misconceptions, he is out for blood. He is set out to prove he is the best in the world at what he does and to shut all the haters up. His points per game will suffer, but don't be surprised to see him average dangerously close to a triple double in the regular season. Word has it, he has been hard at work in the summer and is the vocal leader of this super-team.

Forward: Kevin Durant

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 20: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder on the court against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Cal

Durant can and will score from anywhere on the floor. The 22-year old became the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring last season and there is nothing to suggest that he will do anything but get better after a summer at the FIBA Championships under coach Mike Krzyzewski. Expect to see an improved defensive effort as well.

Center: Dwight Howard

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BOSTON - MAY 28: Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic looks on against the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on May 28, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowl

Howard is the most dominant big man in the game today, but he has a chance to be one of the most dominant ever. All he needs to do is develop more of a post game. People are willing to overlook a few missed free throws, but without a post game he'll just be a glorified Ben Wallace.