LaMarcus Aldridge and 6 First-Time All-Star Selections for Next Season

Aren't you getting tired of seeing the same old faces every single All-Star game? 

It seems like every year, each All-Star team has eight familiar names and a couple new faces. Presuming that next year's team will have another set of old faces, here's a breath of fresh air to introduce a few new names to the All-Star game.

Eastern Conference Reserve Forward: Josh Smith

Josh Smith's name has been tossed around several times in All-Star reserve discussions, but it's been a long time since he's had standout numbers to prove that he deserves to be there.

At his best, Smith hovered around three blocks and 1.5 steals per game while also putting up 17 points per game. His numbers have since dwindled and "J-Smoove" has only managed to put up a non All-Star worthy 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.

Next season, Smith will finally make that push to become an All-Star. His numbers will be higher than they've been before and the All-Star crowd will see some new, electrifying fast-break dunks from "J-Smoove".

Eastern Conference Reserve Shooting Guard: Monta Ellis

Yes, you read right. 

Not only do I believe Monta Ellis will make the All-Star team, but he's going to do it on the East Coast. Ellis will be traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Philadelphia 76ers for Andre Iguodala and he'll have yet another superb season.

Ellis' numbers slightly dipped from the season prior, but he still averaged 24.1 points per game.

One of the most electrifying slashers in the NBA, Ellis will put points on the board at an unprecedented rate in Philly and work his name onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team.

Eastern Conference Reserve Shooting Guard: DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan made a huge jump between his rookie and sophomore seasons, and from the looks of things, he's due for one more.

DeRozan's points skyrocketed from 8.9 to 17.2 and he still lacks the one thing needed most for a successful guard in this league: a jumper. Slashing to the hole and finishing around the bucket, DeRozan made a living by scoring in the paint and knocking down close to mid-range jumpers. 

With the NBA lockout having no ending in sight, the young Toronto guard could use this off time to develop and extend his range. Once he adds that to his repertoire, which I anticipate he will, All-Stardom for him is just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Western Conference Reserve Forward: Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay has been due for an All-Star selection for years now. 

For the past four years, his numbers have been hovering around 20 points, six rebounds and a couple of assists and steals per game. But due to injury, his campaigns for such events have been in vain.

With Gay slowly but surely recovering his shoulder, he should be back in action as the Memphis Grizzlies' captain. Though it might seem as if they didn't miss him last season, a scorer like him will always be sought after.

Gay's athleticism and awareness make him a one-of-a-kind forward in the NBA and he will return to an All-Star caliber level of play once he returns.

Western Conference Starting Center: Greg Oden

You can't lie.

When Greg Oden is healthy, as rare an occurrence as it may be, he's a top center in the NBA without a doubt. Sure, he might occasionally foul out, but there's no question that Oden is one of the most dominant defensive presences in all of the league.

In Oden's 21 games in the 2009-10 season, he averaged 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game (four fouls, too).

We've seen quite a few times that the NBA likes to feed into storylines (see Cleveland Cavaliers 2011 NBA Draft). The return of Greg Oden would definitely take the NBA by storm. 

Western Conference Reserve Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge

It's only right to save the best for last.

LaMarcus Aldridge was snubbed out of an All-Star appearance last season. That's the only way to put it.

The man carried the Portland Trail Blazers without an adequate back up and led them to the sixth seed in the difficult Western Conference. Aldridge played 39 minutes per game (third most in the NBA) and averaged 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and one steal per game.

The only reason Aldridge didn't make the All-Star team is because Tim Duncan basically had a foot in the door, being the best player on the best team at the time. That won't be the case next season and Aldridge will make his first of many All-Star appearances.