A Really Early Look at the 2013 College Basketball Season

   The 2013 season has more promise of excitement than any season in recent memory. The number of great teams set to take the stage exceeds perhaps the last three years combined. Superstars return from all over the country, and a new breed of big names enters the college plaza. Great rivalries are renewed, conferences are realigned, and the return of great basketball promises us much excitement and drama. Given the potential of next years possibly historic season, I feel that an early look into next year's gauntlet is merited.

   THE TEAMS

   Bluegrass State

   John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats boast yet another top flight recruiting class, this one perhaps, being the most remarkable in recent memory. The 2013 class reminds analysists of the Fab 5 from Michigan. The number of top rated players and five star athletes in unparalled by anything college sports has ever seen, and with the top rated point guard, shooting guard, power forward, and several other blue chip prospects, Kentucky has once again claimed most people's preseason top 25's. The level of talent present in Lexington will be like someone simply swapped some Kentucky jerseys with the given Jordan Brand Classic ones. All of this pageantry and yet, the returning national champion stands firm with a large portion of last year's title team in tact. Scorer extraordinaire Russ Smith returns, as does sharpshooter and Final Four MVP Luke Hancock. The only contributors lost are Gorgui Dieng and Peyton Siva, who can be replaced by Montrezl Harrell and Kevin Ware respectively. The Cardinals also bring in a talented recruiting class, albeit overshadowed by Kentucky's.

I will cringe every time this man jumps this year.

   ACC, SEC of Basketball

   It's sad to see a great conference like the Big East die, but through that death, we find hope. Not to dramatize or over react to a basketball conference meltdown, but the promise of such a good conference is tantalizing. The idea of a conference championship final four of Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse and Louisville in a few years is stupid good, and that of course is given Notre Dame, North Carolina State, Pittsburg, and Virginia were just eliminated. For this upcoming season, Duke introduces perhaps the second mostly highly touted and respected player coming out of high school since LeBron James, Jabari Parker. Parker is basically Carmelo Anthony if Carmelo didn't hold defense beneath contempt, and with potentially better athleticism. He has a similar basketball IQ to Melo, but a much high real one. Jabari is a model student and leader ready to lead Duke back to the promised land. Along side him will be battle tested point guards Quinn Cook and Tyler Thornton, sophomore phenom Rasheed Sulaimon, and a young but talented frontcourt including Amile Jefferson and the most recent Plumlee, Marshall. North Carolina returns most of its nucleus, and adds a solid recruiting class. Questions about P.J. Hairston will need to be answered this offseason as to avoid an in-season distraction.

I just really want to be friends with that.

   Rock Chalk- This really isn't fair, they need to be bad sometime- Jay Hawk.

   Remember roughly ten inches ago when I called Jabari Parker the second most highly touted guy since LeBron? The only reason he's rated even that lowly is because of this superstar in the making, Andrew Wiggins.

Clearly a born killer.

   Just when Kansas is on the precipice of slipping, just when it appears Rock Chalk might miss their usual high level of success, the best high school player since LeBron joins the program. That's simply ridiculous, and will be the main reason Kansas is likely to make a deep March run once again. Wiggins dunks with his eyes at rim level simply by lazily bouncing, if he applies his talent correctly, and past results suggest he will, Wiggins will be the best player in college basketball this year.

   The fairly decently sized 10.

   Michigan State is going to compete once again. Sparty returns all but Derrick Nix to this year's squad, a large physical hole but a replaceable one. Gary Harris could be the best 2-guard in basketball this year, and Tom Izzo always overachieves. The Wolverines return dominant big Mitch "Michelin Man" McGary, ( a name I coined) and all-around athlete Glen Robinson III. Ohio State will reload and play stifling defense behind Aaron Craft, but will rely on LaQuinton Ross to shoulder the scoring load given the departure of DeShaun Thomas. Indiana won't be up to last year's team, but freshman workhorse Noah Vonley could turn a few heads if he continues to develop. Overall, the Big 10 will lose a step, but should fill the role of second best conference.

  Soon enough we'll dive further into next year's crop of heroes who will compete for a trip to raise rafters, with a specific look at top tier mid-major programs. Thanks for reading!

The Future of the King's Court

  Before we begin, I would like to note that I will be discontinuing the series of potential outcomes for all 30 teams, as the topic became boring, and frankly, I felt like I was mailing in topics. Hopefully the eight of you who read this won't have too much of an issue with this decision.

   LeBron James left Cleveland for one reason above all others, to win rings. Now, working with evil mastermind Pat Riley and fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, King James has completed step two of the master plan. Although it's entirely unlikely that James and the Heat will win seven titles as he so wistfully proclaimed three summers ago, it is likely that the NBA has discovered it's latest dynasty. However, many factors could alter the path of where James will set up his kingdom, and while the present is once again bright in Miami, the future is just as murky as it has always been. The Heat are in place to compete for a title in 2014, and potentially in 2015, but what happens after that? Perhaps we can look into the past to find the keys to the future.

    First, what do we know about LeBron James? Obviously, he is from Akron, Ohio, only minutes away from Cleveland. Also, when James left the Cavaliers for the Heat, he didn't necessarily leave Cleveland for Miami. Yes, he has moved to South Beach, but in the offseason James calls Akron home, and recently bolstered his high school with a generous cash contribution to aid the athletic program. James still calls Ohio home, he has family in Akron, and most importantly, it could be where his heart lives.

   The one thing Lebron cares most about is winning, James understands that greatness is measured by championships, so his quest to become the greatest player of all time, which he has openly claimed to strive for, will always be the driving factor for what LeBron James does and where he goes. The man pictured above is Larry Hughes. If you are familiar with who that is, than you receive 100 basketball brownie points. If you aren't, that's entirely fair, because Larry Hughes was the best player on one of the worst supporting casts in NBA history. The city of Cleveland had every right to be mad at LeBron James, but owner Dan Gilbert did not. Dan failed to put even a competent team around LeBron for years, gradually improving as time went on, in the same way that Russia did after the Soviet Union collapsed. It was better, but still so horrendous that it barely deserves to be noted. For the record, an old Shaquille O'Neal and and aging Antawn Jamison, and Mo Williams do not count as a supporting cast. Certainly not a good one at least. Regardless, Gilbert decided to act like a child and pretended that LeBron was the only person to screw up Cleveland's situation. Ohio went into a rage over James' departure, but would they welcome him back? Of course! They'd have to. Especially if adding Lebron meant finally capturing and elusive title.

   So LeBron left Cleveland so he could have a chance to win, right? Why would he go back to the place that turned him into a perpetual loser? Is he tired of winning? I thought he was driven by it!

   That's absolutely true, three years ago, Miami was a better situation than Cleveland. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were NBA superstars, and the Heat added so many role players they seemed unstopable. Cleveland had what? Old Shaq and Jamison? JJ Hickson? Delonte West??? That's awful, it certainly wasn't good enough to compete with some other elite teams. That was then, what happens in two years? Wade proved this series that he's still capable of playing at an elite level, proving all his critics wrong, including myself, but in two years, will he be able to do the same? Wade plays at breakneck speeds and constantly throws himself in harm's way, can he sustain that at the age of 33? He definitely won't be able to at 35 or 36, and he hasn't developed much of a jump shot. Bosh will be aging, and the Heat's role players are mostly old guys or are not capable of taking the next step as elite level helpers. And Cleveland? Well the Cavs now posses rising star Kyrie Irving, a young group of talent, and the first pick in this draft. What's more is that Cleveland has a lot of cap space, enough to sign LeBron James and then some in 2014 or 2015, depending on if he opts out of his contract early or not.

   See this? This never would have happened. Jordan was a career Bull, excluding his late career stint with Washington that no one was offended by, and Bird and Magic are as pure to their teams as pure can be. LeBron James had to leave to earn a title, how bad his supporting cast was is irrelevant in this discussion. The greatest players to ever play were revered as heroes, not villains, like LeBron. If LeBron wants to be hailed as a champion, he will do so by proving himself to be a hero, something he can only do if he wins back the hearts of Cleveland, given they weren't all destroyed when he left.

30 Alternate Universes for the Future of the NBA (1-10)

   If  the iconic show, The Big Bang Theory, has taught us anything, it is that which is within reach of the imagination is within reach of our hands. That which can be dreamed, may be lived. Those who live in fear and isolation may live in pride and adulation. After decades of shows like Jersey Shore and Friends dominating the airwaves, the proud might of nerds everywhere collectively thrust forth a sitcom with deep values and nerd core references with more intensity than an ion ray. Which, I assume is a Star Trek weapon of some sort. Sorry, I'm not from that world. Anyway, in this universe, nerds may date gorgeous women, people are judged based on characteristics and qualities as much as wealth and attractiveness, and Sheldon Cooper exists. Clearly this is the superior universe.

BAZZINGA!!

   I craft this point with the intention of setting up two others. One, an early pitch for an upcoming article where I compare NBA teams to sitcom heroes, and two, life isn't fair. Why shouldn't we get to live in a world of fairness, geekiness, and bazzinganess? Only one dimension receives this blessing, in this case, the dimension existing within CBS. Only one reality may occur, and 29 teams may feel the unfair wrath of fate mocking them as it blesses a compatriot with the gift of victory. Some teams are destined to suck forever, but in each of the following situations, the blessed underdogs receive opportunities to find joy.

THE HIGHLIGHT FACTORY EMPIRE 

   If you follow the NBA, you've heard the rumors of a potential Los Angeles exodus. You've listened to experts say that the superstars of the Pacific have their sights set on traveling eastward to Hotlanta. While it is true that Dwight Howard grew up in the city of Atlanta, and that Chris Paul has a deep seeded love for it, the odds of the Hawks being able to pull of such a Heist is relatively unthinkable. But.....

  Chris Paul can no longer handle the pressure of working with man child Blake Griffin or his side-kick DeAndre. Clippers management returns to its roots by successfully pissing off the best thing to have ever happened to them. Dwight Howard takes one final look up to the rafters of the Staples Center as he realizes that he has no desire to fill the shoes of Shaq, Wilt or Kareem. A concentrated Dwight is distracted by a whisper. "Hey! Dwight!", the whisper cries. Dwight turns to see Cliff Paul before him armed with a State Farm notebook and car keys. "I'm bailing, Atlanta is the new L.A. You down?" Dwight pauses for a second before deciding, "Screw everybody, I'm going home." The marriage between the stars and the city is beautiful as Poppoknight Mike Budenholzer is the perfect balance for both Paul and Howard. Howard matures as Paul learns to relax the reigns, and the duo lead Atlanta to four championships. After the run, Paul goes into insurance with his brother as Dwight sits calmly in his living room, content to never visit Orlando, Los Angeles, Houston, or Dallas again.

   BOSTON, SITH OF THE NBA

   The Celtics possess several startling unknowns as a franchise. How will Rajon Rondo's leg recover, what do we do with Paul Pierce, and can Fab Melo speak any English at all? Better yet, can he think coherently? In time we will have answers to all of our questions. (Hint, in order, the answers go, not as hoped, trade him, and no, definitely not.)

   However, this is Boston we're talking about. No city is so strong, no history is so rich, no fans so passionate. Paul Pierce leaves in search of a title, as his elite level window closes rapidly. In a gutsy decision, the Celtics move Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, and other picks and assets for a newly invigorated Boogie Cousins. Demarcus develops a close relationship with Bill Russell, and posts 25/12/2 per game, claiming the league's top center opening. Rondo heals as planned and learns to shoot with at least marginal consistency. The young Celtics gradually improve until a breakout season leads to years and years of elite status. Paul Pierce returns for a one day contract so that he may retire a Celtic. Bill Russell, rather than dying, climbs to the top of the Garden and ascends into heaven in a chariot of fire as was always expected.



   DEVELOPEMENTAL STRING THEORY AND SUPERHUMAN ACTIVITY

   In the alternate universe I hinted at earlier, Shelden and Leonard create a time machine and travel back to 1992, Chicago. It is here the two scientists rendezvous with Michael Jordan, in hopes of acquiring superhuman DNA. His Airness agrees, but only under the condition they return him to present day in his dimension. Young Jordan unites with old Jordan and agrees to play for the Bobcats. Here, he joins forces with Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd Gilchrist to win eight straight NBA titles, after a gut feeling tells him to not quit the sport for baseball.

  

   Otherwise...the Bobcats might not make the playoffs for a decade...



"No me, it isn't a dream...me? Wake up Mike."

EVERY ROSE HAS ITS' THORNS

   Media and fans alike have scrutinized Derrick Rose to no end about the severity of his ACL injury. Critics have questioned his toughness, his confidence, and even his heart. You can't compare the injuries of Iman Shumpert to Derrick Rose, as tempting as a comparison as it may be. While the two young guards did both experience the same injury within mere hours of each other, their paths to recovery were far different. Iman returned to action when he felt like he could contribute to the Knicks success in any form. Rose has been practicing for months, and is capable of contributing, but as a superstar in this league, Derrick wants to return only when he has the confidence that he can dominate a game. I could write an entirely independent article about his recovery, and I might. In a perfect world, Rose could return faster and more agile than ever, fortunately for Chi-Town, this reality is closer than most people think.

   The Chicago Bulls pull off a traditional title run spearheaded by newly enthroned MVP Derrick Rose and flanked by Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. The tough minded, physical Bulls battle through adversary after adversary, en route to the beginning of a new Chicago legacy. While they can't guarantee titles, the Bulls promise to deliver hard-fought and physical basketball every night for the next ten years.

 

Well that sounds absolutely marvelous doesn't it Derrick?

   WITNESS THE RESSURECTION

   Deep in his heart, LeBron James feels great remorse for abandoning his hometown, Cleveland. He's had his fun in Miami, won a few rings, built a few sand castles, but the gaping, Cleveland shaped void in him beckons him home. True, Cavaliers fans rioted in the streets as LeBron fled for South Beach, but common sense says fans would welcome him back with open arms.  Sure enough, LeBron James returns to the motherland, with a far superior team to the one he controlled in the city years ago. Mo Williams is now Kyrie Irving. Drew Gooden is now Nerlens Noel, and Larry Hughes is Dion Waiters. With this new cast of extremely likable heroes, LeBron wins four rings in his hometown, upping his total to 7, and passing MJ. LeBron retires with love in his heart and joy in his eyes in his nearby Akron estate. Uncle Drew leads the Cavaliers to one more title after James calls it quits.

   Even in a world where LeBron remains in Miami, the future looks bright for Cleveland. A nucleus of young stars could be exactly what Cleveland needs to excel to elite status, the addition of the best player in the world doesn't hurt either.

This had to be so hard to photoshop...

   MARK CUBAN'S DIARY

   "Dear Diary, today, Dirk, Chris Paul and I went out to eat to celebrate our newest championship. We went to the Cheesecake Factory, which I decided I liked. So I bought it. Chris told me that he wanted to stay in Dallas forever, and I reminded him we have to play away games. Chris laughed, and made me his son's god-father. Dirk confided to me that he plans to retire after we win the title next year to pursue a life of duck watching. I always knew he admired the awkwardness of the duck, why else would he shoot fadeaways like that? Gotta go, Shark Tank must be filmed. It's not easy running the highest rated tv show in history!"

Here mallard mallard mallard, here boy...

   MILE HIGH TITLE HEIST

   Most NBA followers question the ability of the Nuggets to take the next step toward elite level productivity, and with good reason. As history has shown, champion level teams have champion level superstars. The star by committee brand of basketball in Colorado is fun, fast, and balanced, but without one guy who can step up to make shots, there's no possible way to get over the hump right?

  Well, maybe in this universe they can. The Nuggets sign Lionel Hollins as coach, a move that most experts initially question, but quickly agree with. The fast paced style of the Nuggets fights to average over 110 points per game, with seven players averaging in double figures. The tough defensive mindedness of Lionel Hollins holds opposing teams in the nineties nearly nightly, giving birth to the defensive-minded, high scoring champions. JaVale McGee achieves a doctorate in psychology from three different Ivy League schools.



No? Too much of a stretch?

MO TOWN GIANTS

   The Pistons future is filled with promise. Big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond could be studs in this league, and the pairing of an uber athlete and a quick passing intellectual is tantalizing. Detroit's towers lead them to the playoffs, where they out muscle and out man competitors in pursuit of a title. Maybe not as much upside as Charlotte's future, but it might be more realistic.

Nope, no, that is absolutely not the right one.

SPLASH BROTHERS CENTRAL

   I wanted to write something beautiful and hypnotic about the Golden State Warriors, but as it turns out, someone has already preformed this task to the pinnacle of perfection.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9278886/the-not-true-story-2012-13-golden-state-warriors

Pictured: Cult leader Stephen Curry

FEAR THE BEARD-LINSANI-ASIK...?

   No one is sure where Dwight Howard is planning on going or what he is doing, not even Dwight. In the situation that Dwight bolts for Houston however, Rockets fans will be in for a treat. A show staring Asian athlete star/YouTube jockey/talented point guard Jeremy Lin, bearded wonder/potential pirate/NBA All-star James Harden, and all around weird guy Omer Asik is fun enough, but adding basket case Dwight Howard seems almost unfair. A team with that many enjoyable personalities that also happens to play a free-baling style of fast paced offense is a must-watch. In the situation Dwight Howard chooses Houston, the Rockets can be viewed as a title contender, and rest assured, I will bandwagon fan them. I don't even care if I'm fair-weather, that is too much fun on one court. If Dwight doesn't join the Rockets, I will still watch every game in hopes that Asik will do something really weird on national television. Either way, the Rockets are blasting off!

I'm really sorry for the rocket pun. I've been writing this for too long.

   This concludes the first ten futures of the NBA, check back soon for the next twenty. I hope to have them uploaded within the next few days. Thanks for reading!