The NBA's Perfect All-Star Fix Means Tons of New Drama. We Can't Wait.

Before Tuesday afternoon, NBA All-Star Weekend was a flawed event with several frustrating problems, including but not limited to: drone dunks, an incoherent skills challenge, and a droopy cherry-on-the-top exhibition on Sunday night that isn't entertaining and nobody likes.

Then Tuesday afternoon happened, and the league announced that from now on, the East will no longer compete against the West. Instead two teams of 12 will be hand-picked by captains from each conference—a la what happens at every pickup game on every playground.

This stroke of genius—and the unparalleled, revolutionary levels of drama it will empower—has turned every other blemish into an ignorable footnote. The NBA just saved All-Star Weekend in the greatest way possible

To honor the NBA's momentous decision, here's a predictive look into what can happen at this year's inaugural draft. For argument's sake, we'll say LeBron James and Steph Curry (a debatable choice but please just roll with it) will be voted in as the two captains. Here are the two picks that matter most.

Hands down, by far, crystal clearly the most discussed revelation of the night will be LeBron's first pick. There are so many different roads the world's best player can go down; almost every one will serve as a critical clue for makeshift detectives to figure out where he wants to play next season. Here are the best and worst-case scenarios.

Best-Case Scenario: Paul George

If LeBron chooses George, wi-fi routers all across southern California will spontaneously combust, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka will tap purple champagne flutes, and Sam Presti will check into the nearest silent retreat campground.

This would spray gasoline from a firehose onto a rumor that won't die, and might as well be marketed as The Decision Part II, because LeBron is fundamentally announcing his plan to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in July.

Whether or not that's ultimately a smart basketball move is beside the point. James choosing George in an otherwise meaningless game would create unprecedented buzz. The plot would thicken for an offseason subplot that hangs over the entire sport every single day. This would be heaven for people who care about that stuff (aka everyone who enjoys the NBA).

A slight runner-up here is Kawhi Leonard, who's another star on a team that can realistically acquire James this summer. (LeBron plus the San Antonio Spurs equals a never-ending basketball honeymoon.) If he chooses either him or George, it will (deservedly) be the most significant story in the NBA for at least a week.

Worst-Case Scenario: Kevin Love

There's a good chance Love qualifies for his second-straight All-Star appearance. If he does, and LeBron chooses him first, it'll dampen rumors of his departure and send speculation heading in the opposite direction. That's wonderful for people who root for Cleveland to be relevant, but is also the more boring alternative.

LeBron's aforementioned free agency rules the day, and gives tangible weight to his first pick (especially if it trolls Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert) in ways nothing else about this process probably can.

But even after that initial selection is dissected in a million different ways, the most memorable moment of the night will be the microsecond after everyone realizes who Curry is forced to choose last.

Of course, everyone in the pool is an All-Star who should be very proud of himself. But getting picked last for any type of competition is still one of the most humiliating experiences a human being can endure. It means, in front of the entire world, the league's two best/most popular players think you're bad and/or boring relative to everyone they can choose from.

Best-Case Scenario: Draymond Green

Right off the bat, any opportunity to create a rift inside the league's present-day dynasty is a win for competitive balance and a blow to any claim of existing light years ahead of 29 other organizations.

Assuming Curry chooses Kevin Durant first, there may be palpable pressure on him to fill out his team with the core pieces who've helped him win two MVP awards and two NBA championship rings. Being that Green and Thompson are objectively worse than a slew of other options Curry will be presented with (especially in an All-Star game) a real chance for drama may bubble to the surface.

Imagine Draymond's response when a reporter first asks him how it felt to be passed over and over and over again by Curry? It's all very sensational, sure, but only in the most amazing way.

Worst-Case Scenario: There is no Worst-Case Scenario, but DeMar DeRozan comes close

No offense to DeRozan, who should be available (though it's not a lock given Bradley Beal's steady ascension), but he's the last pick, right? Again, no disrespect meant to the man's incredible, albeit limited, offensive repertoire, but there just doesn't seem to be any reason why someone would be super excited to play with DeRozan, even in a game that doesn't matter.

Otherwise, maybe someone like Kemba Walker goes here, and it just sort of makes sense? That would be lame. Controversy must shine in this new format, and the league deserves a round of applause for manufacturing stakes in an otherwise sterile environment.