In the doldrums of August, basketball fans and pundits often engage in speculative endeavors.
Who will win Rookie of the Year? Which team will experience the most dramatic swing in the win column? Which franchise will hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy come June?
Here is a breakdown of players poised for breakout performances in 2015-16, who enter the season with a realistic shot at their very first All-Star appearances in Toronto next February.
Eastern Conference
Best Bets
Goran Dragic (2014-15: 16.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 17.4 PER)
The Dragon has been on the verge of an All-Star bid for a long time. However, a Western Conference point guard spot in the league's annual showcase has proven as elusive as a desert mirage in recent years. In the talent-diluted East, Dragic's odds of earning his first All-Star nod are better than ever.
Andre Drummond (2014-15: 13.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 21.4 PER)
With three seasons under his belt, Drummond is still valued for his immense upside. One of the league's few remaining traditional big men, the Pistons' burgeoning star has the potential to dominate games in the paint - on both sides of the ball - and could parlay his second consecutive summer with USA Basketball into an impressive 2015-16 campaign.
On the Fringe
Nikola Vucevic (2014-15: 19.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 52.3 FG%, 21.5 PER)
Vucevic may be hard-pressed to earn a trip to Toronto in February primarily due to the potential struggles of his youth-laden Orlando Magic squad. If the Magic get rolling early, though, expect Vucevic to receive consideration.
Bradley Beal (2014-15: 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 40.9 3P%, 14 PER)
If Beal can manage to stay healthy, his All-Star odds will look good. Other Eastern Conference backcourt stars who stand in his way: LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, DeMar DeRozan, and Paul George.
Long Shots: Kemba Walker, Victor Oladipo
Walker and Oladipo may still be a year or two away from cracking an All-Star roster. Next season, both will likely be on the outside looking in, with their teams' potentially subpar records being the biggest culprit.
Western Conference
Best Bets
Kawhi Leonard (2014-15: 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 22 PER)
With new teammate LaMarcus Aldridge on board, Leonard will play most of his minutes at small forward - enabling the dynamic 6-foot-7 wing to maximize his talents. The Claw has the potential to go from being good at everything to being great at several things next season.
Draymond Green (2014-15: 11.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 16.4 PER)
Armed with a championship belt and a handsome new contract, Green still has room to grow. The 2014-15 All-Defensive first team member should have the freedom to impact games in a multitude of ways in 2015-16, making him an ideal candidate for an All-Star reserve spot.
On the Fringe
Mike Conley (2014-15: 15.8 points, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 18.6 PER)
Conley is the perennial "close but no cigar" All-Star snub in the West. Perhaps 2015-16 will be the year the former No. 4 draft pick breaks through the the wall standing between him and basketball's highest-profile exhibition game.
Gordon Hayward (2014-15: 19.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 20.2 PER)
The durable Utah Jazz forward has steadily improved in each of his five years in the league, with 2014-15 being his best to date. While Hayward is skilled in a variety of areas, he may have to take a backseat to any of the following wings in the west: Leonard, Green, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson.
Ty Lawson (2014-15: 15.2 points, 9.6 assists, 1.2 steals, 18.5 PER)
The Denver Nuggets pulled the chute on the Lawson era. He will now have the enviable job of playing alongside two All-Stars in Harden and Dwight Howard in Houston. That should free Lawson to rack up an abundance of dimes, while being presented a ton of open shots due to the attention his aforementioned teammates garner. Although Lawson might yield big numbers next season, it might not be enough to supplant other All-Star point guards.
Long shots: Eric Bledsoe, Andrew Wiggins
While Bledsoe logged career highs in most major statistical categories last season, he will, once again, have to share point guard duties. This will likely stunt his chances of being selected as an All-Star reserve.
If Wiggins, the 20-year-old reigning Rookie of the Year, makes the All-Star team next season, he will join LeBron James and Blake Griffin as notable players to make the team in their sophomore seasons.