In new NBA All-Star format, somebody's got to be the last pick

PORTLAND, ORE. – The NBA All-Star Game rosters will be unveiled Thursday before a TNT doubleheader that includes the Timberwolves game at Golden State as the nightcap.

This time, though, friend could become foe.

In an attempt to put some pizazz back into a game that noticeably lacks it, the NBA changed formats. They will announce two teams not East nor West, but chosen and led by captains LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the two leading vote-getters among the game's starters.

That means the Wolves' Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns — selected as reserves by Western Conference coaches — might be opponents.

"That would be a lot of fun," Towns said. "I'd have a blast with that one. If Jimmy gets the ball on the other side, I want to guard him."

James and Curry will alternate picks to assemble their teams, but the draft itself will not be televised, presumably so players picked last won't get their feelings hurt. ESPN's Rachel Nichols launched a Twitter campaign (#TeleviseTheDraft) that wasn't successful.

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers supports that cause and said how coaches vote choosing the game's reserve should be made public, too.

"I don't get that we're worried about hurting peoples' feelings. You're on the All-Star team. How can your feelings be hurt?"

The NHL picked All-Star teams that way — like in a playground game — but offered a vehicle to the last one chosen. Players lobbied to be last.

"You're kidding me," Rivers said. "I love that. We should do that."

Butler missed his third consecutive game because of a sore right knee. Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said Butler is closer to playing again, but wasn't sure if that would be as soon as Thursday's game at Golden State.

"It's how he feels," Thibodeau said. "It's more precautionary. I just want to make sure he's right before we put him back out there."

"You don't realize how much you use your big toe," Crawford said. "Every time you take a step, you do. To be honest with you, it's going to be sore a while, but I don't think it will be a setback. Eventually, it'll get back to normal."

Butler claimed he didn't care if he were chosen for his fourth All-Star Game and said he wanted to vacation with his pal, Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, that long weekend instead.

"He cares," longtime teammate Taj Gibson said of Butler. "Of course, he wants to make All-Star. Once you make it a couple times, I guess he's kind of used to it. He understands when you make it, you don't really have a free week to rest up and get your body back right. They have you doing a lot of stuff. That's why I'm laughing. KAT doesn't know what he's getting himself into."