The official announcement comes tonight in New Orleans, but the NBA already has its All-Star ballots ready, if not yet online.

The Wizards got their 'Big Three' on there: guard Gilbert Arenas and forwards Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler.

I've always wondered how they decided who to put on the ballot, so this was interesting to learn (from the official release):

One hundred twenty players -- 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences -- are listed on the NBA All-Star ballot, with 24 guards, 24 forwards and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media experts who regularly cover the NBA. This year’s panel included Ric Bucher (ESPN the Magazine), Rick Bonnell (Charlotte Observer), David DuPree (USA Today), Ernie Johnson (TNT), Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated), Mike Monroe (San Antonio Express News) and Sam Smith (Chicago Tribune).

The game will be held at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008. Online voting ends Jan. 20.

-- John Taylor