It's never too early to discuss next season in the NBA. 

Once the champion is crowned, the other 29 teams will begin concocting a plan of attack in hopes of becoming NBA champions next year.

That starts with the NBA Draft and kicks into high gear during free agency. Nearly every team will be in play for the top-named free agents due to the increasing salary cap. Yes, even the Philadelphia 76ers are technically in play for Kevin Durant.

Someone check on Joel Embiid if he still thinks this is possible.

But let's look ahead. Here are some impending roster changes that could change the landscape of NBA 2K17.

Kevin Durant

Let's start with the obvious one.

The biggest free agent on the market is the former Most Valuable Player and multi-time scoring champion. Durant won't go to the Sixers (sorry Joel). There are plenty of teams, though, that would make sense for Durant. (That being said, let's be clear that it seems he won't be leaving, but hey, what's the fun in that?)

To pry Durant out of Oklahoma City, it'll take a franchise that's built on winning and has a championship pedigree. The Boston Celtics have come up in some rumors, as have the Houston Rockets and even the San Antonio Spurs.

"Durant moving to Oakland would be the closest thing to unfair as humanly possible, and it would also make online players unbearable."

But here's a fun experiment you can do at home: Take this current Golden State team, and insert Durant into the starting lineup.

After these first two games of the Finals, imagine the domination?

Durant moving to Oakland would be the closest thing to unfair as humanly possible, and it would also make online players unbearable. I drool at the thought of an improved virtual Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Durant suiting up for an unbeatable perimeter attack. And, of course, there's Draymond Green doing Draymond Green things. Like dropkicking Steven Adams in the nether-region. That'd be fun.

The Warriors would not lose more than five games with Durant in the lineup -- even if they're on the back-to-back championship hangover. They'd also break plenty of offensive records along the way. Durant would be fun on any team, but the presumptive back-to-back NBA champs are the runaway favorite for his most intriguing landing spot.

Dwight Howard

Mike D'Antoni is the new head coach of the Houston Rockets. One would think that means goodbye Dwight Howard.

Superman should be a free agent once again, and this could be his last chance of securing a max contract. Now, I don't think any team really wants to give Howard a $100-plus million contract that spans four years -- I would imagine three years is the limit most would want to go -- but if one team makes the most sense out of any other, it could be the Dallas Mavericks.

"If the Mavericks retain Chandler Parsons, then a Parsons, Wesley Matthews, Dirk and Howard lineup would be a fun squad to use in 2K."

The Dallas Mavericks struck out on Howard in the 2013 sweepstakes. Mark Cuban even constructed a cartoon video showing the number of championships Howard could bring to Dallas if teamed with Dirk Nowitzki. Those days of multiple chips are gone, but still the idea remains. Dirk is getting older, Howard wants to win and the Mavericks need some sort of jolt in the arm after last year's DeAndre Jordan fiasco.

If the Mavericks retain Chandler Parsons, then a Parsons, Wesley Matthews, Dirk and Howard lineup would be a fun squad to use in 2K. The number of pick and rolls and attempted 3-pointers would be astronomical.

DeMar DeRozan

First thing's first: DeMar DeRozan should not leave the Toronto Raptors.

He has every right to. Being a free agent for the first time ever, a player of DeRozan's caliber would be highly touted. Who wouldn't want an athletic two guard and All-Star who took the Raptors to their first ever Eastern Conference Finals?

...Okay, yeah, so a lot of people think DeRozan is overrated, but still the point remains!

"However, as days pass during free agency, DeRozan donning the purple and gold in Los Angeles could become more realistic."

DeRozan has a good thing going for him in Toronto, and it would be wise to not abandon a winning situation like the Raptors (same goes for KD in OKC). They ran into a Cleveland Cavaliers team at the peak of their powers. The Raptors can still get back to the Eastern Conference Finals and give it another go.

However, as days pass during free agency, DeRozan donning the purple and gold in Los Angeles could become more realistic. A return to his home state and ushering in a new era of the Los Angeles Lakers could be more enticing than being the ambassador for an entire country. Plus, there's some speculation Toronto might not offer the max. That being said, there's Drake. There will always be Drizzy.

If DeRozan decided he was going going back back to Cali Cali, the Lakers would become a fun project with that young team. D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson (presumably re-signed this offseason) and Julius Randle are the core of the future. Mix those three with the second pick in the draft and a proven scorer in DeRozan, and the Lakers suddenly don't look too bad under Luke Walton.

That's a weird thing to type after the last few years in Lakerland.

Al Horford

This might be the end of the Atlanta Hawks as we know it. And it might begin with the departure of Al Horford.

Atlanta's big man has been the main staple behind Atlanta's resurgence since 2008. The Hawks went from bottom-cellar joke to a perennial playoff team in the Eastern Conference.

"Horford might be the most underrated free agent that's likely to leave."

Horford has done all he can to give the Hawks a chance to win every night, but it seems they've perhaps hit their plateau. The Hawks are not winning a title with the roster currently constructed, and Horford can be the first to consider switching teams. (However, I will remind folks as always that the Hawks can offer more money and years than any other team.)

The four-time All-Star can still be an efficient 18-point, 10-rebound guy that can anchor a defense if given the right opportunity and situation. Teams capable of stretching the floor from all five positions would be a good place to start. The San Antonio Spurs would be a great fit, especially if Tim Duncan finally decides to hang up his shoes. So would the Orlando Magic if they have an alternative trade in mind for Nikola Vucevic.

The Dallas Mavericks could be a potential landing spot if they don't bring in Dwight Howard.

Horford might be the most underrated free agent that's likely to leave. He'd surely stay in Atlanta if he had made it to one NBA Finals, but he's someone who you would think wants to win a title, and that spot may not be in Atlanta.