Ira Winderman

When the Heat, Bulls and Knicks gathered at what essentially turned into the Chicago board of trade in July 2010, the plan was to split up the spoils of enduring success.

During those frantic days with the league's marquee franchises sequestered in Chicago, the great divide, or at least division of premium free-agent talent, seemingly was conquered, albeit with a few shuttle flights to Cleveland as part of the process.

It essentially was the NBA's Potsdam Conference, the power players of the league partitioned.

The Heat would get LeBron James and Chris Bosh, while also keeping Dwyane Wade. The Knicks would get Amare Stoudemire. The Bulls would land Carlos Boozer.

Those would be the faces of the NBA Finals for years to come.

Or not.

When the NBA playoffs open, it will be a story about more than traditional powers and traditional players.

NBA finals: Heat def. Thunder 4-1 Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images The King is finally crowned Winderman: LeBron James has been a prodigy, superstar and villain. And now he's champion. The journey has left the league and Finals MVP humbled and happy for those closest to him. Ring 'em up: LeBron, Heat beat Thunder for title PBT: Like LeBron, Wade also had to grow up PBT: Second title puts Wade in upper echelon PBT: If not Heat-Thunder, who can win next year? PBT: LeBron-Durant rivalry is just beginning PBT: Perkins played with torn groin in Finals PBT: Thunder hope to learn from painful lesson PBT: Miller's 3-point barrage helps Heat win title Cleveland moves on as LeBron crowned champ Vote: How many titles will LeBron win? Interactive: Is LeBron sports' most hated?

Indeed, even for the revitalized San Antonio Spurs, a Kobe Bryant back at the top of the scoring list, and Boston's Big Three as we know them, the end may be near.

The kids are coming, and they might be staying in the championship mix for a while.

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden aren't going anywhere any time soon.

Rudy Gay and Mike Conley could have Memphis opponents singing the blues for a while.

Ty Lawson has the Nuggets playing at pace.

Roy Hibbert, figuratively, is the next big thing in Indiana.

Blake Griffin has the Clippers at heretofore unrealized heights.

And it's not just the individual new blood.

It's the perennial contenders infused with the possibilities of youth.

It's Rajon Rondo emerging as the definitive leader in Boston, after playing mostly as afterthought during the Celtics' most recent championship run.

It's Kawhi Leonard providing the youth that kept Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan fresh during the regular season in San Antonio.

It's Andrew Bynum proving every bit as essential for the Lakers as Kobe.

The kids? They're all right, having taken flight.