Allen Iverson will miss the All Star Game for personal reasons, so somebody else has to start.  Via Marc Stein:

But choosing a starter to replace Bryant was Karl's call, just as East coach Stan Van Gundy will select the player -- likely Boston's Rajon Rondo or Atlanta's Joe Johnson -- to start in place of Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, who withdrew Thursday because one of his young children is ill.

Before you say it, I know that this isn't important and I know that it doesn't do much to make us a better team.  That said, it would be a nice little treat.  A little like Gerald Green winning the dunk contest when the team was dive bombing into the lottery.