Tokyo Olympic Basketball Tournament Discussion

[Chuck Diesel]

Team USA got a big boost today with early commitments from Dame Lillard and Draymond Green, per The Athletic. Jason Tatum looks like the next big name to follow suit. Steph Curry is still "literally 50-50." The Americans will take part in a Las Vegas training camp from July 6th-18th, with scrimmages against Nigeria, Australia, Argentina and Spain before jetting off to Tokyo for the Olympic Games, which run from July 24th-August 7th.

Not sure how much they're going to adhere to the (somewhat strange) 60 odd player pool they released in February, but it's probably safe to assume no one still playing the in the playoffs will be taking part. Lebron and AD have already announced they're out. What could be more fun than Zion posterizing some hapless Lithuanian?

https://theathletic.com/news/damian-lillard-draymond-green-commit-to-team-usa-for-olympics/vI6NU8zzXIhk

https://www.usab.com/mens/national-team/schedule.aspx

https://www.usab.com/mens/national-team/roster.aspx

[UcanUwill]

Those Las Vegas friendlies will tell a lot, They were losing friendlies in 04 and in 19, and they lost official games multiple times those summers as well. Very looking forward to this, I will be crushed if my nation doesnt qualify and join this USA team in action, very looking forward those qualifying tournaments as well.

[lambchop]

So that camp starts while the playoffs are still going, right? I wonder if younger guys like Mitchell, Ayton and Booker will join despite deep playoff runs.

[Johnny Tomala]

So that camp starts while the playoffs are still going, right? I wonder if younger guys like Mitchell, Ayton and Booker will join despite deep playoff runs.

Ayton plays for Bahamas.

[UcanUwill]

So that camp starts while the playoffs are still going, right? I wonder if younger guys like Mitchell, Ayton and Booker will join despite deep playoff runs.

Ayton plays for Bahamas, and yes, FIBA will suffer a lot since it clashes with still outgoing NBA and European leagues.

[Chuck Diesel]

So that camp starts while the playoffs are still going, right? I wonder if younger guys like Mitchell, Ayton and Booker will join despite deep playoff runs.

Ayton represents the Bahamas and I'd be shocked if either Mitchell or Booker take part. Looking like the roster will be made up entirely of dudes from teams who missed the playoffs or were out in the 1st round.

Lillard/Lowry
Curry/Beal
Butler/Ingram
Tatum/Green
Bam/Zion

Best case scenario for 10. I'd role with VanVleet and Brogdon for the final two, with an emphasis on toughness, shooting, ball handling and defensive versatility. Zach LaVine, Julius Randle and Jerami Grant are also in the mix.

[thebigbird]

They won’t do it but the US should punt on this olympics and just send dudes under 25 or something. Guys need rest after such a condescended/weird season.

[lambchop]

So that camp starts while the playoffs are still going, right? I wonder if younger guys like Mitchell, Ayton and Booker will join despite deep playoff runs.

Ayton plays for Bahamas, and yes, FIBA will suffer a lot since it clashes with still outgoing NBA and European leagues.

Ok yea but which European leagues are still playing? Italy, Spain, Germany, VTB league, Greece are done.

[WarriorGM]

The projected team is looking a little small isn't it? Not many large guys.

[HeatIn5]

They won’t do it but the US should punt on this olympics and just send dudes under 25 or something. Guys need rest after such a condescended/weird season.

I think it will just be up to the guys. The ones that want to do it will.


I think Curry ends up doing it, same w Beal. Wonder if they'd bring Russ over a guy like Lowry

[Nate505]

They won’t do it but the US should punt on this olympics and just send dudes under 25 or something. Guys need rest after such a condescended/weird season.

Perhaps, but on the other hand, maybe winning a gold medal is a big deal to some of these guys. It would be to me. Not as important as an NBA Championship, but still.

[SF_Warriors]

The projected team is looking a little small isn't it? Not many large guys.

I think they'd be okay up front with Bam, JAllen, draymond, zion. Is there a chance draymond gets cut if too many guys commit?

[HeatIn5]

The projected team is looking a little small isn't it? Not many large guys.

I think they'd be okay up front with Bam, JAllen, draymond, zion. Is there a chance draymond gets cut if too many guys commit?

I think Brook would be good to bring

[Chuck Diesel]

The projected team is looking a little small isn't it? Not many large guys.

We're lacking in top tier bigs compared to the rest of the world and in the past Jerry Colangelo/Coach K/Pop have erred on the side of taking too many bigs who turned out to be useless. I'd rather load up on shooting and defense than feel obligated to choose from a pool that consists of Brook Lopez, Christian Wood, Myles Turner, Mason Plumlee, Andre Drummond, Dwight Howard, Jarrett Allen, JaVale McGee, Montrezl Harrell, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin.

Richaun Holmes and Daniel Gafford aren't on the list but deserve to be in front of a lot of those guys. Gobert absolutely killed Myles Turner in the game that knocked us out of the tournament in 2019 and I don't have a ton of faith in him after missing so much time. Would much rather make the often plodding FIBA bigs adjust to us.

[JB2]

They won’t do it but the US should punt on this olympics and just send dudes under 25 or something. Guys need rest after such a condescended/weird season.

Why? A gold medal, in many (but different) ways, is as meaningful an NBA title.

[SF_Warriors]

The projected team is looking a little small isn't it? Not many large guys.

I think they'd be okay up front with Bam, JAllen, draymond, zion. Is there a chance draymond gets cut if too many guys commit?

I think Brook would be good to bring

Oh, I must have missed him while I was glancing through the invitees. Yea, either brook/allen would be nice to have. Not too sure about brook's availability after the playoffs though, but he wouldnt be a bad fit. As long as bam can play I think they can manage up front.

[Theo Ratliff]

This might be the weakest Olympic team of all time. They really can't afford any injuries or late withdrawals.

[DaGawd]

Then the next season starts in October as per normal..so that’s like 3 months tops for of rest for finals teams. I’d respectfully choose to sit this out if I were a player. More power to the ones who decide to commit tho.

[Feed Your Head]

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[Chuck Diesel]

Not really news that Team USA would be "hopeful of securing a commitment from Bradley Beal", but Stein tweeted it anyway. Hopefully this means a commitment is close.

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