USA Basketball: A New Generation

With the 2010 FIBA World Championships just around the corner (Aug. 28 - Sept. 12) it still appears as if the United States does not have a set roster to compete. Granted, the official roster does not really need to be determined for these competitions but it seems as if it would benifit the entire team.

Taking a look back to the 2008 "Redeem Team" that re-captured gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, there are definitely some pieces that will not be returning for the next Olympic Games, and therefore most likely will not be competing in the FIBA World Championships in Turkey this fall.

But who should compete? Who should represent our country? Well, that decision is obviously up to Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and the USA men's staff (Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Mike D'Antoni, and Nate McMillan) but there's no reason I shouldn't try.

Who I Would Have

First and foremost, this next set of growing stars needs to be formed with the same formula that was used in determining the 2008 squad. There needs to be a "we before me" attitude from every player no matter their role or performance.

Attitude is just as important as skill in this situation because there is no questioning that the United States has the superior talent in the world regardless of who plays.

Beginning with the starting lineup:

PG: Chris Paul, 24 years old

The second-youngest player on the '08 squad, Paul was the player who blossomed more than any competitor for the U.S. in those games.

Though he did not start any games in his first Olympics, Paul showed a knack for playing suffocating defense and displayed the acrobatic plays that our country is known for world-wide.

SG: Carmelo Anthony, 25 years old

This is the toughest starting spot to determine because there are no elite-level players in America aside from Dwyane Wade who are considered two-guards. Anthony at 6-foot-7 present a huge problem for international players because of his size and immense strength advantage on a nightly basis.

Wade, although a more prototypical shooting guard, proved to be the dangerous weapon off the bench that no other country could match when their second-unit came on the floor.

There is simply no player, in this country or abroad, that can stop Anthony from scoring, and he proved two years ago that he is willing to lay his ego aside for the growth of this team.

SF: LeBron James, 25 years old

This is the easiest choice because James is simply the best player in the world. James is a physical specimen that foreign-born players can not match up with.

When opponents are asking for your autograph before games you know you belong in the starting five.

PF: Chris Bosh, 25 years old

Over the next two to three years it is going to be interesting to watch what the leaders of Team USA do with the power forward position. Ideally, there would be a more-defensive oriented player who will get the nod but there were not any of those type of players on the 2008 team and only a select few who were invited to the 2009 USA Basketball mini-camp.

Bosh is a seasoned veteran on the overseas circuit, playing significant minutes for the Redeem Team, and has improved in the NBA more so than any other star in the game.

C: Dwight Howard, 24 years old

The future of American post players, Howard possesses a rare combination of a freakish body and out-of-this-world-like athleticism.

He rebounds like Dennis Rodman and throws down dunks like a young Shaquille O'Neal, no other country has a 7-foot gazelle on their roster like the U.S. does.

Bench:

SG -  Dwyane Wade : Wade was the most impressive player at the 2008 games, leading the team in scoring despite not starting a single game and finishing fourth in minutes per game.

Wade has a unique offensive game and is a much better defender than most give him credit for.

SF/PF - Kevin Durant:  Durant is the best player in the world under 24 years old and his development is continuing at a frightening pace.

He has increased his scoring in his three seasons from 20.3 in '07-'08, to 25.3 in '08-'09, to 29.7 this season. Durant has increased his rebounding, free-throw attempts, and assists as well over his three seasons.

PG -  Deron Williams: Williams is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and he continues to progress. D-Will was a member of the '08 team as well and very well may have been the best third-string point guard in world history.

With his quick feet and absurd strength Williams can play both guard positions as well as defending both.

SF/PF - Josh Smith: This is my dark horse on the team. Smith has the false reputation of being selfish and undeterred by team statistics when in reality his numbers speak for themselves.

Smith is one of the most diverse defenders in basketball history and can defend literally any position on the floor.

There is no American-born player who can step in and get a key steal, dish it off, and receive a thunderous alley-oop like "5" can.

PG - Derrick Rose: Like Williams, Rose is athletically and physically potent enough to be affective against any type of guard. Rose has world-class speed and unbelievable hops for a player his height.

I believe Rose and Paul are the future guards of USA Basketball and this will be Rose's first taste of what it is like to play for the Red, White, and Blue.

PF/C - Kevin Love: Team USA executives have made it no secret that they reward players who bring something unique to the table. There are no post players ahead of Love that have the passing abilities that the UCLA alum has.

Dwight Howard is an awful passer and Chris Bosh is simply average. There is no player in the NBA capable of starting a fast-break quicker than Love and pushing the ball is something that the U.S. is bound to do.

C - Brook Lopez: Similar to Love, Brook Lopez is a very smart basketball player on the floor. Lopez is unique because unlike Howard, the man he would be playing behind, he can knock down the 12-15 footer with ease and will be able to draw defenses out and open up the paint for freak-athletes like LeBron and D-Wade.

Honorable Mention: Danny Granger, Rajon Rondo, Carlos Boozer, Blake Griffin, Greg Oden, Brandon Roy