Candidates for the 2012 USA Men's Olympic Basketball Team

As I caught highlights of the USA Men’s Basketball team’s 116-85 drubbing of Australia, which left them just two wins shy of bringing back the Gold medal, I found myself thinking ahead to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 

Many of the players on the current team are unlikely to stay on for the next go.  Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer, and Tayshaun Prince will likely pass on the chance to compete again—especially if they capture the Gold this year.

Bryant will be too focused on adding title rings to his fingers, Wade's knee is too iffy, Kidd will be retired, etc.   

Sure enough, a friend's email sparked my imagination.  I started thinking of potential replacements among the young guys in the NBA. 

Fast-forwarding four years and projecting where they would be skill and talent-wise, I found myself coming up with more than enough names to replace those who will likely be gone.  That led me to entertain myself with a list of players who I think would be gold-medal worthy. 

There’s one catch. 

I tried to come up with a team of players who have not competed in the Olympics before.  So right off the bat, I've taken away LeBron James, Chris Paul and anyone else on the current team.  

The criteria is simple:

1. The player has never been on the Olympic team (FIBA is excluded).
2. The player must currently be in the NBA (no college players).
3. The player cannot be likely to compete for another international team.
4. Roster limit is 12, composed of two point guards, three shooting guards, two small forwards, three power forwards, and two centers.

My team is as follows, in order of the depth chart:

Point Guards:        Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo

Shooting Guards:  

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