USA Basketball: Ranking the 20 Players Selected to the Olympic Roster Pool

Earlier today, Coach K and Jerry Colangelo released the list of 20 players selected as finalists for the 2012 Olympic team.  Amar'e Stoudemire, Danny Granger and Stephen Curry were the most glaring omissions from the list—a list that is is heavy on point guards and undersized centers. 

Here, in my opinion, are the 12 that should be sent to London and the eight that should be sent packing, assuming their health holds out.  The list is position-based to make sure that there are at least two at each position in the top 12.

20. Lamar Odom, SF/PF/C, Dallas Mavericks

It seems almost nonsensical that Lamar Odom even made the list.  Should someone who doesn't even start for his own team be on the Olympic roster? 

I know he was on the 2010 World squad and won Sixth Man of the Year in 2011, but since being traded to the Mavericks, his stats (particularly his PER) have taken a veritable nosedive. 

Seeing as though there are a half-dozen players who play each of his positions better, Lamar will much more likely be spending the summer in Khloe's pool than in London.

19. Chauncey Billups, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers

The only conceivable reason I can think of for Chauncey Billups making the Olympic roster is Coach K's apparent obsession with point guards like him and Jason Kidd, who are a billion years old and half-a-billion years out of their prime. 

Billups isn't particularly good at point guard; he hasn't averaged more than seven dishes since 2007, nor has he made All-NBA first or second team since then.  I know Billups can also play the 2, but the US has other people who can do that! 

Billups would be a reasonably good starter on the Lithuanian or Chinese team, but this is the American one, so I'd pass on him.

18. Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers

True, Andre Iguodala is a well-rounded swingman who is one of the better players on a team that has emerged as a surprising contender in the Eastern Conference.  But, I just don't see him putting up the stats that would suggest "one of the 12 best players in America." 

A swingman should be able to score a lot of points and/or drill a lot of threes.  Iggy has never averaged more than 20 points over any of the seasons in his career. 

This is an Olympic team—not a fantasy draft—so Iggy is another one who can enjoy a summer free of commitments.

17. Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Hornets

Eric Gordon's probably the third-best shooting guard on the list.  But seeing who the competition is, two may be enough (especially considering the roster will almost certainly have three point guards and three small forwards). 

Gordon is somewhat of a one-trick pony, specializing in threes and sporting a 20-point average on a .425 shooting percentage.  Oh, and did I mention he's going to miss about a month of playing time due to a bruised knee?

16. Rudy Gay, SF/PF, Memphis Grizzlies

A 2010 World holdover, Rudy Gay is hurt by the fact that small forward is quite deep in the NBA at the moment, with at least half-a-dozen people better at the position than him. 

The fact that he's never finished in the Top 10 in the NBA in a season-wide statistical category and that he's never averaged 20 points a game doesn't help much, either. 

15. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, Portland Trail Blazers

A third team All-NBA selection in 2011, LaMarcus Aldridge is often considered one of the most underrated players in the NBA.  And count me as someone who underrates him. 

Of the four combo-forward-center men on this list, Aldridge is the one who is least a double-double threat and the one who does the least on the defensive side of the court. 

However, he has finished in the Top 10 in turnover percentage for three straight years.  I'd also discount LMA's chances on account of his lack of international experience.

14. Chris Bosh, PF/C, Miami Heat

Chris Bosh...just not a fan.  Yeah, I know he's got 2008 Olympic experience, but again, there's probably only room for two forward-centers on Team USA's roster, and third's the nerd in this case. 

Since signing with Miami, Bosh has neither averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds nor three assists.  There's no way that you can convince me that Bosh is one of the 20 best American-made players out there—let alone top 12. 

Bosh also lacks the physicality to be an effective center.  And do we really need all three Heat players on there?

13. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Russell Westbrook draws the unlucky No. 13 on this list for a number of reasons; chief among them is the depth at point.  Though he is clearly a top-tier NBA player, there are still a few question marks I see surrounding him. 

First off, he doesn't have any Olympic experience, though he did have the 2010 Worlds.  Additionally, he averages three-and-a-half turnovers a game and has one of the worst assist-to-turnover ratios of anyone on the list.  Lastly, he is locker-room poison. 

Westbrook would obviously slide into the roster if one of the other three point guards I would tap is hurt or fidgeting with his contract.

12. Kevin Love, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Getting the last spot on my ideal roster would be Russell Westbrook's former UCLA teammate, Kevin Love.  Love made a surprise showing in limited minutes at the 2010 Worlds and later returned stateside to lead the league in rebounding—a feat that he's trending to repeat this season. 

I also feel Love is perfectly suited to the international game, as he is a big man who is undersized here, but just right elsewhere. And he feels comfortable shooting from anywhere on the floor.

11. Tyson Chandler, C, New York Knicks

I think this year, with the current crop of international competition, America should have a roster that includes two true centers.  And after Dwight Howard, it's pretty clear to me that the No. 2 American-made true center is Tyson Chandler. 

Chandler, now with the Knicks, is again making his presence known on the defensive side of things. He's averaging a double-double this season while coming off a year where he was second team All-D. 

Chandler was also fifth in defensive win shares per 48 in 2011 and eighth in defensive rating, which I think highlights his defensive prowess—something lacking in many of the shoot-first players on the 20-man roster.

10. Deron Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets

D-Will sneaks in as the third and lowest point guard to still make the roster, largely due to being a holdover from the 2008 team in addition to bringing useful overseas experience to the table (Williams is the only person on this list to have his number retired in Turkey). 

Williams has finished in the Top 5 in total assists and assist percentage every season (including this one) since 2006 and adds to that a scoring average of almost 20 a game.

9. Blake Griffin, PF/C, Los Angeles Clippers

The reigning Slam Dunk Contest champ and Rookie of the Year seems a solid choice at the 4 or the 5.  Blake Griffin brings a solid post presence, including being a double-double threat (he was third in rebounding last season). 

The one thing hurting Griffin is his lack of international competition, which might lead to someone like Bosh being selected over Blake, even though Blake is pretty clearly the better player.

8. Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks

The con regarding 'Melo is that he has an oversized personality, doesn't do much on the defensive end of things and doesn't win much.  The pro is that he is a veteran of two Olympics (plus the '06 Worlds) and has finished in the Top 10 in scoring every season since 2005.  

He is fourth among active players in scoring (trailing LeBron, Kobe and Wade), and the Knicks' woes bury the fact that he's eighth in PER this season at the time of publication. 

'Melo is also the best pure small forward in the league.  Would you seriously choose someone like Rudy Gay or Danny Granger over him?

7. Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat

Once this ankle thing clears up, the veteran of two Olympics and a World seems a lock at one of the two shooting-guard slots.  Since his last Olympics, Dwyane Wade led the league in scoring and made two All-NBA first teams and the NBA Finals. 

He is third among active players (and 10th among players all time) in scoring average.  Wade is also one of a select group in NBA history to finish in the Top 10 in points and assists per game in the same season multiple times.

6. Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose lit it up at the 2010 Worlds and then returned to Chicago to win the 2011 MVP.  He also finished in the Top 10 in defensive win shares for the 2011 campaign.  

Looking at this season, he appears poised to join Dwyane Wade on a list of players to finish in the Top 10 in PPG and APG multiple times.

5. Chris Paul, PG, Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Paul has been the best point guard in the NBA for the past few seasons, finishing in the Top 4 in assists each of the last five campaigns while leading the league in steals for three of the last four.  Paul also pours in 15-to-20 points a game, has a solid A/T ratio and is the active leader in win shares per 48 minutes. 

His chances at landing a spot on the 2012 roster are bolstered by his appearance in the 2008 Olympics.

4. Kevin Durant, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant was stellar at the 2010 Worlds, and for all intents and purposes, he should have been chosen in 2008 instead of Tayshaun Prince. 

During the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns, Durant led the league in scoring while making first team All-NBA.  And he is a likely MVP candidate this year.

3. Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard is the most dominant center in the world. 

He has won the last three Defensive Player of the Year awards and been All-NBA first team the last four campaigns.  He has finished in the Top 2 in rebounds every year since 2005-06 and in the Top 5 in blocks and defensive win shares every season since 2007-08.  He also is the active leader in field-goal percentage and averages 18 points a game for his career. 

Oh yeah, he's a holdover from 2006 and 2008.

2. LeBron James, SF/PF, Miami Heat

Like Carmelo Anthony and D-Wade, LeBron James is a veteran of 2004, 2006 and 2008. 

Since 2008, he has won two MVP awards and added three first team All-NBA (for a total of five) and first team All-Defensive. 

James is the active leader in PER and points per game and a sure lock for the Olympics.

1. Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant has won five championships (dare I say five more than a certain pair of Miami teammates?) and scored more points than anyone still playing in the NBA.  He just rattled off a streak of four 40-point games, meaning he's the league leader in scoring at this point in the season. 

Bryant has nine All-NBA and All-Defensive first teams apiece, one MVP and four All-Star Game MVPs. 

He can play under any condition, and if there were one player I'd build the Olympic team around, it would be him.