The Ripple Effect: How D-Wade and Rondo's Comments Really Impact Team USA

Two members of the Boston Celtics have voiced their distaste for the current system of Olympic basketball. The difference in their reasoning, however, is quite remarkable.

In a Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida interview with Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen about Olympic complaints, Allen made quite the enticing argument.

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"You talk about the patriotism that guys should want to play for, but you (need to) find a way to entice the guys," Allen said. "It's not the easiest thing in the world if you play deep in the playoffs and then you get two, three weeks off and then you start training again to play more basketball where it requires you to be away from home and in another country. It's fun, but your body does need a break."

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Allen continued to voice his opinion, claiming that:

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"Everybody says, 'Play for your country.' But (NBA players are) commodities, your businesses. You think about it, you do camps in the summer, you have various opportunities to make money. When you go overseas and play basketball, you lose those opportunities, what you may make… If I'm an accountant and I get outsourced by my firm, I'm going to make some money somewhere else."

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An interesting argument from the league's all-time leading three-point shooter. So much so that it's sparked interest from one of the league's biggest stars: Miami's Dwyane Wade.

According to ESPN's Michael Wallace, Wade has relayed the sentiment that NBA players should be paid for their Olympic contributions. The significance behind the forthcoming statement is that Wade has played in two Olympic games, winning both a Gold and Bronze medal as the co-captain of the United States' basketball team.

Nevertheless, Wade doesn't seem to keen on keeping the current system intact.

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"It's a lot of things you do for the Olympics—a lot of jerseys you sell," Wade said after the Heat's practice on Wednesday in advance of Thursday's game against Chicago.

"We play the whole summer. I do think guys should be compensated. Just like I think college players should be compensated as well. Unfortunately, it's not there. But I think it should be something, you know, there for it."

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Wade continued this statement with a resounding:

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"The biggest thing is now you get no rest," Wade said. "So you go to the end of the season, [Team USA] training camp is two weeks later. You're giving up a lot to do it. It's something you want to do. But it's taxing on your body. You're not playing for the dollar. But it would be nice if you would get compensated."

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Wade later clarified these statements, tweeting that his love for the game and pride for the country outweighs any monetary desire. He also eased the tension by stating that he will be a part of the US team when they travel to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Regardless of Wade's decision to play without monetary benefits, he and Ray Allen's comments are likely to to stir some commotion within the NBA community—more so than the effect on NBA players could be that on any collegiate player who eventually takes his place on Team USA's roster.

While Wade's comments on his love for the game and pride for his country would be the ideal reasoning behind playing for Team USA, it is fair to consider his proposition.

Not only are the Olympians sacrificing their bodies, but they're also doing a global marketing campaign for the NBA every time they hit the floor. In return, it wouldn't be such a bad idea for these players to be compensated in one way or another.

The question no one wants to hear, however, is what if this takes away from the sport?

If representing your country becomes yet another form of financial benefit, how are we to uphold tradition and honor? Even if the United States comes away with a gold medal, how could we even compare these games to the passionate performances of players of the past?

In my eyes, you couldn't.

As for that other Celtic who has no Olympic interest, Rajon Rondo kept it short and sweet.

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"No, I don't [have interest in playing]," he said. "I just don't…Wondering why? I love my summers. I'll leave it at that."

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Believe it or not, Rondo's "time off" approach may be more enticing to players than some extra change in their pockets. As Allen so eloquently put it, a deep playoff run is already taxing enough on a player's body that the following NBA regular season becomes a struggle to prepare for.

With the lockout-condensed season, that truth becomes even more evident; so much so that the NBA's best facilitator will not be a part of the United States' attempt at a second-consecutive gold medal.