2012 Summer Olympics: Who Should Play in London for Team USA?

At the beginning of April, it seemed that the Olympic gold medal in men's basketball would be a cakewalk for the United States.

Since then, several of the country's biggest stars (Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick Rose) have been banged up to the point of being unavailable.

With Argentina and France as pool-play opponents, people are beginning to fear for the red, white and blue.

Here, in my opinion, are the 12 players who should be picked for the roster right now. 

First Five Out

Obviously, since a dozen American players are picked, there are many more who will be watching the Olympics from the couch. Here are the five healthy players who just missed the cut in my estimation:

F Rudy Gay, Memphis

F Josh Smith, Atlanta

C Greg Monroe, Detroit

G Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia

G Mike Conley, Memphis

J-Smoove, Iggy and Conley are all solid defensive players. The versatile Smith is also solid from the offensive side, where he averaged more than 18 points a game. Conley is one of the most accurate distributors in the game. 

Iggy would have brought 2010 Worlds experience to the table, as would have Rudy Gay, the best true small forward left off my squad. Injuries to Howard and Aldridge leave Monroe, ninth in total boards last season, as the best true center staying home.

Reserve Forward, Carmelo Anthony, New York

This season's stats are in favor of Iguodala, Gay and Smith, but the fact is Anthony will make the team.

Carmelo is one of the four or five best scorers in the league, finishing in the top eight in scoring each of the last seven seasons.

He also has a ridiculous amount of international experience, highlighted by two Olympics. With a double-digit international scoring average, he's most certainly in.

Reserve Forward/Center, Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers

Griffin is probably the last man in by my metrics, slipping in due to the number of injuries at the 4 and the 5. He mostly gets in due to height—if Smith was taller, I would put him in. Likewise, if Carlos Boozer was more talented, I would consider him, but Griffin is a much better ballplayer at this point in his career. 

The 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year makes the cut due to being a serious double-double threat. He finished in the top six in rebounding in both of his NBA seasons, and in the top 10 in scoring both of his NBA seasons.

Reserve Forward/Center, Chris Bosh, Miami

Chris Bosh isn't putting up the kind of numbers he was back in Toronto, averaging below 20 points and 10 rebounds in his two seasons with the Heat.

However, he's the type of player the U.S. needs: someone who has international experience and can defend in the post.

Reserve Center, Tyson Chandler, New York

By hook or by crook, Tyson Chandler is the best true center left standing.

Chandler is known for being a tenacious defensive player, averaging double-digit boards and more than a block and a half a game. He was also recently named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year. 

And he's not totally negligent on offense, either. Chandler shot .681 from the field this season, and was one of only three players in the top 15 in both offensive and defensive rating.

He also has international experience from the 2010 Worlds. 

Reserve Guard, Dwyane Wade, Miami

Dwyane Wade may be the third or fourth most talented player and scorer on the squad, but as only the second-best shooting guard, he falls to the reserves.

Though not particularly strong at the beginning of this season, Wade is third in career points per game and second in career PER among active players.  

Wade is also a above-average defensive player, and has already earned two Olympic medals, one of them gold. 

Reserve Guard, Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City

Derrick Rose's injury and Rajon Rondo's pass on the Games significantly increased Westbrook's chances at making the squad.

Westbrook has finished in the top 10 in points, assists, steals and PER in at least one of his last two NBA seasons. He also has international experience from the 2010 Worlds. 

Westbrook's one drawback is that he is a shoot-first point guard, who at times can be selfish. 

Reserve Guard, Deron Williams, Brooklyn

Deron Williams played on the 2008 Olympic team, and it looks like he will again in 2012.

Williams finished in the top five in assists for the sixth straight season, had a PER of 20 or more for the fifth straight, and was also ninth in points per game.

Williams, whose number is retired in Turkey, is also the only man on the squad who has played professionally abroad. 

Starting Forward, LeBron James, Miami

Since playing for the 2008 Dream Team, LeBron has won two MVPs and may very well add a third shortly. 

In each of the seasons since, he has led the league in player efficiency rating and win shares, finished in the top three in points per game (a stat where he is the active leader), and earned First Team All-NBA and First Team All-Defense honors. 

Absolute lock.   

Starting Forward, Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City

LeBron is probably the best player in the NBA, but Kevin Durant is a close second.

Durant has won the NBA's last three scoring titles, finished in the top seven in PER and win shares each of the last three seasons, had a true shooting percentage of almost .600 and was First Team All-NBA in 2010 and 2011 (and very likely will be again this year).

Durant narrowly missed being selected for the 2008 squad, then dominated at the 2010 Worlds.

Starting Center, Kevin Love, Minnesota

I know Kevin Love is a power forward in the NBA, but he can—and has, at the 2010 Worlds—play center internationally.

I have been saying Love belonged on the Olympic team for months now, and his 2011-12 season has vindicated my stance. He was fourth in points per game while finishing in the top two in rebounding, shot .372 from three and finished fourth in win shares despite being on a losing team.

Kevin Love isn't Dwight Howard, but he's America's best option to counter the Gasol brothers.

Starting Guard, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers

LeBron might be the best player in the league right now, but Kobe has the most proven track record of any active player today. 

The Mamba has won five rings, a scoring title, an MVP and been named to 14 All-Star games. He's had a PER of 20 or more every season since 1999-2000, and is second among active players in points per game, and first in total points.

Bryant had a solid showing in Beijing, and despite playing hurt this season, could likely have a repeat performance in London.

Starting Guard, Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers

When healthy, 2008 Olympian Chris Paul, now with the Clippers, is the best point guard in the NBA.

He's been healthy this season and last, and averaged nine assists per game while finishing 13th in scoring and leading the league in offensive win shares.

And when is comes to dropping dimes, there's no one better than CP3.