Predicting Which 2012 Team USA Basketball Stars Will Be on 2016 Olympic Squad

As the Team USA basketball stars march through group play in the 2012 London Olympics, it's not too early to think about which of today's Olympians will compete in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro.

Program director Jerry Colangelo will see a great deal of change after the London Games, with several veteran players hanging up their Olympic sneakers and Coach K hanging up his international clipboard.

Some of today's Team USA icons, such as Kobe Bryant, will be too old to make another foray into international hoops. Others, like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, won't likely attempt a fourth Olympic appearance.

Nevertheless, there's a group of players from this year's squad who will return to battle for more global hardware in 2016.

Who exactly from Team USA 2012 will represent the red, white and blue four years from now in Rio?

Anthony Davis

2012 Group Play Stats (Per-game): 11.2 minutes, 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 78.6 percent shooting

Anthony Davis will be just 23 years old when Team USA heads to Rio de Janeiro in 2016, so he'll be in the prime of his NBA career.

If all goes according to plan in New Orleans, he'll likely be coming off a playoff run with the Hornets. Regardless of whether that actually happens, he'll be ready to bring his shot-swatting prowess and sharp court sense to the Olympics.

In four years, Davis will be about 20 pounds stronger and ready to start at power forward for the United States.

Good luck to the international bigs who try to keep up with him.

Russell Westbrook

2012 Group Play Stats (Per-game): 16.2 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals

Oklahoma City's high-flying guard will be 27 in 2016, so odds are that he'll still have his phenomenal explosiveness and agility.

It will be interesting to see how he develops as a guard between now and then. This summer, he's providing Coach K with terrific energy and aggressiveness on both ends of the floor. Will we see significant progress as a passer and a floor general?

It remains to be seen whether Westbrook will be the starting point guard on the 2016 squad; he might end up being used as a combo guard, shooting guard, or a sixth man off the bench.

As long as his decision-making and court perception improve,Westbrook will be better in Rio than in London.

Kevin Durant

2012 Group Play Stats (Per-game): 23.6 minutes, 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 60.6 percent three-point shooting

Kevin Durant narrowly missed out on the 2008 Beijing Games, so the megastar is playing in just his first Olympics this summer. He'll be hungry for seconds come 2016.

His 2012 play has been an impressive display of marksmanship, passing and rebounding.

Carmelo Anthony stole the show against Nigeria and LeBron James took over late against Lithuania, so Durant went under the radar heading into Team USA's battle with Argentina.

He proceeded to score 28 points in just three quarters, shooting an unbelievable 8-10 from three-point land. The international line is a cakewalk for him, and he's getting plenty of open looks.

I expect similar results in four years.

James Harden

2012 Group Play Stats (Per-game): 12.6 minutes, 6.4 points, 75 percent shooting

The bearded lefty rounds out this thunderous trio that will return to Team USA in 2016. James Harden has a marginal role on the 2012 squad, but that's to be expected considering the basketball royalty alongside him.

The 22-year old is already a household name in the NBA (with some help from his distinguished facial hair), but he still has a boatload of untapped potential.

Who knows where his free agent whims will take him. Harden may no longer play for Oklahoma City by the time the next Olympics arrive, but he'll surely be an improved ball-handler, passer and shooter.

Considering his age and the fact that he's one of the best guards in the world, Harden has much more in store for us in future Olympics.

Injured 2012 Honorary Member: Blake Griffin

The Lob city tandem was all set to invade London, but the injury bug hit Blake Griffin. Just a couple weeks prior to the opening ceremonies, a meniscus tear during Las Vegas training kept him from competing for Team USA this summer.

Griffin's thick build and elite athleticism would have been a great weapon for Coach K, but it wasn't meant to be.

Provided he's healthy four years from now, Griffin will be eager to represent the United States on the court.

He's a physical force on the block and nearly unstoppable in the open floor right now. Four years from now, he'll be an even more dangerous player because his defense will be upgraded and his offensive repertoire will be vastly expanded.

Blake Show in Rio? Book your tickets early.

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