Predicting the USA Basketball Men's National Team Roster for 2016 Olympics
USA Basketball has yet to solidify its roster for the 2016 Olympics, but it already looks like the heavy favorite.
No matter which players are selected, the final product is going to be an embarrassment of riches.
As sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein, seven up-and-comers received invites to USA Basketball's August minicamp in Las Vegas: Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Mike Conley, Victor Oladipo, Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris and Trey Burke.
That septet will join a 34-player pool that already features LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and James Harden, among others.
Because the talent is this rich and the competition this fierce, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo has made attendance at the upcoming camp obligatory.
"It's going to be a very difficult team to pick and get down to 12," Colangelo told Stein. "So we need to have them there because we need to find out where we are with everyone."
With a potential third-straight Olympic gold medal on the line, Team USA has to put its best foot forward. Colangelo won't necessarily opt for the most talented dozen. He'll need a versatile, balanced roster of scorers, playmakers, shooters and defenders of all sizes. With advantages to exploit in athleticism and guard play, the U.S. should field a roster built to dominate with pace, space and selflessness.
The following 12-man collection should fit the bill.
Honorable Mentions
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Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin Love's international resume boasts gold medals from both the 2012 Olympics and 2010 FIBA World Championship. He can stretch the floor with his shooting, spark transition plays as an outlet passer and bully his way to buckets underneath. But his defensive limitations might cost him a return trip to the Games.
Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Leonard pulled out of consideration for last summer's FIBA World Cup roster, because he needed a break. He was coming off two consecutive trips to the NBA Finals, including an MVP performance during the San Antonio Spurs' 2014 championship run. His tremendous length would be an asset at both ends, but Team USA may opt for similarly lanky defenders with more consistent three-point shots.
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs
Hip surgery denied LaMarcus Aldridge the opportunity to compete for a roster spot on the 2012 Olympics team, and the 30-year-old may not have a chance to crack this one. While Team USA could use his steady shooting stroke and ability to create points in the post, the frontcourt positions could be filled by younger, more versatile players.
Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony has appeared in three different Olympics, capturing gold in both 2012 and 2008 and taking home a bronze medal in 2004. The scoring forward can light the lamp from long range and make plays off the dribble. But if the U.S. feels comfortable it can find points elsewhere, it might pass over Anthony for more willing passers and better defenders.
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
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Having DeMarcus Cousins around essentially nets Team USA several big men in one massive 6'11", 270-pound body.
He has both the brute strength and elite skills to dominate bruising battles on the interior. But he's mobile enough to step away from the basket, where he can create off the bounce, move the basketball or knock down open jumpers at the elbow.
If the 24-year-old isn't the NBA's most talented center already, he could soon be wearing that label. Last season, he became only the second player to average at least 24 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the last 10 years (Kevin Love hit those marks in 2013-14).
Cousins also helped Team USA capture gold at last summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup and impressed the right people while doing it.
"You can use all the superlatives you want and apply them to DeMarcus," Colangelo said in September, via Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee. "He made the team, made a major contribution, made tremendous strides."
Cousins should have punched his 2016 Olympics ticket as well.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
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Stephen Curry's resume alone could fetch his roster spot. It's kind of hard to overlook a reigning MVP and NBA champion, especially when said player just might be the greatest shooter the game has ever seen.
But even without the accolades, his adaptability makes him an invaluable weapon for this team. With so many stars on the same roster, players must be able to step outside of their comfort zones.
That's what would likely happen to Curry, as this point guard-heavy group wouldn't need him to spend a lot of time on the ball. Having the luxury of deploying him as an off-ball sniper would speak to this team's absurd depth. Plus it would play up one of his greatest strengths, since he converted 48.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes last season.
His rapid-fire release and in-the-gym range make him a scoring threat at all times. Add his selflessness to the equation, and he is single-handedly capable of throwing a defense's game plan into disarray.
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Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
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Anthony Davis hadn't even started his NBA takeover when he grabbed a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. The single-browed baller has taken the express lane to superstardom since.
Despite being just 22 years old, he has already left some fingerprints in the history books. Last season, which was only his third in the league, he recorded the highest player efficiency ever by anyone not named Michael Jordan, LeBron James or Wilt Chamberlain. Davis, who missed 14 games, also became the first player to record 200 blocks and 100 steals since 2007-08 (Josh Smith).
"He just affects the game in so many ways," former New Orleans Pelicans Coach Monty Williams said, via Michael Lee of the Washington Post. "Offensively, defensively, in transition. Unbelievable effect on the game. Blocking shots, distracting shots. He can score in a number of ways."
Team USA could put Davis in either a featured or supporting role, and he could dominate. He's a good enough scorer to carry the offense and could wreak havoc as an active, freakishly long presence in the paint.
Davis looks like the future of USA Basketball, but he could also be its present in 2016.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Put Kevin Durant on any court, and there's a very good chance he'll be the most lethal offensive weapon there.
The eight-year NBA veteran has four scoring titles under his belt, plus the fifth-highest career points per game in league history (27.31). During his last appearance on the international circuit, Durant paced the 2012 gold medalists with 19.5 points per contest.
Even if his offense hadn't secured his superstar status, his versatility might have done the trick. Listed at 6'9", 240 pounds, his combination of length and athleticism allows him to serve as an oversized shooting guard, a small-ball power forward or anything in between. He can also affect a game's outcome as a passer, rebounder and defender.
If there's any threat to Durant's roster spot, it's his health. He missed 55 games last season and had three different surgeries on his problematic right foot. But the 26-year-old sounds confident that he's progressing toward a clean bill of health.
"We're doing X-rays every two weeks, and it's looking good," Durant said in early July, via ESPN.com's Royce Young. "So I'm excited to get back, man. There's no pain, and looking forward to getting back."
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
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The gruesome broken leg suffered by Paul George in last summer's Team USA scrimmage remains an unfortunate, unforgettable image. It virtually wiped out his 2014-15 campaign (he made six appearances late in the year) and sent the Indiana Pacers spiraling from contenders to lottery participants.
USA Basketball hasn't forgotten about George's sacrifice.
"We've told him we have a spot for him (in) '16," Colangelo told NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper in August. "... We thought it's the right thing to do. That's it."
But George didn't earn his roster spot with that fateful fall alone. His loudest argument came during the 2013-14 season, when he made the All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team after posting 21.7 points per game (12th overall), 1.9 steals (fifth) and 10.8 win shares (12th).
George is an impact player at both ends and can seamlessly slide anywhere between the shooting guard and power forward spots. He would have battled Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Gordon Hayward for a place on the team, but George's injury in a Team USA uniform settled that debate.
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
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Team USA has had its sights set on Blake Griffin for a while now, but the basketball gods haven't allowed the two to come together yet.
A meniscus tear kept him out of the 2012 Games, and he declined to participate in last summer's World Cup so he could "focus and dedicate 100 percent of my energy on improving and preparing for the upcoming season," he said in a release. Concerns over a back issue led him to that decision, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Assuming Griffin's body cooperates, his roster spot should still be waiting for him. He's such an intriguing asset for the international game.
He can score from anywhere inside the arc, and quite possibly beyond it with the shorter three-point line. He can initiate offense in the fast break or work as a secondary distributor from the high post or at the elbow. If Team USA needs a lift, Griffin's aerial theatrics are some of basketball's best energizers.
This could be a contested roster spot, but Griffin's athleticism and versatility could win out over Kevin Love's perimeter shooting and LaMarcus Aldridge's mid-range mastery.
James Harden, Houston Rockets
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The spotlight at the 2014 World Cup wasn't initially reserved for James Harden. But once injuries (Paul George) and withdrawals (Durant, Love, Russell Westbrook) started thinning the roster, the bearded baller found himself atop Team USA's totem pole.
"I think I would look to Harden as that leader," Colangelo said, via Michael Lee. "Harden is kind of a natural leader, and he seems to be willing to accept that role. And you can just kind of feel it and sense (it). He's the one."
After thriving in that leadership role, Harden should slide into a complementary one he's easily equipped to fill.
The 25-year-old has the vision and handles of a lead guard, plus one of the most potent set of scoring chops. He can light the lamp from distance, pull-up-and-pop on a dime and bully his way to the basket (or at the very least to the free-throw line).
Harden and LeBron James are the only players to average at least 25 points and five assists in each of the past three seasons. As loaded as this player pool is, it's not deep enough to jeopardize Harden's spot.
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
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No matter how much talent surrounds Kyrie Irving, the former No. 1 pick has a knack for stealing the show.
As a 21-year-old second-time All-Star, he earned MVP honors at the 2014 midseason classic. He followed that up by claiming the same award at last summer's World Cup.
"For an NBA player who's struggled at times with shot selection and decision-making, Irving was a paragon of poise during Team USA's golden run, registering 50 percent or more from the floor over the course of the tournament and finishing with an astonishing 60.9 percent clip from three-point range," Jim Cavan wrote for Bleacher Report.
Irving is an incendiary scorer. His dizzying dribble moves allow him to shed defenders like dead skin cells, and he's a top-shelf shooter from all three levels on the court. While passing isn't his first priority, he can spot open teammates lurking beyond the three-point arc or exploding to the basket.
His varied arsenal of scoring, shooting and passing should help him separate from USA's deep, talented collection of point guards.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Since four-time MVP LeBron James hasn't pulled the plug on his international playing career, we're not about to do it for him.
His annual trips to the NBA Finals (five straight and counting) might leave his body calling for rest by this time next summer. But if the 30-year-old wants to add to his hardware collection, it's his decision to make.
While a source told Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears in 2013 that James' answer "would be no" if an Olympic invite was extended then, the King has said himself it's too early to close that door. "I'm undecided," James said in October, via ESPN.com. "It's not until 2016. I got two years. I got a long time."
Team USA will give James as much time as he needs. The 6'8", 250-pound freight train can run point, bang with bigs underneath and drill the long ball. When he dials in, he is equal parts smothering defender, unstoppable scorer and dominant distributor.
Father Time is the only thing capable of keeping James off this roster.
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
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Chris Paul's point guard throne has never faced so many challengers, but the eight-time All-Star remains the perfect floor general to pilot Team USA.
He shines in every category traditionally tied to the position. He just completed his third consecutive campaign with at least 1,000 points, 600 assists and 150 steals. Stephen Curry is the only other player to hit all of those marks during that stretch, and the MVP only did it once (last season).
Paul's penchant for passing is key on a team with so many scoring options, and he's a master at knowing when to call his own number. There aren't many players who could be categorized as pass-first guys while simultaneously carrying a career 18.7 points-per-game scoring average, but Paul has been dubbed the league's "point god" for a reason.
He's a tone-setter on both sides of the ball, and his first two Olympic runs were wildly successful: 130 points, 74 assists and only 22 turnovers in 16 games. The 30-year-old had considered hanging up his international kicks, but coach Mike Krzyzewski's return made Paul reconsider.
"If it had been another coach than Coach K, I was prepared to be done," Paul told ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman in July 2013.
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
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Klay Thompson serves a semi-specialist role for Team USA. His deadly long-range stroke is an excellent source of spacing for this offense, but his on-ball defense helps the Americans turn back teams at the point of attack.
"Everyone had talked about his offense, but he has been consistently excellent on the defensive end," Krzyzewski said last summer, via USA Today's Sam Amick. "The fact that he's tall, he's been able to play defense on the 1, 2 and 3. He's become our most versatile defender."
That recommendation from the team's skipper makes it tough to imagine Thompson being left out of the festivities, especially considering it came before the 25-year-old's breakout season. His specialist tag doesn't fit as well as it used to after watching him tally personal bests in points (21.7), assists (2.9), steals (1.1), true shooting percentage (59.1) and player efficiency rating (20.8) during the 2014-15 campaign.
But Thompson's three-point stroke is ultimately what secures his spot. Team USA could find similarly skilled defensive weapons in Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard, but neither player can match Thompson's consistency from distance.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Maybe Russell Westbrook seems like backcourt overkill on a roster that already includes Paul, Curry, Irving, Harden and Thompson. But this is about accentuating Team USA's greatest strength—and rewarding Westbrook for an individual explosion that can only be described as brilliant.
Look at Westbrook's 2014-15 statistics, and then try to deny him a roster spot here. It isn't happening. His final marks—28.1 points, 8.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals—can't even be called video game numbers, because virtual ballers don't play this well.
Almost no one ever has. Before Westbrook, the last player to average at least 28 points, eight dimes, seven boards and two thefts was Michael Jordan in 1988-89. Before Jordan, there was...no one else.
"He shouldered a historic load offensively and produced mind-boggling numbers," wrote Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman. "The string of triple-doubles was something we haven't seen in decades. Many of his stat-lines (like the 49-15-10 on Philly) have only been matched by the game's legends."
Westbrook has the size, speed and strength to play either guard position. Even in a crowded rotation, he's a stat-sheet explosion waiting to happen.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
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