Davis could add to Chicago's Olympic legacy

By Danny Moran
CSNChicago.comChicago's rich Olympic basketball history may soon become even richer.Reports have Anthony Davis replacing Blake Griffin on USA national team after Griffin twisted his left left knee during a Team USA practice in Las vegas on Wednesday. Griffin is expected to undergo an MRI in Los Angeles.Were Davis to be selected to selected to replace Griffin on Team USA, he would add to the list Chicago area players to play in the Olympics. A Chicago native has been on the USA basketball roster in the last three Olympics (Tim Hardaway, Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade) and in nine of the 16 Team USA appearances all-time. Davis would be the first Chicagoland native to play on the team before starting his NBA career since Hersey Hawkins in 1988.Derrick Rose would have been a virtual lock for the team but is, of course, unable to play as he rehabs from a torn ACL in his left knee.Davis, the No. 1 pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, was a part of Team USA's workouts over the summer but did not make the squad's final cut. He sprained his ankle during a workout with his new team, the New Orleans Hornets, before attempting to make the USA roster but the injury was not as serious as initally reported.Team USA's other big manoptions, Dwight Howard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Bosh, are all out of the question with injuries.The 19-year-old Davis's frontcourt presence would add defensive depth to the team, which already has reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler.Davis set the NCAA freshman block record with 186 last season at Kentucky and broke the SEC single-season blocks record, previously held by Shaquille O'Neal.