Why did Team USA add Heat center Bam Adebayo to a World Cup training-camp roster that already included Brook Lopez, Myles Turner, Andre Drummond, Julius Randle and P.J. Tucker?
Because the U.S. was losing one of those bigs.
USA Basketball today announced the addition of Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo to the USA Men’s National Team and to the roster of players expected to participate in the USA’s Aug. 5-9 World Cup training camp. USA Basketball also announced that 6-11 forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies) has been added to the USA Select Team roster, and that Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons) and Montrezl Harrell (Los Angeles Clippers) had withdrawn from the World Cup training camp.
Drummond had potential to contribute. He would’ve thrived with international goaltending rules, which allow players to put back rebounds above the cylinder.
At least the Americans are deep at center. If anything goes wrong with the main-roster players, Jaren Jackson Jr. could even get called up.
Still, reasonable depth isn’t star power. That’s where Team USA is really lacking.