Here’s who is reported to be on the USA Select Team (the team of young NBA stars that scrimmages against Team USA at its pre-Olympics camp in Las Vegas):
• C.J. McCollum
• Myles Turner
• Brice Johnson
• Devin Booker
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
• Stanley Johnson
• Zach LaVine
This led some Lakers fans to ask today on Twitter “hey, what abut our guys?” Lakers fans are not known for their patience. But by the end of Thursday Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical at Yahoo Sports had broken the news:
Sources: Lakers' D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle invited to play for USA Select Team this summer. They'll compete against Olympic team.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 13, 2016
Good news for D’Angelo Russell: Byron Scott is not the Team USA coach.
Russell has some real potential as a future Team USA player, because of his court vision, but he’s got a ways to go on his outside shooting (particularly from three) and on defense. Julius Randle has farther to go — he needs an outside shot and any kind of right hand, but his hustle and effort will be welcome in the scrimmages.
Lakers fans about to ask about Jordan Clarkson, he has made a verbal commitment to play for the Philippines.
For all of these young players, it’s a chance to see how the game’s elite prepare and work up close, it’s a great potential learning experience. (Plus a few days in Vegas.) Will they take advantage of it is the question.