Team USA will pick its roster for the 2016 Olympics from 28 finalists (the original list plus Damian Lillard, minus Chris Paul, minus Blake Griffin, minus John Wall).
But USA Basketball is also already considering the 2020 Games and beyond.
A group of 13ish young Americans will comprise the select team, which trains against the national team and serves as a pipeline to the senior squad. Who will make the select team?
C.J. McCollum, Myles Turner and Brice Johnson for starters.
Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com:
#Blazers C.J. McCollum to be invited to USA Select Team, league source tells @clevelanddotcom. Canton native won Most Improved Player honor.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 10, 2016
Candace Buckner of IndyStar:
Big news: #Pacers PF/C Myles Turner has accepted an invitation to participate with USA Basketball Team Select, his agent Andy Miller says.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) May 10, 2016
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
Former North Carolina forward Brice Johnson has accepted an invitation to participate with the USA Basketball Select Team, a source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 11, 2016
McCollum is an excellent choice. The Most Improved Player, the Trail Blazer is one of the league’s top young dynamic guards.
Turner improved throughout his rookie season with the Pacers, and I like the center’s promise. Another good choice.
Johnson certainly has his fans around the league, but this honor seems ambitious for a borderline first-round pick. It’ll be on him to prove he belongs.
Other players who fit the rough profile of potential selections:
- Devin Booker
- Willie Cauley-Stein
- Aaron Gordon
- Gary Harris
- Rodney Hood
- Brandon Ingram
- Zach LaVine
- Nerlens Noel
- Jahlil Okafor
- Jabari Parker
- Elfrid Payton
- D’Angelo Russell
- Marcus Smart
- Justise Winslow
- Cody Zeller