Originally Posted by
Billy Dat
Considering that Jerry Colangelo said that the 2012 Select Team will be formed with an eye toward it competing in the 2014 World Championships, and because the injury bug keeps hitting the 2012 Olympic team, and because the top alternates for the Olympic Team will likely come from the Select Team, I think we should waste some time trying to figure out who will be on the Select Team.
The first place to look for potential Select Team members are guys who played in the 2010 Worlds but aren’t expected to make the 2012 Olympic Team. We’ll forget Lamar Odom (personal issues) and Chauncey Billups (age). For this summer, because of injuries, we also have to ignore Steph Curry and Eric Gordon. If we assume Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Tyson Chandler are all Olympic hopefuls, that leaves; Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala and Danny Granger.
The next place to looks is anyone we haven’t yet mentioned who was part of the officially announced 2010-2012 Senior National Team Pool of players. That group included the following players that we haven’t mentioned as part of the Olympic Team or 2010 Worlds Team; Carlos Boozer, Tyreke Evans, Jeff Green, Al Jefferson, David Lee, Brook Lopez, Robin Lopez, OJ Mayo, Kendrick Perkins, Tayshaun Prince, Rajon Rondo, Amar’e Stoudemire, Gerald Wallace. Based on recent play, injury issues or past Team USA bad experience, I think the only players with a shot at the Select Team out of this group are Evans, Jefferson and Mayo.
So who remains? Here’s my list of potentials aside from those bolded above:
Centers:
Greg Monroe, Roy Hibbert, Spencer Hawes, Anthony Davis
Forwards:
Paul Milsap, Demarcus Cousins, Kenneth Faried, Ryan Andersen, Josh Smith, Derrick Favors, Thad Young, Taj Gibson, Brandan Wright, Kawhi Leonard, Steve Novak
Guards:
Kyrie Irving, Lou Williams, Jeremy Lin, John Wall, Mike Conley, Brandon Jennings, Kyle Lowry, James Harden, Joe Johnson (give him another shot), Monta Ellis, Paul George, George Hill, Gordon Hayward, Tony Allen, Arron Afflalo
What do you guys think?