Here's a couple of ESPN pieces on the team from the past few days:
"Team USA takeaways: Pop's plans, scrimmage woes and more talking points"
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...talking-points
"Popovich keen to spread the love within Team USA"
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-love-team-usa
As far as Fox dropping out, the first piece talks a little bit about that...after not playing much in the game against Spain, did he want to avoid being the guy that has to fly to Australia only to fly back when he was cut...only to fly back to Asia again when the Kings play in India in a few weeks. I often wonder if these injuries and drop out are all very carefully executed strategies to avoid saying someone was cut, but I think that level of media organization by USA Basketball is likely far fetched. I know that these guys don't want to be cut, so I think they reject before they can be rejected.
It would be interesting for Smart to make it after essentially not participating at all. Just based on numbers, Mason has a real chance.
Remaining players by position:
Wings:
Harrison Barnes
Jaylen Brown
Joe Harris
Kyle Kuzma (could play a 'big' role)
Khris Middleton
Jayson Tatum
Bigs:
Brook Lopez
Mason Plumlee
Myles Turner
Guards:
Donovan Mitchell
Marcus Smart
Kemba Walker
Derrick White
When I look at this list, I don't see Smart as a lock because he's not a good shooter and he loves to take bad shots. Of course, he's also a bulldog and a defensive ace. If you shift Kuzma to being a big, I could see him replacing Mason, but Mason has clearly embraced the defense/screens/rebounding role and has zero ego, Pop has even commented on that. One has to assume that Smart would not have stuck around if he didn't think there was a good chance he'd make it. As of today, I'd put my money on Mason, Jaylen Brown or Derrick White being the final cut.
This week's exhibition games against Australia will tell us a lot.