U.S.A. Olympic Basketball

[Roy H.]

Wizards' Bradley Beal will not play in the Tokyo Olympics for Team USA, USAB says.

Bummer for him.

Indeed.  It blows.  The guy really wanted this.

That said...  Why not get the vaccine?  I don't get it.  His closest friend in the league still suffers effects from it.  Now it's costing him the Olympics.

Jerami Grant is in protocols, too.  It sounds like Christian Wood is in consideration for Beal's spot.

Do we know that he didn’t get it? I’m hearing/reading that the Pfizer vaccine is reportedly only 64% effective against the Delta variant.

Well, it hasn't been reported that this is a "breakthough" infection, and his wife pretty prominently came out against the vaccine, blaming it for Hank Aaron's death, so I'm making an educated guess.

Twitter link

[SparzWizard]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

[gouki88]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

[Ogaju]

Free Nneka Ogwumike!!!

[gouki88]

Free Nneka Ogwumike!!!

Why is she not on the US team? She has been an MVP, champion, All-WNBA, All-Defensive and All-Star all within the last 5 years, and wants to play

[Goldstar88]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

[gouki88]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

I'd very much enjoy it, but I think it's more realistic to aim around 2023 for contention. We could have a max slot open then too...

[Ogaju]

Free Nneka Ogwumike!!!

Why is she not on the US team? She has been an MVP, champion, All-WNBA, All-Defensive and All-Star all within the last 5 years, and wants to play

Really weird selection……I have not heard an official explanation. Now she loses the chance to enjoy the Olympics with her sisters.

[Ogaju]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

I'd very much enjoy it, but I think it's more realistic to aim around 2023 for contention. We could have a max slot open then too...

Go get Giannis with the max slot.

[gouki88]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

I'd very much enjoy it, but I think it's more realistic to aim around 2023 for contention. We could have a max slot open then too...

Go get Giannis with the max slot.

He's not a free agent until 2025 at the earliest, sadly. Only bring Fournier back on a short-term contract. Could target someone like Kawhi in 2022 or Jokic & Embiid in 2023

[Ogaju]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

I'd very much enjoy it, but I think it's more realistic to aim around 2023 for contention. We could have a max slot open then too...

Go get Giannis with the max slot.

He's not a free agent until 2025 at the earliest, sadly. Only bring Fournier back on a short-term contract. Could target someone like Kawhi in 2022 or Jokic & Embiid in 2023

Hard pass on Kawhi.

[gouki88]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

I'd very much enjoy it, but I think it's more realistic to aim around 2023 for contention. We could have a max slot open then too...

Go get Giannis with the max slot.

He's not a free agent until 2025 at the earliest, sadly. Only bring Fournier back on a short-term contract. Could target someone like Kawhi in 2022 or Jokic & Embiid in 2023

Hard pass on Kawhi.

It was just an example of the class, KD and Harden are also part of it, among others.

[nickagneta]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

If Tatum wasn't training and playing with Team USA, he would be training and playing somewhere. Knee tweaks can happen there as much as they could the Olympics.

Besides, he is already back to full time practice.

AND!!!!

He gets to do a lot of one on one work with his head coach. Oh, yeah, and there's that little thing about dreaming to one time play for your country in the Olympics.

I have no issue with Tatum on Team USA. If he wasn't recuperating from surgery still, I would have loved to seen Jaylen there too

[Goldstar88]

I knew this whole Tatum participating in the Olympics was a bad idea.

Ruled out of an exhibition game due to knee injury. Should just rest up and not play for the Olympics this year. He needs to rest and get ready for October and help the Celtics win a title.

Do you realistically think the Celtics are a title contender next season? A player has probably 3 chances to play in the Olympics at most. Considering it's something he wants to do, he should do so.

Of course! How can you even ask such a blasphemous question.

I'd very much enjoy it, but I think it's more realistic to aim around 2023 for contention. We could have a max slot open then too...

In all seriousness, I feel like a starting lineup of Smart, Fournier, J.Brown, Tatum, and Horford can hang with anyone other than the Nets. If Brad can add 2 or 3 solid bench players, I think this team has the potential to be really good next year. As these playoffs have shown, anything can happen.

[Celtics2021]

Wizards' Bradley Beal will not play in the Tokyo Olympics for Team USA, USAB says.

I know the odds are low, but I really hope they get Smart to replace him.  He’s been vocal about wanting an Olympic opportunity in the past.  He opted out of the team back in early March right after he returned from his injury, but maybe he’s feeling differently now after an early playoff exit.