Without factoring in injuries, I would imagine Team USA looking something like this.
Team USA
Jalen Brunson
Anthony Edwards
Jayson Tatum
Evan Mobley
Myles Turner
Donovan Mitchell
Tyrese Haliburton
Bam Adebayo
Devin Booker
Derrick White
Jaylen Brown
Chet Holmgren
The team would have Cooper Flagg and Jaren Jackson Jr as options as well.
Less stars tend to show up for the FIBA Championship than the Olympics. Although I don't know who in that group would drop out. Tatum & Ant would be possibilities. That said, both those guys love playing all the time so I am not sure they do.
Myles TurnerI don't think Myles Turner makes the cut for Team USA again. I would play Evan Mobley at center. Get more speed on the floor. So that is one center. Then you have Chet, Bam, and JJJ ahead of Myles Turner. So 5th choice. Myles Turner has played okay but not great in past Team USA chances. Still that is better than JJJ who has struggled.
None of the past coaches (Pop? Only Pop?) appeared all that convinced by Myles Turner. Which surprised me because M Turner was still outplaying other alternatives in those appearances.
Jalen BrunsonI hope they do not select Brunson for this. I hate PGs like him for Dream Teams. Too ball dominant. Too much iso. Not enough passing. Everything is about him.
I wouldn't even select him if I was on the picking committee.
At least with D-Rose and R Westbrook they had all-world level athleticism which none of the International teams could match. That at least gave them something. Brunson doesn't even have that.
D White should stay involved. He is a great guard (PG or SG) for international play. And for a team made up of stars. Plays his role. Keeps everyone involved. Does all the glue guy stuff.
LineupLike I said in the last post, I'd go smaller.
G: Haliburton,
[edit: Cade Cunningham]G: D White, D Mitchell or D Booker
F: Ant,
[edit: J-Dub]F: Tatum, Cooper Flagg,
[edit: Banchero]C: E Mobley, Chet, Bam
Other Names* Suggs could be cool. A replacement for Jrue.
* Desmond Bane with his lethal shooting could be a good option at SG. An alternative to more ball dominant stars like Donovan Mitchell or Devin Booker. Especially if 1 or both of those guys pull out.
* A Nesmith as more of a role playing SF. I did not like Steve Kerr playing a SG like D Booker at SF. I did like Kerr playing Ant-man at SF. D Booker lacked the physical defense & rebounding of Ant-man. I am not sure what other alternatives are out there but Nesmith as a tough defense playing three point hitting SF who would be happy as a 4th/5th option looks nice to me.
* J-Dub!!! His length & activity defensively would be great in Internationall ball. A guy who is comfortable with lesser touches / shot attempts as well. Kind of like Iggy on past teams. Or Scottie Pippen and Grant Hill in the 90s.
* Mikal Bridges as a replacement choice at SF if guys pull out. Good length, defense, outside shooting. He'd be a nice role player for Team USA.
* Banchero played for Team USA, didn't he? He flirted with Italy but chose USA, right? He is another option at PF alongside Tatum & Cooper Flagg. They would be my top 3 PFs.
* Julius Randle as an alternative PF if one of those 3 drop out. Or Bam drops out. Bam played quite a bit of PF in the last tourney.
* Aaron Gordon is another alternative for PF.
AlternatesPG - Suggs
SG - Desmond Bane
SF - J-Dub, Nesmith, Mikal Bridges
PF - Banchero, Randle, A Gordon
C - Hartenstein, Jarrett Allen, Lively
Cade Cunningham!!!! I forgot all about him. He'll be on the team.
Not loving the PG options. Trae Young. D Fox perhaps. Morant. Darius Garland. Tyler Herro. Maxey. Austin Reaves. I'd probably go with D Fox 1st choice. I don't love Morant.
Topic: Canadian National Team (Read 22240 times)