[UncledrewParticipant]

Chris Paul announces that he’s dropping out of Team Rio selection pool. So with another spot open does Coach k use it to get another big in the stable ie. Cousins/Drummond or does he choose another point guard to fill the void ie. Lillard/Wall? Does John Wall finally get a chance to prove he’s Olympic worthy which Imo he’s there. What do you guys think?

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

 I think this spot goes to Lillard. Lillard he’s proved time and time again that he’s elite. Could be a stud off the bench for this team assuming that Curry and Westbrook or Harden start

[Bankroll PJParticipant]

 I think this spot goes to Lillard. Lillard he’s proved time and time again that he’s elite. Could be a stud off the bench for this team assuming that Curry and Westbrook or Harden start

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I’m rooting for the boomers or Canada to make a push for 3rd or second….could the only thing that compares to UCONN women is mens USA basketball..just a thought.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 I’m rooting for the boomers or Canada to make a push for 3rd or second….could the only thing that compares to UCONN women is mens USA basketball..just a thought.

[cjwParticipant]

 Wall deseves this. His speed and defense would help.

[cjwParticipant]

 Wall deseves this. His speed and defense would help.

[GBeeParticipant]

 I don’t think they need another point.  They should be fine with Kyrie/Curry/Westbrook unless one of them drop out too.

[GBeeParticipant]

 I don’t think they need another point.  They should be fine with Kyrie/Curry/Westbrook unless one of them drop out too.

[Hype Machine]

Sadly, the Olympic basketball tournament has lost its prestige and most of the top players either don’t want to play, or aren’t allowed to play. I used to scoff at the term "World Champions" being designated to the NBA Champs, because that title should belong to the winner of the Olympic or FIBA world champs….but if contenders can’t put their strongest teams out….then the NBA Champs really are the ‘World Champs.’ 

Believe me when I say I really want to hype up Australia’s prospects of beating the US, but unfortunately I’m skeptical about the quality of the lineup that we can put out.

• Simmons: Virtually no chance whoever selects him will allow him to play, not to mention the bad blood between him and the coach, and the stuff that leaked about him to the press to Woj. 
• Exum: Virtually no chance. Jazz lost a year playing in a FIBA tournament in front of no spectators. Even if he does play, he will be majorly rusty and basically a non contributor. 
• Dellavedova: Criminally underpaid since entering the league, he’s on the verge of signing his one big contract at the same time as the Olympics. He loves playing for Australia, but he can’t jeapordise 20-30million by playing as an unsigned free agent. And if he is freshly signed….his team might not want the risk.

Bogut and Mills should be good to go, but like any international team, take out 3 of the best players and their chances of beating the US go from 5% to 0%

And it’s not just Australia. Other contenders, such as Greece, are going to be a shadow of their full strength, as Euroballer stated. Milwaukee won’t let Greek Freak play, because he needs to work on his shooting. Thats just the way it is. 

Additionally, there’s all kinds of insurance issues that arise when guys on multi-million dollar contracts play for international teams. I might be wrong, but a guy like Simmons would cost a fortune to insure…and international teams are all broke. 

As long as NBA teams are paying the salaries and dictate whether or not their players go, the quality of the tournament will suffer. It’s almost at the stage where I’d rather they made it like the Olympic Soccer and made it an Amatuer only tournmament. I think they’re entirely consisting of mostly U23 players, with 3 that allowed over that limit. 

Surely thats better than facing understrength national teams….

Alternatively, the NBA needs to sanction a proper World Championships and get it out of FIBAs hands. They can keep all the revenue, reward the teams that release their players, and ensure the timing is suitable for all. Its better than international teams minus their NBA talent….

[Hype Machine]

Sadly, the Olympic basketball tournament has lost its prestige and most of the top players either don’t want to play, or aren’t allowed to play. I used to scoff at the term "World Champions" being designated to the NBA Champs, because that title should belong to the winner of the Olympic or FIBA world champs….but if contenders can’t put their strongest teams out….then the NBA Champs really are the ‘World Champs.’ 

Believe me when I say I really want to hype up Australia’s prospects of beating the US, but unfortunately I’m skeptical about the quality of the lineup that we can put out.

• Simmons: Virtually no chance whoever selects him will allow him to play, not to mention the bad blood between him and the coach, and the stuff that leaked about him to the press to Woj. 
• Exum: Virtually no chance. Jazz lost a year playing in a FIBA tournament in front of no spectators. Even if he does play, he will be majorly rusty and basically a non contributor. 
• Dellavedova: Criminally underpaid since entering the league, he’s on the verge of signing his one big contract at the same time as the Olympics. He loves playing for Australia, but he can’t jeapordise 20-30million by playing as an unsigned free agent. And if he is freshly signed….his team might not want the risk.

Bogut and Mills should be good to go, but like any international team, take out 3 of the best players and their chances of beating the US go from 5% to 0%

And it’s not just Australia. Other contenders, such as Greece, are going to be a shadow of their full strength, as Euroballer stated. Milwaukee won’t let Greek Freak play, because he needs to work on his shooting. Thats just the way it is. 

Additionally, there’s all kinds of insurance issues that arise when guys on multi-million dollar contracts play for international teams. I might be wrong, but a guy like Simmons would cost a fortune to insure…and international teams are all broke. 

As long as NBA teams are paying the salaries and dictate whether or not their players go, the quality of the tournament will suffer. It’s almost at the stage where I’d rather they made it like the Olympic Soccer and made it an Amatuer only tournmament. I think they’re entirely consisting of mostly U23 players, with 3 that allowed over that limit. 

Surely thats better than facing understrength national teams….

Alternatively, the NBA needs to sanction a proper World Championships and get it out of FIBAs hands. They can keep all the revenue, reward the teams that release their players, and ensure the timing is suitable for all. Its better than international teams minus their NBA talent….

[Author]

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