My pcks for the 2016 Olympic team (and beyond)

Ok guys, here are my picks for the 2016 Olympic team as well as my picks for the 2018 World Cup AND the 2020 team.  I will start this off by mentioning that I was the FIRST PERSON to pick Anthony Davis for the 2012 team, even before Bill Simmons and the other ESPN guys.  I called that here.

So, these might not be THE picks, but they are MY picks.

So, flame away.

Here it goes…

My 2016 locks:

PG: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry

SF: Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kawhi Leonard

PF: Kevin Love

C: Anthony Davis, Chris Bosh

That’s ten guys right there.  I have Bosh as a lock since he can do so many things at either the 4 or 5.  Good 2 way player to complement Love or Davis. 

Even though the 3 spot is extremely loaded I am putting Kawhi Leonard here since he is a great role player and energy guy.  Great rebounder and can defend multiple positions.  LeBron and Carmelo will probably play lots of power forward, so having Kawhi should work out, even if Kawhi might not be the perfect option as an oversized 2 guard in bigger lineups.

Then I am taking a shooting guard.  Guys to look at are James Harden, Klay Thompson, Brad Beal, Victor Oladipo, Danny Green, and Kyle Korver.  The 2 guard spot will be a little thin, but Russell and Steph can play some 2.  Then you have a guy like Kawhi Leonard who can GUARD two’s as well as knock down a few jumpers.  You can get away with having Kawhi and Durant as your wings, with Durant being the primary scorer and shooter with Kawhi taking the tougher defensive assignment.  Both guys can rebound and even block shots so you are covered there.  I would give Klay Thompson the edge since he is a pure shooter with decent size and defense.  You know what, screw it, guess who has a lifetime membership?  If he wants it, if he wants to go to Rio, then Michael Jordan is IN.  I don’t care how old he is.  The guy can play if he wants to (and yes, he can still play).  Makes sense, this roster has room for only one shooting guard, so why not reserve it for the BEST shooting guard (and the GOAT) in league history?

My 12th man would be a big man who could also be a guy to help out down the road in the 2020 Olympics.  This team is solid inside with a bunch of stretch four types, Kevin Love who is a legit 4, and then Bosh and Davis who play some 4 as well as some 5.  I would first look at legit, shot blocking centers like Andre Drummond, DeAndre Jordan, Nerlens Noel, and an older guy like Dwight Howard.  If Mason Plumlee impresses then I would consider him, too.  Then look at more-offensive guys like LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMarcus Cousins.  If there weren’t so many 3’s and stretch 4’s on this team I would take a long look at Jabari Parker.  Not sure he makes this team, BUT he should be a lock for the 2018 World Cup team and the 2020 Olympic team. 

Although Blake Griffin might be the "safe" pick as the 12th man.  Just go with Davis and Bosh as your center’s with Kevin Love also chipping in, then you have a need for an uber-athlete like Blake Griffin at the 4.  Blake also gives you the opportunity to go with a super athletic "small" lineup of Westbrook, Kawhi, Durant, LeBron, and Blake.  BUT, only two of those guys (Davis and Bosh) are legit options at center. 

Nah, I am not going to go there.  This team already has plenty of guys who can play "the four": Love, Davis, Bosh, LeBron, Carmelo, and even Durant and Kawhi Leonard.  Give me a legit center, heck, even a grizzled veteran who can score on the low post, rebound, block shots, and get the ball to the right guy.  A player who can defend four’s and fives.  I want TIM DUNCAN as my 12th man.  He won’t beg for minutes and can play with ANY lineup.  Ironically, he would be the ideal "center" for this team even though he has called himself a power forward for his entire career.  It would also be a great way for Tim Duncan to end his career as the newest inductee onto the Big Man Mount Rushmore joining Russell, Wilt, and Kareem. 

Nah, I am not going to go there.  This team already has plenty of guys who can play "the four": Love, Davis, Bosh, LeBron, Carmelo, and even Durant and Kawhi Leonard. 

So my 12 guys would probably be CP3, Steph Curry, Westbrook, Michael Jordan, Kawhi, LeBron, Durant, Carmelo, Kevin Love, Anthony Davis, Bosh, and Tim Duncan.  My alternate spot goes to Derrick Rose.  MVP in 2011, his first major injury cost him a spot on the 2012 Olympic team.  You are also rewarding one of the game’s best for playing in this year’s World Cup.  So, if a point guard goes down, D Rose can fill in.  Or fill in at the 2 if Klay Thompson can’t go.  It would also help since D Rose could be one of the veterans on the 2020 Olympic team because you wouldn’t have Carmelo, Bosh, Duncan, or CP3, and probably not even LeBron, Durant, and Kevin Love.  D Rose would be nearly 32 in 2020 but that wouldn’t be TOO old.  Great age for a veteran leader though who, by then, might only have that left to put on his resume (if he also wins a title with this current Bulls core).

Have to have a Legends lineup of CP3, Jordan, Durant, LeBron, and Duncan. 

Skipping ahead, my 2018 World Cup LOCKS are Curry, Rose, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Jabari Parker, and Anthony Davis.  This is assuming that LeBron, Durant, Love, and Westbrook skip out on the next World Cup too.  Blake Griffin would be a lock if he wants in.  My 2018 team would be Curry, Rose, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Brad Beal, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Jabari Parker, Doug McDermott, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, and Andre Drummond.  My alternate would be one of the younger big men like Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, one of the Plumlee’s or Zeller’s, or even a guy who is still in college. 

Finally my (very early) predictions for the 2020 Olympic team are Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, John Wall, Klay Thompson, Victor Oladipo, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant (the aging vet), Jabari Parker, Anthony Davis, Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, and Andre Drummond.  My alternate would be Marcus Smart.  The kid is a great talent, but can you trust him?  If he proves himself then he would still have time left to headline the 2022 World Cup team and find a place on the 2024 Olympic team.