[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Since Aran and nbadraft.net decided to post an article about Anthony Randolph getting invited to participate in Team USA’s minicamp next week, but not Eric Gordon… I’m doing it.

Updated: July 17, 2009, 5:10 PM ET

Minicamp roster filling out for Vegas
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com

Unsettled contract situations will keep David Lee, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Glen “Big Baby” Davis from taking part in Team USA’s minicamp in Las Vegas next week.

The tentative roster now stands at 23 after invitations were extended to Anthony Randolph of Golden State AND ERIC GORDON OF THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS.

The team will assemble Wednesday with coach Mike Kryzyewski, who has agreed to coach Team USA at the 2010 World Championship in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London, and will practice Thursday and Friday under the direction of Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano before holding a public scrimmage Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center.

As of Friday, the other camp attendees are Trevor Ariza (Houston), D.J. Augustin (Charlotte) Jerryd Bayless (Portland), Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap (Utah), Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo (Memphis), Danny Granger (Indiana), Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers), Devin Harris and Brook Lopez (New Jersey), Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia), Kevin Love (Minnesota), Greg Oden (Portland), Derrick Rose (Chicago) and Josh Smith (Atlanta).

Team USA director Jerry Colangelo told ESPN.com earlier this year that he has received verbal commitments in February from all eight core members of the Beijing Olympic team — LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams — to play for the U.S. next summer in Turkey.

If those commitments hold, the 23 players in Las Vegas will be competing for the final four spots in the 12-man roster — and the current economic climate will effectively squeeze away any chance of going to Turkey for the four withdrawing players. Lee and Davis are restricted free agents and remain unsigned, while Roy and Aldridge are eligible for lucrative contract extensions from the Trail Blazers later this summer. Additionally, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo of Boston have declined invitations due to the timing of Perkins’ upcoming wedding.

FIBA’s World Championship, the equivalent of soccer’s World Cup, has not been won by the United States since 1994 when the so-called Dream Team II was anchored by Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller and Dominique Wilkins.

The U.S. finished third in Athens in 1998 (when the NBA lockout kept pro players from competing), sixth in Indianapolis in 2002 and third in Saitama, Japan, in 2006.

Chris Sheridan is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

[GreenLanternParticipant]

I take it you are a Clips fan. Congrats. They look like a team that could get an 8th seed next year. The main reason they weren’t a lot better last season was a ridiculous amount of injuries, not a lack of NBA talent.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Not necessarily a Clippers fan lol. An Eric Gordon fan.

[GreenLanternParticipant]

Oh my bad. As for Gordon, he was robbed in the ROY standings. He actually had better stats than Westbrook, Gasol, and even Lopez. But he played for the most hated franchise in sports and wasn’t overwhelmingly flashy to overcome it.

[romeeezybabyParticipant]

I think they are when it comes to measureables, but Eric’s game is so smooth offensively and he gets the majority of his points by driving to the lane, whereas Ben’s points come off jump shots. If anything, he’s a poor man’s D-Wade.

[da guru]

gordon>mayo

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I think Ben Gordon is a very good offensive player, but I’ve never liked EJ being compared to him. Other than them both being undersized shooting guards who can shoot and light it up, I don’t see what there is to compare. Ben takes a lot of bad shots and is streaky. He’s also listed as 6′ 3″, but I think he may be even shorter. His arms are not very long and he has average athleticism. EJ is taller, longer arms, stronger, more athletic, more patient on offense, better shot selection and is a much better defender. I also think EJ finishes better through traffic.

[bakimm]

he n ben r just short 2 guards and have the same last name and shoot the sh!t out of the 3 but ej has better d and is a better passer and get into the lanes for layups and dunks

[Author]

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