Predicting the Twelve-Man Roster for Team USA

With the roster trimmed down to 15 for Team USA as they prepare for the FIBA Worlds, they will have to cut three more players to get set for Turkey.

Such selection processes are never easy. With such players as Tyreke Evans and O.J. Mayo already having been cut, it’s easy to see that the players remaining are very talented indeed (they’d have to be to have beaten out those two talented players).

So, I don’t envy Coach K his job on this one, but I will try and use a little bit of my knowledge to try and predict just what he may end up deciding in the end.

With that said, here is how I think the roster will shake out.

Enjoy, and share your opinions. 

Point Guards

I see three point guards making the Team USA squad.

I believe the Denver Nuggets’ Chauncey Billups and the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose are locks to make the 12-man squad, while the third point guard spot is probably still up for grabs, with Boston Celtic Rajon Rondo being the favorite to win out over the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook to play for Coach K.

Though Rondo doesn’t have a great jumpshot, I believe he’ll win out because of his better all-around game and experience. Westbrook will have his day to shine for Team USA, it’s just not likely to come this year.

So, introducing your Team USA Point Guards: Chauncey Billups, Derrick Rose, and Rajon Rondo.

Shooting Guards

I see only two shooting guards making the team. I have the Philadelphia 76ers’ Andre Iguodala as a lock for a spot on the squad, with the second spot being up for grabs between the Los Angeles Clippers’ Eric Gordon and the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry.

Many fans and media pundits have expounded on Gordon’s one-dimensional game, but I believe the team needs some shooters, even one-dimensional ones, in order to match-up with the great shooters many of the other international teams will have.

This is why I believe Coach K will eventually decide Gordon is more necessary to success than Curry even though Curry is a fabulous player.

So, introducing your Team USA Shooting Guards: Andre Iguodala and Eric Gordon.

Small Forwards

Like the point guard position, I see there being three small forwards making the Team USA squad.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA Scoring Champion Kevin Durant, as well as Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay are absolute locks here at the three-spot, but there are some questioning whether Indiana Pacer Danny Granger will make the cut.

While many may doubt Granger will make the team, I think he will surprise and prove all these naysayers wrong. I believe he’s a very underrated player and an excellent shooter, and is just the sort of swingman Team USA will need in their quest for gold.

So, introducing your Team USA Small Forwards: Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, and Danny Granger.

Power Forwards

Like the shooting guard spot, I believe only two power forwards will make the Team USA squad.

Unlike any of the other positions mentioned so far, I believe there is really no question who those power forwards will be. I believe the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Lamar Odom is an utter lock to make the team, and that there’s almost no doubt the Minnesota Timberwolves’ forward, Kevin Love, will be joining him.

Odom is someone Coach K cannot do without. He can play three positions for Team USA, and that versatility, along with his great length at 6-11 will make him indispensable in the quest for the top for the United States.

While Love isn’t as versatile or talented as Odom, he is a great rebounder, and is going to be vitally needed on the team against some of the international squads.

So, introducing your Team USA Power Forwards: Lamar Odom and Kevin Love.

Centers

Finally, I believe only two centers will also make the Team USA 12-man roster.

It was almost universally agreed by most experts and media personalities that the two who would make the squad were the New Jersey Nets’ young phenom, Brook Lopez, and the Dallas Maverick’s Tyson Chandler.

However, since Brook Lopez recently left the team after having contracted mononucleosis in May that he’s not fully recovered from, and being replaced by the Washington Wizards’ JaVale McGee, there’s no certainty for anyone beyond Chandler, who is a certain lock.

I believe McGee will make the cut, replacing Lopez, but it will be more out of desperation by Coach K to have more than just one center on the squad.

McGee is a very young and inconsistent player, but he has impressed many during the Summer League play with his incredible athleticism. And in truth, that athleticism might just be what Team USA needs against international competition.

Brook Lopez’ back-to-the-basket style of play and lack of great athleticism probably would have hindered this squad’s ability to run the floor with the teams from many of the other countries in these games, whereas McGee will easily be able to keep up with any big on the international stage.

So, introducing your Team USA Centers: Tyson Chandler and JaVale McGee.

Depth Chart

If my predictions are correct, here is how the depth chart will play out, in my opinion.

PG: Chauncey Billups, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo

SG: Andre Iguodala, Eric Gordon

SF: Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Danny Granger

PF: Lamar Odom, Kevin Love

C: Tyson Chandler, JaVale McGee

Josh Dhani is an award-winning writer at Bleacher Report. You can read more of Josh’s work at the following link:

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