ESPN.com news services UConn center Emeka Okafor will be invited to fill the final roster spot on this summer's US Olympic basketball team, league sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Okafor is expected to formally accept the invitation shortly, which would complete USA Basketball's season-long odyssey to finalize a 12-man contingent for Athens after numerous pullouts and rebuffed invitations. USAB's selection committee opted to fill its final roster spot with a power player instead of a perimeter specialist such as Milwaukee's Michael Redd. Team USA coach Larry Brown had recently pushed for the inclusion of a top shooter like Redd or Rip Hamilton, but Hamilton and Detroit Pistons teammate Ben Wallace declined invitations. It was believed that Redd was next in line, but the selection committee reversed its position on Denver rookie Carmelo Anthony and invited Anthony to join the squad Tuesday. As ESPN.com reported Tuesday night, Anthony, who had criticized the selection process earlier this month, eagerly accepted. San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson are the only original members from Team USA's "core" group of nine players still on the roster. Five players were officially named in the first wave of replacements: Cleveland's LeBron James, New York's Stephon Marbury, New Jersey's Richard Jefferson, and the Phoenix tandem of Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire. Okafor and Anthony join Cleveland's Carlos Boozer and the Miami tandem of Dwyane Wade and Lamar Odom in the second wave of replacements. Sacramento's Mike Bibby, Orlando's Tracy McGrady, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal and the Lakers' Karl Malone are "core" members of the original roster who have formally pulled out for various reasons, be it injury or security fears or simply a desire for offseason rest. The Lakers' Kobe Bryant, New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Seattle's Ray Allen were earlier withdrawals from the core group, which was assembled during the 2002-03 season in hopes of establishing continuity before heading to Athens. Shaquille O'Neal, Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, Toronto's Vince Carter, New Jersey's Kenyon Martin and the Clippers' Elton Brand also have declined invitations, with reasons ranging from injuries (Kidd and Brand) to weddings (Garnett and Carter) to childbirth (Allen's fiancee). Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=1826868 This team is gonna be seriously young and inexperienced. I am doubting gold for the US, and I hope they don't call this a "Dream Team."
Amazingly, considering the proposed trade, the 'next in line' at least from what Houston has to offer, is only Jim Jackson. Makes me ponder three things: First is when Hakeem got his citizenship status. Correct me if I am wrong (I believe I might be), but is the main reason that he didn't play in '92 was due to his status as a non-American citizen at the time? That's what I've always assumed and told people, but never looked it up. I have to doubt that he just wasn't chosen (even though there was such great talent anyway) because Robinson was playing. The second thing is it doesn't surprise me that Okafor is on the team; I'm pretty sure every Olympic/qualifying/WBC team has had at least one college player. Was it not Collison last year? Thirdly, I feel uneasy with all of this Francis bashing and lack of TMac bashing. I mean besides the obvious of using Steve as a possible scapegoat for the holdup of this proposal (he just happened to make the comments at a time where everyone would make him look guilty), there deson't seem to be a strong (enough) sentiment on this board at least for stating why this trade may come about in the first place -- McGrady's refusal to sign an extension in ORL. That we already have discussed, but I am nowhere near ready to praise TMac, at least not until he shows he can play with the Rockets. It's obvious that Francis has more of a basketball heart than McGrady; proof is in one's desire for wanting to play for his country (which I tihnk would be a GREAT way to divert his mind for a few months and at least give Steve the opportunity to concentrate on the game again) while another's pathetic rejection. I don't mean to be blaming any of the players who drop out because it was CLEARLY USAB's fault in choosing players and embarissing them on the national stage if they chose to decline. SOMEONE (more specifically more than one) people should be fired. Stu Jackson is one of those people. Lastly, I am not worried about not seeing Houston represented. There's always China to root for and is Nachbar playing for Slovenia? EDIT: or did they even qualify?
Team USA will call Clutch and ask him to play for Team USA before they call Francis. .....no offense Clutch
Forward Carmelo Anthony Forward Carlos Boozer Forward/center Tim Duncan Guard Allen Iverson Guard/forward LeBron James Forward Richard Jefferson Guard Stephon Marbury Forward Shawn Marion Forward Lamar Odom Center Emeka Okafor Forward/center Amare Stoudemire Guard Dwyane Wade You know what? I'm actually pretty excited to see this team play. They might struggle just to win the bronze medal, but that squad has several young, athletic, enthusiastic players who have a joy for the game. No Sean Kemps or Larry Johnsons here (remember that squad). Win or lose, I think they'll be fun to watch in every game.
actually i am interested in seeing a lineup of Iverson,LeBron, Carmelo, Okafor and Duncan I still think the USA should win because their overall talent from 1-12. the euro/asia team may have at most 2-3 nba players so even though they will be much more competitive than the teams the us played in 92 and 96 i still think the us should win
