Sheridan: Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge To Be Added To Team USA Pool?

Over the weekend, we noted a report that Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge was hoping to receive an invite to join Team USA, who reportedly had planns to announce an 18-man roster within the next two weeks in advance of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com reports that the roster may in fact be 19 players deep and Aldridge may be added to the mix.
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SheridanHoops.com learned Tuesday that Aldridge is on the verge of being added to the national team roster that will be submitted to FIBA later in January.

"Everybody has had the number at 18, and everybody had Blake Griffin as the only guy who wasn’t on the ’08 (Olympics) and ’10 (World Championship) teams. But they don’t know about Aldridge," a source with knowledge of USA Basketball’s plans told SheridanHoops.com.
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The final squad will have 12 players.

Aldridge was selected for the Team USA program in 2010 but backed out prior to the World Championships in Turkey. Blazers coach Nate McMillan, a team USA assistant, said at the time that he wished Aldridge had been on the team.

At the time, Chris Tomasson of AOLnews.com reported that Team USA Director Jerry Colangelo said that Aldridge's decision was "not a positive" development for his 2012 Olympics team hopes but that he would "never close the door."

Update: Sheridan now reports the full 19-man squad. Only the final few spots are really in question. Chauncey BIllups, Andre Iguodala and Lamar Odom are listed and Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay and Brook Lopez are not. Lopez was there for positional depth purposes only and is unnecessary if Aldridge is included.

This sets up very intriguingly. Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams all seem to be virtual locks. That leaves two spots on the final 12-man roster for Aldridge, Tyson Chandler, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love to fight over.

Update: Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune reports that Aldridge is singing a positive tune: "I think it’s going to happen... I’m excited. I’ve had previous opportunities. It didn’t work out. This time it fits perfectly with my career/family."

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

5 months ago Ben Golliver 22 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

Seems like a long shot for LMA to make the final 12,

but as a fan, I would love to see it happen.

by ICanCheerLouder on Jan 10, 2012 11:49 AM PST reply actions

If Nate is coaching, LMA will be on the team.

LMA had very good reasons not to go that summer. His mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, his second child was born AND he had played about a gazillion minutes per game that year.

by Natsthecat on Jan 10, 2012 11:50 AM PST reply actions

Too risky.

Especially after this compressed season.
If Aldridge participates in the Olympics, at the beginning of next season he will be like a squeezed lemon.

by prostofen on Jan 10, 2012 11:50 AM PST reply actions

if a back up...how many minutes played? And won't they have some kind of break

between this season and the summer games?
If so, then 66 games is still not 82+…and LMA may be just fine.

by Natsthecat on Jan 10, 2012 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

I don’t think it would be significantly more wear and tear than a run to the Conference Finals or so.

i keep dancing on my own.

by atomiccafe on Jan 10, 2012 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

Also..doubt Kobe will play.

He has already played.

by Natsthecat on Jan 10, 2012 11:50 AM PST reply actions

I wouldn't bet on that.

Kobies never say die!

by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 10, 2012 3:41 PM PST up reply actions

LaMarcus has a ton of competition at PF/C with Dwight, Tyson Chandler, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and Chris Bosh. I’d probably take LaMarcus as my backup center since he’s got the skillset for an international 5, but Coach K might prefer the more traditional angle with Chandler.

i keep dancing on my own.

by atomiccafe on Jan 10, 2012 11:57 AM PST reply actions

agreed, LA deserves to be at the camp and has a shot to make it

I’m still confused why Andrew Bynum’s not being at least mentioned as an option at the backup 5.

by jksnake99 on Jan 10, 2012 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

the Brits aren't used to hooligans like Bynum.

the truth hurts. fox news is painless

by Biph on Jan 10, 2012 3:37 PM PST up reply actions

Also

All of those guys have significantly more practice time with team USA, too. Given how that’s been stressed by Coach K recently, that may be what ends up keeping LA off.

by Royster on Jan 10, 2012 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

out of those 4

I would take Love and LA. Both are well suited to the international game with their ability to hit the outside shots and in LA’s case, defend multiple styles of player.

Hard to see what Chandler gives you in the international game that you don’t already have even better of with Howard. Griffin would be a popularity pick, but his skillset is more limited than either Aldridge or Love, and the team shouldn’t be lacking in motor/energy guys, so he would be duplicative in that regard.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Jan 10, 2012 2:03 PM PST reply actions

Howard can be foul prone.

Nice to have some D and size for insurance purposes. Chandler sets a solid pick too. He’s good.

by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 10, 2012 3:42 PM PST up reply actions

Seriously, Chris Bosh isn't as good as LA, Griffin, Love or Chandler...

why would he be a lock??

Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.

by jenstcy on Jan 10, 2012 2:37 PM PST reply actions

history with the program

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Jan 10, 2012 2:39 PM PST up reply actions

Do people forget the 2008 Summer Olympics?

I mean, c’mon, It didn’t happen all that long ago.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Jan 11, 2012 9:45 AM PST up reply actions

The only pool I want LaMarcus in

is the whirlpool. Soaking down after playing all those minutes.

"You can walk away from someone who doesn’t love you. And you can walk away from someone you don’t love. But when the love is mutual," Roy said. "The hardest thing is to walk away."

by Glide22 on Jan 10, 2012 2:41 PM PST reply actions

I'd love to see LA and Love make the team

also, I think Rondo would be the perfect PG for a team with that many scorers

I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sean in Vancouver on Jan 10, 2012 2:57 PM PST reply actions

Rondo was a bit of a disaster during the last run

He had a snowball’s chance in a kiln of making the short list…

Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

by blacknoiseNW on Jan 10, 2012 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

The team is really heavy on SFs

Lebron, Durant, and Carmelo is a little thick. I can understand 3 PGs but not 3 SFs. that leaves the team thin in the frontline with Howard and Bosh as the only bigs.

If it were me, the last two players would be bigs and I’d probably ditch Carmelo for another 4/5 player.

by NWfan on Jan 10, 2012 4:09 PM PST reply actions

IIRC

both Lebron and Carmelo played some PF last time around.

I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sean in Vancouver on Jan 10, 2012 4:23 PM PST up reply actions

So 2 roster spots to be divvied up between

Two of Tyson Chandler, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and LMA.

I bet LMA gets a spot.

He’s the only guy here who has proven he can play the 4 and the 5.

I believe it would only be a good thing for LMA to go to the Olympics and be considered as one of the top 12 players in the league. Being around the best competitors in the league – seeing their practice habits, learning how they prepare, shoot just spending time with Kobe and soaking up what he does to get himself ready is enough. Something LMA hasn’t had yet since being in the league – the freshman-sophomore game doesn’t quite measure up to a full month hanging out with the best and the brightest.

by hkphooey on Jan 10, 2012 5:15 PM PST reply actions