We interrupt your draft-day frenzy to bring you this press release from the Trail Blazers:
ALDRIDGE, BAYLESS, ODEN AND ROY TO PARTICIPATE IN
2009 USA BASKETBALL MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM MINI-CAMP
Mini-camp to be held July 22-25 in Las Vegas
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, guard Jerryd Bayless, center Greg Oden and guard Brandon Roy are set to participate in the 2009 USA Men's National Team mini-camp July 22-25 in Las Vegas, Nev. The selections were announced by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo today.
The mini-camp will feature practice sessions on July 23 and July 24 before the showcase event, an intra-squad scrimmage, held on Saturday, July 25.Aldridge and Bayless were members of the 2008 USA Basketball Select Team that trained with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, winners of the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Oden was selected as a member of the 2007-08 USA Basketball National Team program.
The USA Basketball Men's National Team will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
Portland's four representatives out of 25 selections for the mini-camp are more than any other team in the NBA.2009 USA Basketball Men's National Team Mini-Camp Roster
NAME POS NBA TEAM /COLLEGE OR H.S.
LaMarcus Aldridge F/C Portland Trail Blazers / Texas
Trevor Ariza F Los Angeles Lakers / UCLA
D.J. Augustin G Charlotte Bobcats / Texas
Jerryd Bayless G Portland Trail Blazers / Arizona
Ronnie Brewer G Utah Jazz / Arkansas
Glen Davis F Boston Celtics / Louisiana State
Kevin Durant G Oklahoma City Thunder / Texas
Rudy Gay F Memphis Grizzlies / Connecticut
Danny Granger F/G Indiana Pacers / New Mexico
Jeff Green F Oklahoma City Thunder / Georgetown
Blake Griffin F TBD / University of Oklahoma
Devin Harris G New Jersey Nets / Wisconsin
Andre Iguodala G/F Philadelphia 76ers / Arizona
Kyle Korver G Utah Jazz / Creighton
David Lee F/C New York Knicks / Florida
Brook Lopez C New Jersey Nets / Stanford
Kevin Love F Minnesota Timberwolves / UCLA
O.J. Mayo G Memphis Grizzlies / USC
Paul Millsap F Utah Jazz / Louisiana Tech
Greg Oden C Portland Trail Blazers / Ohio State
Derrick Rose G Chicago Bulls / Memphis
Brandon Roy G Portland Trail Blazers / Washington
Josh Smith F Atlanta Hawks / Oak Hill Academy (VA)
Russell Westbrook G Oklahoma City Thunder / UCLA
Thaddeus Young F Philadelphia 76ers / Georgia Tech
Perhaps this is a small reminder that we already have some players better than those who will be selected today?
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)