Lillard, Plumlee Not Among U.S. National Team Finalists

The newest list of 30 finalists for the United States Men's Basketball team was released to the public on Monday. For the second time in a row, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was not on the list. Fellow Blazer Mason Plumlee was also left off, despite being on the last iteration of the roster. The selections, made by coaches Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, and Tom Thibodeau, as well as managing director Jerry Colangelo, are as follows:

• LaMarcus Aldridge (PF - San Antonio Spurs)
• Carmelo Anthony (SF - New York Knicks)
• Harrison Barnes (SF - Golden State Warriors)
• Bradley Beal (SG - Washington Wizards)
• Jimmy Butler (SG - Chicago Bulls)
  
• Mike Conley (PG - Memphis Grizzlies)
• DeMarcus Cousins (C - Sacramento Kings)
• Stephen Curry (PG - Golden State Warriors)
• Anthony Davis (PF - New Orleans Pelicans)
• DeMar DeRozan (SG - Toronto Raptors)
• Andre Drummond (C - Detroit Pistons)
• Kevin Durant (SF - Oklahoma City Thunder)
• Kenneth Faried (PF - Denver Nuggets)
• Rudy Gay (SF - Sacramento Kings)
• Paul George (PF - Indiana Pacers)
• Draymond Green (PF - Golden State Warriors)
• Blake Griffin (PF - Los Angeles Clippers)
• James Harden (SG - Houston Rockets)
• Gordon Hayward (SF - Utah Jazz)
• Dwight Howard (C - Houston Rockets)
• Andre Iguodala (SF - Golden State Warriors)
• Kyrie Irving (PG - Cleveland Cavaliers)
• LeBron James (SF - Cleveland Cavaliers)
• DeAndre Jordan (C - Los Angeles Clippers)
• Kawhi Leonard (SF - San Antonio Spurs)
• Kevin Love (PF - Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Chris Paul (PG - Los Angeles Clippers)
• Klay Thompson (SG - Golden State Warriors)
• John Wall (PG - Washington Wizards)
• Russell Westbrook (PG - Oklahoma City Thunder)

Players that decline participation in the prior year's camp are typically not invited back the following year. Since Lillard declined invitation in 2015, his exclusion from the list is not entirely surprising.

Lillard is averaging 24.4 points and 7.0 assists this season for the Blazers, and holds career averages of 20.8 points and 6.2 assists.  The potential guards selected in his stead include Beal, Curry, DeRozan, Harden, Thompson, Irving, Paul, Wall, and Westbrook.

Plumlee was also not on the list. With Krzyzewski (Plumlee's coach at Duke) taking a smaller role, there is speculation that Plumlee was dropped accordingly.

~~~~~~~~~~

We invite you to help send 2000 underprivileged kids to see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings on March 28th. Your ticket donations make this possible. You can donate through this link:

http://www.rosequarter.com/blazersedge

Promo Code: BLAZERSEDGE

Ticket Costs range from $7-13 (There is a $5 processing fee per order.)

You can also call our ticket rep, Lisa Swan, directly at 503-963-3966. You will need to indicate to her that you are donating the tickets you order to Blazer's Edge Night.