Team USA mini camp has kicked off in Las Vegas with Orlando Magic youngsters Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris trying to make a name for themselves.
For 34 of the best players in the NBA, this week is the beginning of the road. The required road that is to Rio de Janeiro and the 2016 Olympics, the biggest international basketball tournament in the world.
The roster is more or less set. For the most part, the group that won the 2014 FIBA World Cup is young, willing and able to return. The large 34-man roster is looking for players that can step in should injury strike or should veterans like Kobe Bryant from the 2012 Olympic squad decide not to make the trip.
Already there have been controversial cuts — most notably Derrick Rose and Damian Lillard, who are not at the mini camp this week and thus are not be eligible to play for Team USA in 2016 — and there will surely be more when the time comes. By virtue of the U.S.’s FIBA World Cup title, Team USA get togethers are limited to this mini-camp as the team will not have to play at FIBA Americas qualifying in Mexico.
No, this is just a sign of players’ commitment to the program and willingness to give to the team and put some work in ahead of next summer’s training camp, selection process and Olympics.
Victor Oladipo and Tobias Harris are likely not going to be part of that 12-man squad heading to Rio. Barring a major uptick in production, it is hard seeing the Magic’s two U.S. invitees supplanting James Harden, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler (a newcomer to the program), LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. These two are there as part of Team USA’s desire to keep young players within the group in hopes they can take over should the need arise.
Part of Jerry Colangelo’s mission in remaking the U.S. basketball program was to have it be a true program. Young players will be part of the system and part of training even if they cannot make the roster for the international competitions so that when they become veterans, they will be ready to take over and there will be a seamless transition.
In this reading, Harris and Oladipo are seen as part of the future of Team USA’s distant future. For them, this is an opportunity to be around the game’s best and fight for their pecking order in the NBA order. Both seem to be taking this mini camp as an opportunity to build momentum for the season, as Harris told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:
"It just motivates me to come into next year and make things happen for our team and get our team on the right track.Now it’s just time to win. It’s time to go out and do a lot of things that our team needs to be done for us to be a great team. That’s getting everybody together. That’s building chemistry early on. The season’s right around the corner."
It will take more than just winning to make the team. But that cannot hurt. And coach Mike Krzyzewski has emphasized that glue guys like Tayshaun Prince and Shane Battier are valued as he puts together a roster for these competitions. Oladipo and Harris have opportunities just by being there and being in front of the coaches.
Of course, the first day was more of a “get to know you” session. The highlights that came out of it were the team joking around and Oladipo making half court shots:
There is certainly some real work going in. These guys are competing for roster spots for sure. Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony are essentially using this week to get back into the swing of things against NBA competition after injuries last season.
There is also a secondary concern on the horizon for Team USA.
The FIBA calendar is changing somewhat after the 2016 Olympics. The next FIBA World Cup will not be held in 2018 (for some reason). Instead, the world of basketball will descend upon China for the World Cup in 2019. It is going to truncate the Olympic qualifying schedule and make things very difficult for stars hoping to play in the Olympics.
Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated explains the problem well:
"There’s also a scheduling quirk at play here, too. After first rebranding the World Championships as the World Cup in 2014, FIBA has opted to change the event’s schedule in hopes of distinguishing it from soccer’s FIFA World Cup. Rather than playing the next FIBA World Cup in 2018 and continuing a four-year cycle that has been in place since 1970, the event has been delayed to 2019 in China. USAB, then, will need to field 12-man rosters for 2019 and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics without a rest year in between. Convincing players, especially returning players, to give up back-to-back summers will likely be a tougher sell than the current system, and USAB is smart to keep a lot of irons in the fire, even though ‘19 is still four years away."
This is where a deep roster pool already knowledgeable about the program and ready to contribute becomes so valuable. It is really an advantage Team USA has over every other country. They have the depth not only to sustain injuries (always a concern) but also to field a very competent and strong team one year and a completely different one the next.
This might be where a player like Oladipo (who could double as a defensive specialist if the team needs one) or Harris come in. They would be perfect fits for 2019 if the U.S. decides to send a “B-squad” to the World Cup, saving bigger names for the Olympics the following year. Or they could both develop into superstars and be part of the Olympic team or however you want to fit it.
What is important at this structure is that both Oladipo and Harris are part of the Olympic process for Team USA. They are in the pool and eligible for selection should they continue to develop and should they fit into the culture Krzyzewski is trying to build.
And to be included among some great players, suggests Team USA sees a bright future in these two as well.