Nine of 12 Olympic Spots Secured for USA Basketball

USA Basketball head honcho Jerry Colangelo announced on Monday that only 3 spots remain for the national team heading to the London Summer Olympics. Fox Sports has the details: “Colangelo said 2008 Olympic holdovers LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams are assured of being on the team in London along with 2010 World Championship holdovers Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Tyson Chandler. Colangelo said that leaves six players vying for the final three spots as Team USA will have practices Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas before the team is announced at 7 p.m. EDT Saturday in a selection show being televised by NBA TV. They are Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay, James Harden, Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis. Despite a sprained ankle that could sideline him this week, Colangelo said Davis remains under consideration for the team. Colangelo said Lamar Odom dropped out Monday, leaving Team USA with 15 finalists. He said there will be no further additions to the team. The three finalists who don’t make the 12-man roster will be alternates. ‘We will not be adding anybody,’ Colangelo said. ‘We feel good with what we have.’ […] All players are due to report in Las Vegas Thursday, with training camp starting Friday and running through July 12. However, several players on the bubble will arrive earlier and have a workout Thursday. The workout initially was going to be for Griffin, Odom and Davis. But with Odom dropping out and Davis hurting, Colangelo said Harden will now join the workout. He said it’s possible some other players also could arrive early. Team USA has been plagued numerous defections since 20 finalists were named last January. Since then, seven of the finalists have dropped out. Two more were added to the team in May in Davis and Harden. Dropping out due to injury have been Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Then there was Monday’s defection of Odom. The only four true post players remaining are Chandler, Love, Griffin and Davis. However, James and Anthony can play power as well as small forward.”