2012 NBA Draft and Offseason Blog
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - Aug. 15
Led by Kevin Durant's 30 points, the USA basketball team claimed another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics beating Spain, 107-100. With several players and possibly head coach Mike Krzyzewski not expected to return for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the U.S. will have a good amount of turnover on its next Olympic roster. Here's a sneak peek at what Team USA could look like in four years.
POINT GUARD: Chris Paul will be 31 and Deron Williams 32 by the time the next Olympics roll around. Jason Kidd was 35 when he played four years ago in Beijing, so the window isn't completely shut on Paul or Williams giving it another go around. More than likely, though, team USA turns to the younger generation of point guards.
Russell Westbrook was a key component off the bench with his pressure defense and elite athleticism. He will certainly be back on the roster along with Derrick Rose who would have been on this summer's team had it not been for a torn ACL in the playoffs. Neither is a real threat from the outside with their three-point shooting, which will be a downgrade from the Paul/Williams duo.
Assuming Kyrie Irving continues to build off his awesome rookie season, he is the favorite to be the third point guard. Rajon Rando probably deserves to be on the roster after being left off this year, but the scuttlebutt is that his lack of being a likeable teammate will keep him off the roster once again. Stephen Curry is another name who might be floated around due to his outside shooting.
SHOOTING GUARD: This is where the biggest change will come. I am assuming that Kobe Bryant will hang up his Olympic jersey and Dwyane Wade won't return to the team either. That leaves this year's 11th man, James Harden, as the likely candidate to start at the two. Eric Gordon was one of the final cuts for this year's team and should be the favorite to be the second shooting guard due to his outside shot and defensive ability.
I think Hornets' rookie Austin Rivers could be a sleeper candidate especially if his dad, Doc, ends up coaching the team which is a real possibility since Coach Krzyzewski is not expected to return to the sidelines. Bradley Beal or UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad could be options as well.
FORWARD: You have to imagine LeBron James will be back to help further his legacy by becoming the first American to play on four Olympic teams. Even if he is back, the 2016 team will be Kevin Durant's. His three-point shot is absolutely deadly in the international game, and both of those guys will resume their role as the starting forwards.
If Carmelo Anthony is back, it will also be his fourth straight Olympic games. I'm 50/50 on whether or not he returns but am leaning towards saying no. That means team USA will be without its top sixth man; who can score the basketball and play bigger in a smaller lineup than Melo has?
I think second-overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist gets the nod as the new Andre Iguodala of the team; a versatile defender; a glue guy who doesn't need to score to impact the game, but is explosive in transition. I'll also throw Paul George's and Kawhi Leonard's names out there to give you something to think about. The top recruit in the 2013 class, Jabari Parker, might be a possibility as well.
POST: Tyson Chandler will be 34 and I can't imagine Dwight Howard being asked to join the team after the charade he went though this offseason - although LeBron still played despite his "Decision" debacle. With that being said, Kevin Love should once again don the red, white, and blue after a very impressive Olympic performance. His ability to board, shoot the three, and incredible outlet passing makes him a solid fit on the roster.
Blake Griffin would have been on the team had it not been for a torn meniscus in his left knee. He and his replacement, Anthony Davis, should both make the team. Davis should get much stronger over the next four years just like Chandler did after this rookie season and might be the favorite to start in the middle.
If the final roster spot goes to another big man, names like DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Andrew Bynum, Thomas Robinson, Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel, and Indiana's Cody Zeller could all be in the mix.
So the 2016 USA roster will probably look something like this:
C: Davis/Love
F: LeBron/Griffin
F: Durant/Kidd-Gilchrist
SG: Harden/Gordon
PG: Rose/Westbrook/Irving
So who takes the 12th spot? I'm rolling the dice here and going with Thomas Robinson over Austin Rivers. Because Westbook can play either guard position, I don't think the U.S. takes another guard even though Curry and Rivers' scoring ability would be a nice plus. I just think Robinson is going to be a stud in the NBA due to his inside/outside ability, athleticism, strength, and toughness. It's a great debate, huh?
Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:
James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home
2013 NBA Mock Draft - June 12
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - Aug. 15
Led by Kevin Durant's 30 points, the USA basketball team claimed another gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics beating Spain, 107-100. With several players and possibly head coach Mike Krzyzewski not expected to return for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the U.S. will have a good amount of turnover on its next Olympic roster. Here's a sneak peek at what Team USA could look like in four years.
POINT GUARD: Chris Paul will be 31 and Deron Williams 32 by the time the next Olympics roll around. Jason Kidd was 35 when he played four years ago in Beijing, so the window isn't completely shut on Paul or Williams giving it another go around. More than likely, though, team USA turns to the younger generation of point guards.
Russell Westbrook was a key component off the bench with his pressure defense and elite athleticism. He will certainly be back on the roster along with Derrick Rose who would have been on this summer's team had it not been for a torn ACL in the playoffs. Neither is a real threat from the outside with their three-point shooting, which will be a downgrade from the Paul/Williams duo.
Assuming Kyrie Irving continues to build off his awesome rookie season, he is the favorite to be the third point guard. Rajon Rando probably deserves to be on the roster after being left off this year, but the scuttlebutt is that his lack of being a likeable teammate will keep him off the roster once again. Stephen Curry is another name who might be floated around due to his outside shooting.
SHOOTING GUARD: This is where the biggest change will come. I am assuming that Kobe Bryant will hang up his Olympic jersey and Dwyane Wade won't return to the team either. That leaves this year's 11th man, James Harden, as the likely candidate to start at the two. Eric Gordon was one of the final cuts for this year's team and should be the favorite to be the second shooting guard due to his outside shot and defensive ability.
I think Hornets' rookie Austin Rivers could be a sleeper candidate especially if his dad, Doc, ends up coaching the team which is a real possibility since Coach Krzyzewski is not expected to return to the sidelines. Bradley Beal or UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad could be options as well.
FORWARD: You have to imagine LeBron James will be back to help further his legacy by becoming the first American to play on four Olympic teams. Even if he is back, the 2016 team will be Kevin Durant's. His three-point shot is absolutely deadly in the international game, and both of those guys will resume their role as the starting forwards.
If Carmelo Anthony is back, it will also be his fourth straight Olympic games. I'm 50/50 on whether or not he returns but am leaning towards saying no. That means team USA will be without its top sixth man; who can score the basketball and play bigger in a smaller lineup than Melo has?
I think second-overall pick Michael Kidd-Gilchrist gets the nod as the new Andre Iguodala of the team; a versatile defender; a glue guy who doesn't need to score to impact the game, but is explosive in transition. I'll also throw Paul George's and Kawhi Leonard's names out there to give you something to think about. The top recruit in the 2013 class, Jabari Parker, might be a possibility as well.
POST: Tyson Chandler will be 34 and I can't imagine Dwight Howard being asked to join the team after the charade he went though this offseason - although LeBron still played despite his "Decision" debacle. With that being said, Kevin Love should once again don the red, white, and blue after a very impressive Olympic performance. His ability to board, shoot the three, and incredible outlet passing makes him a solid fit on the roster.
Blake Griffin would have been on the team had it not been for a torn meniscus in his left knee. He and his replacement, Anthony Davis, should both make the team. Davis should get much stronger over the next four years just like Chandler did after this rookie season and might be the favorite to start in the middle.
If the final roster spot goes to another big man, names like DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Andrew Bynum, Thomas Robinson, Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel, and Indiana's Cody Zeller could all be in the mix.
So the 2016 USA roster will probably look something like this:
C: Davis/Love
F: LeBron/Griffin
F: Durant/Kidd-Gilchrist
SG: Harden/Gordon
PG: Rose/Westbrook/Irving
So who takes the 12th spot? I'm rolling the dice here and going with Thomas Robinson over Austin Rivers. Because Westbook can play either guard position, I don't think the U.S. takes another guard even though Curry and Rivers' scoring ability would be a nice plus. I just think Robinson is going to be a stud in the NBA due to his inside/outside ability, athleticism, strength, and toughness. It's a great debate, huh?
Recent NBA Draft and Offseason Blog Entries:
James Harden Trade Analysis - 10/29
What Will the USA Basketball Team Look Like at 2016 Summer Olympics? - 8/15
Dwight Howard Trade Analysis - 8/10
Restricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/29
Unrestricted 2013 NBA Free Agents - 7/28
2012 NBA Offseason Winners - 7/23
2012 NBA Offseason Losers - 7/21
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/13
Outstanding 2013 NBA Draft Trades - 7/12
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/10
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/6
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/4
Atlanta Hawks' Trades Recap - 7/3
2012 NBA Free Agent Recap - 7/2
2012 NBA Draft Winners - 6/30
2012 NBA Draft Losers - 6/30
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/28
NBA Trade Analysis - 6/27
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Perry Jones - More Risk or Reward? - 6/26
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: John Henson One of NBA Draft's Most Overrated Players - 6/25
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Vanderbilt to See Three Commodores Taken in NBA Draft - 6/22
Wizards-Hornets Trade Analysis - 6/21
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Doron Lamb: Stepping out of Kentucky Shadows into NBA Draft - 6/20
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Memphis' Will Barton Sneak into 1st round of 2012 NBA Draft? - 6/19
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Baylor's Quincy Miller Made a Mistake by Entering NBA Draft - 6/16
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Duke's Austin Rivers live up to the hype in the NBA? - 6/15
2012 NBA Draft Combine Coverage: Can Kansas' Tyshawn Taylor Be a True NBA Point Guard? - 6/14
2012 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Breakdown - 5/30
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Winners - 3/19
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Losers - 3/18
2012 NBA Trade Deadline: Five Players Likely to Be Traded - 3/8
2012 NBA Draft Outstanding Trades - 12/25
NBA Offseason and Draft Blog - Home
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Omar
03-23-2012
04:20 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.60
(total posts: 1)
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its a good thing i was wearing sartight white with built in neon when i went to the Super bowl. they almost didnt let me on the field:) and on a side note.. i feel bad for Slash:/
MaliceAtThePalace
03-09-2012
01:38 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.201
(total posts: 1)
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Stephen Jackson is a phenomenal teammate. Just ask Ron Artest back in '04.
Sean Shearier
03-09-2012
12:27 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.117
(total posts: 1)
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133
great site lots of information. Please check out www.walloffamesports.com
Mike again
12-25-2011
02:01 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.237
(total posts: 2)
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Lakers got Mavs first rounder this year for odom
mike
12-25-2011
01:56 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.237
(total posts: 2)
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you still have the clippers owning the twolves pick
Joe
12-23-2011
11:05 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.204
(total posts: 1)
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Walt, I dont think you understand what the Amnesty Clause does. The contract doesnt count against the payroll, but you still have to pay the player. You dont just get out of the contract for free. There was no point in using it on Rashard Lewis, because he can still at least play. Even if you are paying him a ton of money, he can still give you decent minutes. Plus, next year, he is a huge expiring that can be used as a trade chip.
Pete
12-23-2011
01:45 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.167
(total posts: 1)
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Dude Wizards don't amnesty Lewis because if they did, they would be significantly below the salary cap floor imposed on teams, forcing them to spend a bunch of money on an extremely weak free agent class. Makes sense that they wouldn't amnesty him because of that.
Walter
12-23-2011
12:11 am
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 10)
142
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Ugh, what page is that on? Editing at 3 am apparently isn't a good idea.
Oh, and I'm always up this late during football season. My Russian gypsy neighbors are surprisingly quiet.
Peter
12-22-2011
04:25 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx0.62
(total posts: 1)
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Walter - Aren't you an English major? Or should I say, Engrish major?
"However, if Davis plays with a chip on his shoulder, he provides the Knicks with a much-needed veteran experience in the backcourt, and unlike Mike Bibby, can still productive in the downside of his career." All kidding aside, you're doing a great job with this website. BTW, what are you doing up at 2:55 AM? Are the Russians keeping you up? Or are you trying to spy on the hot neighbor next door?
Walter
12-22-2011
02:55 am
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 10)
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Sorry about that. It was my fault (editing error). I posted the wrong logo. It's fixed.
Fitz
12-20-2011
08:03 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.242
(total posts: 2)
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20
Dude can you please correct that Davis for Bass trade. Bass plays for Orlando, not Dallas. It is the most annoying thing seeing that big of a mistake on an otherwise good website
Fitz
12-19-2011
02:58 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.242
(total posts: 2)
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Bass plays for Orlando. Therefore Glen Davis is going to Orlando. Can you please correct this already
Bro
12-16-2011
10:44 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx0.89
(total posts: 1)
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The Pistons bought out Rip Hamilton's contract so they could still use their amnesty on Ben Gordon. I was hoping that the Pistons wouldnt resign Tayshaun Prince so we could land the first pick of the draft and get a stud to join our young core of Greg Monroe, Austin Daye and Brandon Knight. But, the Pistons are stupid so they will rely on bums like Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon to win us out of a good draft pick and stay mediocre.
Also...
12-16-2011
11:10 am
xxx.xxx.xxx6.44
(total posts: 4)
26
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The Pistons bought out Rip's contract, and didn't use their amnesty clause yet. God willing, Ben Gordon is next to go.
What an idiot
12-16-2011
11:08 am
xxx.xxx.xxx6.44
(total posts: 4)
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Way to keep on your trades, Paul and Dave!
Brandon Bass has been with the Magic for awhile now, kinda shocking Walt would let someone so in-ept write for his site. |
2013 NBA Mock Draft - June 12
2014 NBA Mock Draft - April 25
2013 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: C | PF | COMBO-F | SF | COMBO-G | SG | PG
2011 NBA Mock Draft - June 23
2011 NBA Mock Draft - Walt's (June 21)
2011 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2010 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2009 NBA Mock Re-Draft
2011 NBA Draft Scouting Reports
2010-11 NBA Season Previews
2009 NBA Draft Grades
2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 18
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - June 17
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - June 16
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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