This FIBA World Cup roster isn't the official "Dream Team" (if such a label exists anymore) and they shouldn't be considered the de facto roster for the 2024 Olympics either. Chances are, it'll be some mixed bag of this roster, the 2020 roster, and other American stars who deserve consideration.
We're going to scan through the potential candidates and make our best estimate for the roster, although you can obviously disagree and submit your own in the comments below.
Back in Action (from 2020)
If we're going to cobble together a potential roster, we really ought to start with the last Olympic team in 2020 (technically 2021) and go from there.
The 2020 team won the gold medal, although they weren't exactly steamrolling the competition. The French national team gave them everything they could handle. The U.S. lost their opening game to France, and then slipped by them by 5 points in the gold medal game. The French roster is going to be stronger next time around -- and they're going to have homecourt advantage in the Paris games.
The clear MVP of that year's Dream Team was Kevin Durant. He's a superstar who's a great fit for international competitions. If Coach Steve Kerr could bring any player to Paris, he may pick KD. That said, Durant may not be interested this time around. He's going to be 35 years old and he's already done this gold medal dance three times already (in 2012, 2016, 2020). For that reason, I don't think we should consider him a lock to suit up.
The young sharpshooters that I feel more confident in would be Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, both of whom won with this 2020 team. Like Durant, their ability to score from the midrange (which is practically a "three" in international play) makes them well-equipped for these competitions. Booker and Tatum will also be squarely in their primes at age 27 and 26, respectively. They should become the bedrocks of Team USA for the next cycle or two.
The only other player I'd consider a lock to return from 2020 would be Bam Adebayo. He'll also be in his prime at age 27, and his defensive versatility (and solid offense) is the type of game that coaches appreciate. In terms of roster construction it should be noted that Adebayo's a lighter big man known for his switchability than raw power, so he'd have to be joined by a bigger true "big" somewhere.
I'm not booking tickets for any other members of the 2020 team right now. Coach Kerr may have a hard time keeping his player Draymond Green off the roster, but Green (who will be 34) may be past his Team USA days. Guards Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday may be ready to pass the torch as well. The other 2020 players (Zach LaVine, Jerami Grant, Khris Middleton, Keldon Johnson, and particularly JaVale McGee) aren't good enough to get grandfathered onto the roster automatically. Among them, LaVine may be the best bet.
Nailed the Audition
This 2023 FIBA team felt more like a group of understudies, trying their best to impress and get promoted.
Clearly, the star of the group has been Anthony Edwards. Time will tell whether he's going to parlay his Team USA work and jump up into All-NBA status in the league, but he's certainly endeared himself to the organization and franchise with his star turn here. The fact that Ant Man can get a shot when he wants -- and can hold his ground defensively one-on-one as well as any young wing -- serves him well.
Fellow World Cupper Mikal Bridges isn't as flashy, but he can do a little of everything on the court. I don't see a good reason to keep him off the roster. He can fit any team -- any lineup.
Shot blocker Jaren Jackson Jr. is more polarizing and does have some deficits -- primarily his foul troubles and his rebounding troubles -- but the pros still outweigh the cons. He's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He's going to be 24 years old. He can hit jumpers. All in all, he's still a valuable weapon to have when you go to war.
In regards to the other FIBA players, I'm going to put them into the "question mark" pile. Lead guards Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Halibuton may have stiffer competition depending on who RSVP's. Role players like Austin Reaves, Josh Hart, Cam Johnson, Walker Kessler, and Bobby Portis may be outclassed. Brandon Ingram seems like he should be a stud in international play (like a KD Lite) but it hasn't gone swimmingly so far. Perhaps Paolo Banchero is the best bet to return among this group; his skill set for his size and age is incredible. If he's not going in 2024, write him down for 2028.
Oldies but Goodies
Right now we have 6 players marked in, and 6 spots available.
If I'm Grant Hill or Steve Kerr, I aim high. In addition to Kevin Durant, I make calls to legends like Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Unfortunately, both will be older (Curry 36, James 39) and unlikely to sign up. Still, it never hurts to ask.
Age and injury concerns will probably keep out the Clippers' duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George as well. Hopefully the same doesn't apply to Anthony Davis, who will only be 31 at the time of the Olympics. In fact, Davis could be one of the most valuable members of the entire Team USA unit if he decides to play. I'd consider him more likely than the others given his relative youth, but it's hard to guarantee anything when it comes to AD.
There are some "old heads" at the guard position that I'd consider strongly as well. Among them: Kyrie Irving (who will be 32), Damian Lillard (who will be 34), and even James Harden (who will be 34 as well). Even at an advanced age, all three may be better for the Olympics than the current field general Jalen Brunson. I'm less bullish on other over-30 players like Jimmy Butler and Klay Thompson, personally.
Of course, politics can play a role in terms of roster construction, either in positive or negative ways. If Stephen Curry only signs up if Klay Thompson and Draymond Green come along, then you can consider them. And if Kevin Durant and Devin Booker (two of our ideal players) insist on it, we can make it a package deal and accept their new teammate Bradley Beal as well. Beal may or may not be one of the top 12 Americans in the world, but he's a solid fit for international play and someone we can make room for upon request.
Fresh Blood
The U.S.A. may have some concerns about the Olympics, but depth isn't one of them. They have enough talent to field 20 rosters. The bigger concern is making sure they find the right "fit" among them.
In terms of potential "flesh blood" that I haven't mentioned yet, we have some options at the guard spot. Trae Young was controversially held off the FIBA roster, but he does offer shooting and playmaking. You also have some younger and flashier guards like Ja Morant, De'Aaron Fox, LaMelo Ball, and Darius Garland as well. If Coach Kerr needs some role players, then you could consider defenders like Derrick White or even Alex Caruso. Pistons guard Cade Cunningham is someone who should be monitored heavily as well. He's a big guard with a high IQ, high character, and good shooting potential; if he has a big year this season, he could become a mainstay of the Team USA roster.
In terms of other guards and wings, Donovan Mitchell fits like a big enough star to get an offer. If the team feels like they need another shot creator, he'd be a good option. If the team would rather have a "catch and shoot" guy instead, then maybe you consider Desmond Bane.
The U.S. collection of "bigs" isn't loaded, but there are certainly some names to consider. Older bigs like Myles Turner or even Brook Lopez would offer some more sturdiness inside. Mitchell Robinson would add the rebounding we need. Rising bigs Evan Mobley and Chet Holmgren do NOT have that type of bulk, but they certainly have the length and shot blocking (and improving offensive skill set) to earn strong consideration. It would have been nice to see them with the FIBA team to get their feet wet, although they do have some experience in international tournaments prior.
Among all the fresh blood, the most exciting and most combustible name on the board is Zion Williamson. It'd be easy to see him dominating international play like Charles Barkley did back in 1992. Again, it's hard to count on Williamson for anything, but he could silence a lot of doubters if he has a strong season.
So Who Makes the Trip?
We had penciled in 6 players: 3 from the 2020 team (Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo) and 3 from the FIBA crop (Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges, Jaren Jackson Jr.). That'd leave 6 spots remaining.
Obviously we'd love the old stars to come out an shine, but I'm pessimistic that they will. Not only are the old dogs focused on NBA titles and load management, but they have egos as well. They know the international competition is stiffer, and even the best U.S. team may only have an 80% chance of winning. That means a 20% chance of losing -- which would be cast as a huge embarrassing "failure". All in all, let's play it safe and project that the old guard sits this one out. I'm also going to put Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson off the board for injury concerns, although they'd both be great additions to the roster.
In their absence, we can promote several of our question marks onto the roster. Donovan Mitchell will be hard to ignore -- we're talking about a star guard who averaged 28 PPG last year. I'll also give out a ticket to Zach LaVine -- I thought he played well in 2020 in terms of his defensive effort and his ability to "fit in" offensively.
We're up to 8 now, and we're already strong in terms of the wings. Ideally, we'd need some pure point guards and a pure big to round out the roster.
If the older guards decline, I suspect Tyrese Haliburton can get a return ticket based on his shooting, passing, and all around good vibes. And, with some hesitation, I can see Team USA bringing back Jalen Brunson -- especially if this year's group wins gold. He's considered a leader for the squad. I can definitely see them debating his replacements though -- especially if this tournament run goes south. Trae Young probably deserves it, but I could see the team opting for easier personalities like Cade Cunningham, or Derrick White, or Darius Garland. Garland's size is an issue, but he has shooting and an appealing personality himself; he's someone who's always gotten along with his peers.
In terms of our bigs, there's a basketball argument for the bigger bodies like Mitchell Robinson and Walker Kessler. Still, I suspect that Team USA will want to keep Paolo Banchero in the program. Who's our last big? Chet Holmgren has the most long-term upside, but he's not exactly a bruiser himself. Let's just play it safe with a decent option like Myles Turner instead.
So overall, we ended up with:
Guards: Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton
Wings: Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges, Zach LaVine
Bigs: Bam Adebayo, Jaren Jackson Jr., Paolo Banchero, Myles Turner
Now, remember, this isn't my "Dream Team" of potential "Dream Team" members, but a conservative estimate on who may be likely to show up on the plane. In an ideal world, we'd get Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis among others (LeBron James, Paul George, etc). That said, those are all guys who have gotten gold medals already and may not be interested in adding more wear and tear to their bodies.
But how optimistic are you? Who are YOU picking to get plane tickets for?
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