When practice opens on the campus of UNLV, the top priority will be determining who among the players still standing get the last available spots. The Americans will finally select their team on Saturday night.
"We would have already made the decision if it wasn't for the injuries and the length of the NBA season," U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We have a pretty good idea of who will be on the team, but the last one or two spots, you're not sure of, so you want to see the guys physically and talk to them.
"They're not trying out; all of them are good enough to be on the team. It's where are they at right now, and how do they complement the nine or 10 guys that you already pretty much know are already on the team?"
Krzyzewski said the Americans were deeper now than the squads he led to gold medals in the 2008 Olympics and 2010 world basketball championship, and the team has needed every bit of that depth.
NBA all-stars Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, who would have made up one-third of the team, all have been lost to injuries. Lamar Odom, who still had a shot despite his miserable NBA season, opted not to play. Anthony Davis' health is uncertain after the No. 1 pick sprained an ankle working out with the New Orleans Hornets.
All the injuries forced the Americans to scrap their plans to name their 12-man roster June 18. They've lost some of their size and explosiveness, figuring they still have plenty left to defend their Olympic title.
The Americans are left with five players from Beijing: James, Bryant, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Williams, who agreed this week to a five-year extension with the Nets. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Tyson Chandler, and Kevin Love return from the young squad that won gold in Istanbul two summers ago.
Blake Griffin would seem to have a good chance if he's recovered from some knee trouble that slowed him in the playoffs, because the Americans could use his size.
The Americans will train against a select team of young players, including Jrue Holiday of the Sixers, each day of camp before playing an exhibition against the Dominican Republic on July 12.
