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https://www.si.com/nba/magic/news/orlando-magic-paolo-banchero-grant-hill-team-usa-fiba-world-cup

While it's still a work in progress, Team USA managing director and former Magic forward Grant Hill spoke on the possibility of Banchero playing for the U.S national team.

"Paolo is a player that I know extremely well," Hill said to Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport". "I've followed his college basketball career and I was able to see his progress this season as a rookie multiple times since I live in Orlando. Paolo is an extraordinary talent and he's already a top player in the league. For sure, he's one of those players that we're following for the World Cup and also for the future of Team USA."

Paolo Banchero has two citizenships, Italy and USA. He said specifically that if there was no COVID, he could have played for Team Italy at age 17 or 18.

Definitely, team USA is recruiting him and Grant Hill is the new Team USA Manager.

There is FIBA World Cup this summer from mid-August to September and Magic training camp starts in Oct 3rd.

Does anyone think the World Cup experience will benefit a player like Banchero? Training with USA's best.

Also if Franz Wagner is to play the SG spot, does anyone see Paolo Banchero possibly play SF? So we draft Taylor Hendricks to start him at PF. That is at least intriguing to me

Last year's FIBA euro tourney was great for Franz. If Paolo declares for Italy, itd be great for him too, much better than Summer League.

I’m down for our players get more national experience. I think the risk are typically worth it overall.

As an American and Magic fan I would love for Paolo to at least train with US as a member of the select team.

But I understand if he wants to play for Italy and represent his lineage. Plus he would grow even more international fans/support by playing for Italy.

Interesting decision.

I'd prefer to have him playing for Italy, he would be the best player out there long term, so it would benefit his game more than being part of USA team, IMO.

MoMM wrote:I'd prefer to have him playing for Italy, he would be the best player out there long term, so it would benefit his game more than being part of USA team, IMO.

logic

MasterGMer wrote:https://www.si.com/nba/magic/news/orlando-magic-paolo-banchero-grant-hill-team-usa-fiba-world-cup

While it's still a work in progress, Team USA managing director and former Magic forward Grant Hill spoke on the possibility of Banchero playing for the U.S national team.

"Paolo is a player that I know extremely well," Hill said to Italian newspaper "La Gazzetta dello Sport". "I've followed his college basketball career and I was able to see his progress this season as a rookie multiple times since I live in Orlando. Paolo is an extraordinary talent and he's already a top player in the league. For sure, he's one of those players that we're following for the World Cup and also for the future of Team USA."

Paolo Banchero has two citizenships, Italy and USA. He said specifically that if there was no COVID, he could have played for Team Italy at age 17 or 18.

Definitely, team USA is recruiting him and Grant Hill is the new Team USA Manager.

There is FIBA World Cup this summer from mid-August to September and Magic training camp starts in Oct 3rd.

Does anyone think the World Cup experience will benefit a player like Banchero? Training with USA's best.

Also if Franz Wagner is to play the SG spot, does anyone see Paolo Banchero possibly play SF? So we draft Taylor Hendricks to start him at PF. That is at least intriguing to me

didn't you watch the games where we tried this? it was ugly....franz is a no go at SG

MoMM wrote:I'd prefer to have him playing for Italy, he would be the best player out there long term, so it would benefit his game more than being part of USA team, IMO.

I'm not completely sold on that. Also players whove played for Team USA have gotten other to join their teams, would be nice to have Paolo recruit some stars our way

ogmagicfan wrote:

MoMM wrote:I'd prefer to have him playing for Italy, he would be the best player out there long term, so it would benefit his game more than being part of USA team, IMO.

I'm not completely sold on that. Also players whove played for Team USA have gotten other to join their teams, would be nice to have Paolo recruit some stars our way

It would make easier for other players recruit Paolo from a small market to a big market, so it's another point to have him playing for Italy.

If he were able to build bonds with other stars, he could recruit them.

Or they could recruit him to leave. Lol

KillMonger wrote:[
didn't you watch the games where we tried this? it was ugly....franz is a no go at SG

Was he that bad? I thought it just looked iffy because we had literally no healthy PGs at the time.

SOUL wrote:

KillMonger wrote:[
didn't you watch the games where we tried this? it was ugly....franz is a no go at SG

Was he that bad? I thought it just looked iffy because we had literally no healthy PGs at the time.

Yeah it was bad, he's just too big for that position full time.... Had issues staying in front of the smaller guys on defense..... Had trouble getting around them on offense..... Seems foot speed was the main issue in my eyes... Then again this is me recalling from memory, maybe if I go back and watch it again it wasn't that bad... But I distinctively remember not liking him at SG at all

Sent from the phone in my hands

Whether he plays for Team USA or the Italy National Team, it would be to his benefit. So many players made great leaps playing for the national team. I really would like to see him in high pressure situations and either team would give him that. It would also expand his game.

Skin wrote:If he were able to build bonds with other stars, he could recruit them.

Or they could recruit him to leave. Lol

Honestly, I think they do that anyway. These guys seem to know each other really well growing up in the basketball circuit.

MoMM wrote:

ogmagicfan wrote:

MoMM wrote:I'd prefer to have him playing for Italy, he would be the best player out there long term, so it would benefit his game more than being part of USA team, IMO.

I'm not completely sold on that. Also players whove played for Team USA have gotten other to join their teams, would be nice to have Paolo recruit some stars our way

It would make easier for other players recruit Paolo from a small market to a big market, so it's another point to have him playing for Italy.

Yeah... just imagine Curry telling PB in the bench after a practice play

" You know what Paolo, you ran that pick and roll really good... listen i maybe got 4-5 years left in me, would eb great to have you play with me next year while you get your ring and be the face of this championship team dynasty right? "

While if Paolo was in the ITA team he could say

* in Italian *

" you know what, the league needs its next Bargianni or Gallinari or whatever name it is... what say you tank your draft combine so we can draft you with our cash consid... i mean 2nd round pick "

We both lose in either lol

I think it would be cool if he played for Italy, personally (with the added bonus that maybe I can catch him at eurobasket sometime). It seems like a cool way for him to connect with his father's homeland, where a part of his identity/heritage is also rooted. Also in some ways it would feel like a bit of a bad look after kinda sorta committing to Italy before.

However, I would assume that Paolo identifies as mostly American, and playing for team USA opens up the possibility of winning a gold medal at the Olympics, and lord knows they could use young American stars. So obviously I'll support his fiba career whatever his decision is. I really feel like international basketball is a good way to expand a player's game, injuries and long-term fatigue notwithstanding.

Screw Glass Hill.

Beside his lineage through his father, he has very little connection to Italy. I don't believe he went to Italy until they tried to recruit him to play there. He is American and should be playing for the United States.

Can Paolo play the 3?

It’s easy to become an afterthought playing for a team with no real hope of winning. Playing for Italy would be a step down from where he needs to be positioned in the years to come…that’s a “settle”