Team Canada Basketball Thread

[mojo13]

Good news: Rudy Gobert is out for the Qualifier.
http://www.sportando.com/en/national...th-france.html

Bad news: We wont get to see this.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44FzaXecALw[/youtube]

[frumble]

Any speculation re Olynyk's shoulder? Will surgery be necessary?
Obviously a huge blow to our chances if he can't play.

[TheFutureMM]

Any speculation re Olynyk's shoulder? Will surgery be necessary?
Obviously a huge blow to our chances if he can't play.

Just looking at boxscores it appears that he played 5 minutes in game 6.

This is just an assumption but I feel like if he needed surgery he would have sat that game out. No sense for him to make it worse by risking it in the playoffs.

Hopefully he just needs to rest it and is fine with May/June off.

[mojo13]

There were quote from him and Stevens today that he was not even playing at 80 percent. But they said surgery was not on the table right now.
Hopefully he just needs a few weeks to recover. I agree he would be a huge loss. Top 2 or 3 key guy IMO.

[mojo13]

There were quote from him and Stevens today that he was not even playing at 80 percent. But they said surgery was not on the table right now.
Hopefully he just needs a few weeks to recover. I agree he would be a huge loss. Top 2 or 3 key guy IMO.

I may have spoke to soon here as KO is contemplating surgery. Fingers crossed he doesn't need it...either way it seems his participation is questionable.
If KO is out...we sure better have Trey Lyles there...if not we may be screwed.


And in other news XRM is headed back to FSU. No real surprise here as he didn't even get a combine invite. The NBA has spoken...go back to school...
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/mensbasketball/2016/05/02/fsus-xavier-rathan-mayes-return-school-after-testing-nba-waters/83850094/
It is a nice change in the rules...no harm, no foul. Certain Canadian kids could have benefited from this in years past. **cough** Khem Birch **cough**

[mojo13]

On the good news front - Batum, Fournier and Mahinmi are officially out for Manila (Gobert too).
http://www.sportando.com/en/national-teams/national-teams/199060/batum-fournier-and-mahinmi-won-t-play-for-france-in-olympic-qualifiers-agent-says.html

Fournier (and Gobert) are the surprises. Mahnimi and Batum are FAs and we expected them not to play.
Without Batum and Fournier it has the potential to opens things up for Wiggins - I sure hope he plays.
There are still doubts about Nando De Colo, considering the fact that he will also be a free agent, interested in returning to the NBA. that may not seem like big news, but De Colo has been elite in Europe this year. Best PG in Europe according to some.

Bad news front - Kelly Olynyk is contemplating surgery on his shoulder. No decision yet though.



Other news - Dillon Brooks was not invited to the NBA Combine. I'd expect that is enough of a signal from the NBA that he returns to Oregon for his junior year.
Kyle Wiltjer was the only Canadian invited to the Combine - and he is far from a lock to be drafted. As said before we are in a bit of a multi-year trough with NBA level talent coming up through the ranks.

[mojo13]

No roster/invites announced yet...but at least something from BC today.

Schedule leading up to the qualifier:

June 10-16 Training, Toronto, ON
June 17-29 Training & Exhibition Games Croatia & Italy
June 20: Game vs Croatia
June 23: Game vs Croatia
June 25: Game vs China
June 26: Game vs TBC
June 29: Game vs Puerto Rico

July 5-10 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Manila, Philippines


One month away from training camp - I am sure Barrett, Nash and Triano are furiously working the phones getting commitments.
I am thinking more and more, KO won't be healthy and hopefully CoJo and TT's season ends soon so they can focus on the important stuff.

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/slug-qtutjn?platform=hootsuite


There are also reports in the Turkish media that Khem Birch will be invited to the national team camp. I hope that is true...he is having a great year in Turkey and could provide some rim protection that we lack. Him and TT could provide a similar role at the 4/5 paired with a more offensively gifted forward (Trey Lyles/KO).

[frumble]

Olynyk may put off surgery so he can play for Canada.
Will make decision in next week or so.


http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/olynyk-still-weighing-options-inevitable-shoulder-surgery

After consulting with a number of doctors both within the Celtics organization and outside of it, it has become a matter of when – not if - Kelly Olynyk will have to have surgery on his right shoulder.

But Olynyk isn’t quite ready to commit to having it surgically repaired this summer, a summer in which the Canadian National team for which he is a key member, is still in the process of trying to qualify for the summer Olympics in Rio.

“If I rest it, I would definitely partake in the Olympic (qualifying tournament),” Olynyk told CSN at a fundraising event for Horizons for Homeless on Sunday. “That would be the reason to not get surgery at this point. If you rest it, it’ll get better but never solve the problem. That’s what we’re looking at.”

[mojo13]

Anyone know what is going on with the Cadet Team? The U17 Worlds are coming up soon and most other countries have named rosters and are training and playing exhibition games already.
I think the boys are in camp mode...or maybe having informal weekend training sessions but there has been no mention of training camp roster or selection roster yet. Is it safe to assume they are just going with last years roster?

I noticed Barrett and Neidhardt missed EYBL Brooklyn this past weekend supposedly for "national team duties" but Simi Shi#u played along with Danilo Djuricic and Ignas Brazdeikis (and maybe others).

EDIT: I noticed Barrett and Neidhardt are not members of CIA Bounce so them not playing EYBL Brooklyn is moot.

[TheFutureMM]

Olynyk may put off surgery so he can play for Canada.
Will make decision in next week or so.


http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/olynyk-still-weighing-options-inevitable-shoulder-surgery

After consulting with a number of doctors both within the Celtics organization and outside of it, it has become a matter of when – not if - Kelly Olynyk will have to have surgery on his right shoulder.

But Olynyk isn’t quite ready to commit to having it surgically repaired this summer, a summer in which the Canadian National team for which he is a key member, is still in the process of trying to qualify for the summer Olympics in Rio.

“If I rest it, I would definitely partake in the Olympic (qualifying tournament),” Olynyk told CSN at a fundraising event for Horizons for Homeless on Sunday. “That would be the reason to not get surgery at this point. If you rest it, it’ll get better but never solve the problem. That’s what we’re looking at.”

Kelly had surgery today according RealGM.

HUGE hit to the national team. All of a sudden Bennett is looking pretty sweet...

[frumble]

Anyone know what is going on with the Cadet Team? The U17 Worlds are coming up soon and most other countries have named rosters and are training and playing exhibition games already.
I think the boys are in camp mode...or maybe having informal weekend training sessions but there has been no mention of training camp roster or selection roster yet. Is it safe to assume they are just going with last years roster?

I noticed Barrett and Neidhardt missed EYBL Brooklyn this past weekend supposedly for "national team duties" but Simi Shi#u played along with Danilo Djuricic and Ignas Brazdeikis (and maybe others).

EDIT: I noticed Barrett and Neidhardt are not members of CIA Bounce so them not playing EYBL Brooklyn is moot.

Yesterday Basketball Canada posted that open tryouts will be June 3 and 4.

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/u17-u18-mens-national-team-open-tryouts-to-be-held-june-3

I haven't seen anything else.

[frumble]

Olynyk may put off surgery so he can play for Canada.
Will make decision in next week or so.


http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/olynyk-still-weighing-options-inevitable-shoulder-surgery

After consulting with a number of doctors both within the Celtics organization and outside of it, it has become a matter of when – not if - Kelly Olynyk will have to have surgery on his right shoulder.

But Olynyk isn’t quite ready to commit to having it surgically repaired this summer, a summer in which the Canadian National team for which he is a key member, is still in the process of trying to qualify for the summer Olympics in Rio.

“If I rest it, I would definitely partake in the Olympic (qualifying tournament),” Olynyk told CSN at a fundraising event for Horizons for Homeless on Sunday. “That would be the reason to not get surgery at this point. If you rest it, it’ll get better but never solve the problem. That’s what we’re looking at.”

Kelly had surgery today according RealGM.

HUGE hit to the national team. All of a sudden Bennett is looking pretty sweet...

Ugh. Understandable decision, but still a huge hit.

Given Cleveland most likely going to finals, I can see TT taking a pass again.

[mojo13]

We really need TT playing now - along with Trey Lyles.

The loss of KO is manageable with both of them added. We lose either one of them and I think was are in trouble.

I am Ok with a line up of:
Cory Joseph
Nik Stauskas
Andrew Wiggins
Trey Lyles
Tristan Thompson

With guys like Tyler Ennis, Anthony Bennett, Melvin Ejim, Khem Birch, Brady Heslip, Kevin Pangos, Doornekamp coming off the bench.

It is a short tourney with not many games - 4 max? Heavy minutes to the starting 5. I think Khem will be a big addition to spell off TT and let them play aggressively on D and protect the rim. I am big believer in Lyles making up much of the offense we lose from KO... and just Wiggins, CoJo, Stuaskas and the rest just being better, more experienced players than last year. Ennis will be a big help at PG as Srubb was a weakness last year. Damn...even Doornekamp had a great year in Frankfurt.

Wiggins needs to become a man and step up!

[frumble]

It is a short tourney with not many games - 4 max? Heavy minutes to the starting 5.

Yes, that's a good point.

We play Turkey on July 5th, Senegal on the 6th, then off 7th and 8th before semifinals on 9th and finals on 10th.

So max 4 games in 6 days.

[frumble]

Jeff Goodman reporting that Brooks will withdraw from draft (deadline is tonight) and return to Oregon. No surprise.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15718221/dillon-brooks-exits-nba-draft-process-returns-oregon-ducks

[super_balls]

Jeff Goodman reporting that Brooks will withdraw from draft (deadline is tonight) and return to Oregon. No surprise.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15718221/dillon-brooks-exits-nba-draft-process-returns-oregon-ducks

Good for him. No point for him to enter draft. He needs to refine his shooting and play making, he could pull a Buddy Hield.

[mojo13]

Jeff Goodman reporting that Brooks will withdraw from draft (deadline is tonight) and return to Oregon. No surprise.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15718221/dillon-brooks-exits-nba-draft-process-returns-oregon-ducks

Good for him. No point for him to enter draft. He needs to refine his shooting and play making, he could pull a Buddy Hield.

He sure left it to the last second...but it gave him an opportunity to work out for a few NBA teams and get direct feedback. Good decision and nice to see the new rule work the way it is intended. I always thought his big weakness was defensive intensity and consistency - so hopefully he can improve there.

Anyone have any thoughts on Kyle Wiltjer? He is pretty unique in a way. His strengths are in super high demand in today's NBA but his defense is pretty atrocious . The draft combine results are questionable, but he may be more athletic than thought (see agility drill and vertical testing).
Not many draft boards projecting him to be drafted - but I can see a team who really sees value in his skill-set grabbing him late in the 2nd. He seems like a much better version of Ryan Kelly - with an Ryan Anderson unlikely ceiling. However he may be better off going undrafted to find a team that he really fits with.

Dyshawn Pierre is getting some looks as well (this is surprising to me). Here is a quote from Chad Ford after watching him work out with Jamal Murray

As good as Ingram looked in those shooting drills, Murray looked even better. He rarely missed in the 90-minute workout I saw, even when he was standing five feet beyond the NBA 3-point line.

Murray's the type of player who really comes alive when the lights are on and kept pushing through repetitions of the star drill, trying to break the record for the most 3s hit in a two-minute period. He hit 22 in his first try -- just short of the record of 23, which he achieved on his second try. Then his workout partner, Dyshawn Pierre, made 24. Murray asked to go through the exhausting drill one more time and this time made 25.


Dyshawn Pierre, G/F, Sr., Dayton

Pierre is an off-the-radar guy that showed some things in his workout in New York. He's worth considering as a potential 3-and-D guy.

While his scoring numbers really flatlined after his sophomore season, and his 3-point percentage went down every year, he shot the ball very well in workouts, and defensively he has the tools to be a stopper.

The odds are against him as far as the draft goes, but I definitely think a team will pick him up and give him a try in summer league. If he makes it to the right team and opportunity, he could play in the NBA.

that is an especially exciting take on Pierre especially considering the SMNT weakness at SF.

Also I believe I did see a quote out there that Brooks was hoping to play for Team Canada this summer.

[super_balls]

Jeff Goodman reporting that Brooks will withdraw from draft (deadline is tonight) and return to Oregon. No surprise.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15718221/dillon-brooks-exits-nba-draft-process-returns-oregon-ducks

Good for him. No point for him to enter draft. He needs to refine his shooting and play making, he could pull a Buddy Hield.

He sure left it to the last second...but it gave him an opportunity to work out for a few NBA teams and get direct feedback. Good decision and nice to see the new rule work the way it is intended. I always thought his big weakness was defensive intensity and consistency - so hopefully he can improve there.

Anyone have any thoughts on Kyle Wiltjer? He is pretty unique in a way. His strengths are in super high demand in today's NBA but his defense is pretty atrocious . The draft combine results are questionable, but he may be more athletic than thought (see agility drill and vertical testing).
Not many draft boards projecting him to be drafted - but I can see a team who really sees value in his skill-set grabbing him late in the 2nd. He seems like a much better version of Ryan Kelly - with an Ryan Anderson unlikely ceiling. However he may be better off going undrafted to find a team that he really fits with.

Dyshawn Pierre is getting some looks as well (this is surprising to me). Here is a quote from Chad Ford after watching him work out with Jamal Murray

As good as Ingram looked in those shooting drills, Murray looked even better. He rarely missed in the 90-minute workout I saw, even when he was standing five feet beyond the NBA 3-point line.

Murray's the type of player who really comes alive when the lights are on and kept pushing through repetitions of the star drill, trying to break the record for the most 3s hit in a two-minute period. He hit 22 in his first try -- just short of the record of 23, which he achieved on his second try. Then his workout partner, Dyshawn Pierre, made 24. Murray asked to go through the exhausting drill one more time and this time made 25.


Dyshawn Pierre, G/F, Sr., Dayton

Pierre is an off-the-radar guy that showed some things in his workout in New York. He's worth considering as a potential 3-and-D guy.

While his scoring numbers really flatlined after his sophomore season, and his 3-point percentage went down every year, he shot the ball very well in workouts, and defensively he has the tools to be a stopper.

The odds are against him as far as the draft goes, but I definitely think a team will pick him up and give him a try in summer league. If he makes it to the right team and opportunity, he could play in the NBA.

that is an especially exciting take on Pierre especially considering the SMNT weakness at SF.

Also I believe I did see a quote out there that Brooks was hoping to play for Team Canada this summer.

I liked Dyshawn ever since his days at Anderson HS. He has a funky shot but his body control reminds me a lot of (raptor board fav) Damien Inglis. Very fluidy for a guy his size.

[UcanUwill]

Hanlan has dropped from Zalgiris rotation completely, wasn't even on active 12 men roster in todays game.

[mojo13]

Hanlan has dropped from Zalgiris rotation completely, wasn't even on active 12 men roster in todays game.

He hasn't really played all month. According to a Zalgiris fan on another board when asked how Hanlan was doing.

Hanlan played SG more, had really good 1st part of the season, but then our main PG Kalnietis left, coaches changed, Hanlan was tried at PG, and totally lost his rhythm there. He looked really confused at PG, playin' as SG he was shooting bravely, taking responsibility, but at PG he couldn't make up his mind lot of times, when to shoot, when to pass the ball, at times bein' open he hesitated to shoot. Overall lost his confidence and now at times isn't even registered for the games

He has had a tough year. He joined the only Euroleague team of all our Canadians in Europe but it has been a rough go.

Khem Birch and Pangos started with a little lower level teams and have really shined. Khem is being chased hard by many Euroleague teams for next year. Rumors some teams are interested in Pangos too.

Ejim has done really well since going back to Italy last month. Umana Venezia caught fire once he joined and are now in the semifinal for the Italian Series A league after being a ~.500 team during regular season.

Pangos still alive in the ACB quarterfinals this week vs Laboral Kutxa (5 vs 4 seed).