Team Canada Basketball Thread

[UcanUwill]

Jorge Guttierez was actually the only Mexican in the NBA this past season and he would be a very good pg in the Euroleague.

Meh, I dont know about that. Looking at his stats, he wasnt that good even in D league. Guy has no 3 point shot, it would be hard for him to very good PG in the Euroleague without a shot. Guy would probably be next Acie Law at best.

[mojo13]

U17 Worlds Camp Roster was announced today.
http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/22-athletes-invited-to-u17-mens-national-team-tryouts-training-c

Suprisingly Simi Shi#u, our best player is not listed. Anyone know why? This is a big blow. He was awesome last summer and has been great in EYBL this summer.

At least no other big names seem missing.

[Drop Shot]

U17 Worlds Camp Roster was announced today.
http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/22-athletes-invited-to-u17-mens-national-team-tryouts-training-c

Suprisingly Simi Shi#u, our best player is not listed. Anyone know why? This is a big blow. He was awesome last summer and has been great in EYBL this summer.

At least no other big names seem missing.

Akot and Sackey reppin the Peg

[aminiaturebuddha]

I can't seem to find any info on why Simi isn't there. And yes, definitely a big blow. Along with Barrett, he was clearly one of the two best players on that team that pushed the US in the finals last year. The roster still looks good though, with the other standouts back, including Nembhard, who kept getting more and more accolades throughout the year, and Kirkwood, Djuricic and Brazdeikis, who I also thought were quite good at times in last year's tourney.

After the first day or so of practice, Kaosi Ezeagu seems to be attracting some notice, so maybe we'll be alright at the big man spot even without Simi.

In other National Team news, the U18 training camp list has also been released.

http://www.basketball.ca/en/news-article/18-athletes-invited-to-u18-mens-national-team-tryouts-training-c

A few good names in there like Lindell Wigginton, Howard Washington, Abu Kigab, O'Shae Brissett, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. But overall it seems like it's hard to get a sense of the roster. I'm not that familiar with many of the PFs and Cs they have listed. It also seems like it's a strange in-between group in terms of the ages where our most talented are. Thoughts?

[mojo13]

Some tweets today saying Simi was practicing with the team, so I am not totally sure if he is playing or not. That press release could have been a mistake I suppose.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Some tweets today saying Simi was practicing with the team, so I am not totally sure if he is playing or not. That press release could have been a mistake I suppose.

Very good news. Apparently cuts are being made after today's practice as well, so we may know something as early as tomorrow morning. Could be a great team - hopefully one that can make it to the final and give the US another run for their money, but this time for 40 minutes.

[frumble]

Nice to see Wigginton on the U18 list. I think he is one of our top two or three players in his age cohort but he has yet to play for team Canada (has been cut twice, IIRC). Brissett on the list as well. I don't think he has even attended a camp for Canada before (but I could be mis-remembering).

[xBlackMamba]

What are the odds that Murray participates? Do you think whatever team he is drafted by will even let him play? If i'm not mistaken (I totally could be), summer league will be around this time as well.

[mojo13]

What are the odds that Murray participates? Do you think whatever team he is drafted by will even let him play? If i'm not mistaken (I totally could be), summer league will be around this time as well.

Very low.

Name the last NBA Lottery Pick to play for the their national team the summer they were drafted. Or just go back a page on this thread and find out.

[mojo13]

As for Birch, I have heard only that he is one of several candidates for Olympiacos this summer. I have not heard that any other Euroleague teams are after him right now, and in the case of Olympiacos, he is listed as being one of 5 candidates for their 2nd center.

His stock was higher before the Turkish playoffs, but after them, his stock dropped, because he did not play well against Fenerbache. So he might be in Euroleague next season, but nothing is for sure on that. Olympiacos' main target for a C on the free agent market is said to be Ioannis Bourousis. If he goes to the NBA instead (which he already said he will try to do so), then their next target after that for a free agent C, if they can't get Bourousis, is said to Stephane Lasme. Then, if they can'
t get either Bourousis or Lasme, that is where Bitch's name has come up, along with a couple of other names. I have not seen his name being attached to the interest of any other Euroleague teams yet.

That does not mean he might not end up in Euroleague next year, he might. Because teams will end up as always needing a C. But as of right now, I don't think teams are at this moment actively pursuing him. So it's no garantee he will be in Euroleague next season, just that he might be.

The list of teams now interested in Khem Birch include: Unics Kazan, Olympicacos, Panathinaikos, Lokomotiv, Galatasaray (according to the ever so reliable Twitterverse).

Kevin Pangos is supposedly in the mix for Unicaja and Kuxta Laboral both EuroLeague teams.

[UcanUwill]

As for Birch, I have heard only that he is one of several candidates for Olympiacos this summer. I have not heard that any other Euroleague teams are after him right now, and in the case of Olympiacos, he is listed as being one of 5 candidates for their 2nd center.

His stock was higher before the Turkish playoffs, but after them, his stock dropped, because he did not play well against Fenerbache. So he might be in Euroleague next season, but nothing is for sure on that. Olympiacos' main target for a C on the free agent market is said to be Ioannis Bourousis. If he goes to the NBA instead (which he already said he will try to do so), then their next target after that for a free agent C, if they can't get Bourousis, is said to Stephane Lasme. Then, if they can'
t get either Bourousis or Lasme, that is where Bitch's name has come up, along with a couple of other names. I have not seen his name being attached to the interest of any other Euroleague teams yet.

That does not mean he might not end up in Euroleague next year, he might. Because teams will end up as always needing a C. But as of right now, I don't think teams are at this moment actively pursuing him. So it's no garantee he will be in Euroleague next season, just that he might be.

The list of teams now interested in Khem Birch include: Unics Kazan, Olympicacos, Panathinaikos, Lokomotiv, Galatasaray (according to the ever so reliable Twitterverse).

Kevin Pangos is supposedly in the mix for Unicaja and Kuxta Laboral both EuroLeague teams.

All of those teams are legit good.

[mojo13]

More bad news. Pangos has a book signing in Spokane scheduled for June 24/25 - right when Team Canada is scheduled to be in Europe for exhibition games. So it looks like he is very questionable...

I think he is better than Hanlan, Scrubb and Heslip so it is a loss. He may even be better than Ennis in FIBA ball by now...but I will give Ennis the benefit of the doubt there.

I'll update my running in/out list:

Out: Olynyk
Likely Out: Murray, Nicholson, Powell
Questionable: Stuaskas, Thompson, Pangos, Sacre, Bennett
Likely In: CoJo, Ennis, Khem Birch, Melvin Ejim
In: No one yet.

Unknown: Lyles, Wiggins, Ejim, Heslip, Hanlan, Doornekamp, Bachynski, Scrubb, Rautins, D. Brooks, D. Pierre, D. Mullins, D. Joseph, K. Joseph

[frumble]

More bad news. Pangos has a book signing in Spokane scheduled for June 24/25 - right when Team Canada is scheduled to be in Europe for exhibition games. So it looks like he is very questionable...

I think he is better than Hanlan, Scrubb and Heslip so it is a loss. He may even be better than Ennis in FIBA ball by now...but I will give Ennis the benefit of the doubt there.

I'll update my running in/out list:

Out: Olynyk
Likely Out: Murray, Nicholson, Powell
Questionable: Stuaskas, Thompson, Pangos, Sacre, Bennett
Likely In: CoJo, Ennis, Khem Birch, Melvin Ejim
In: No one yet.

Unknown: Lyles, Wiggins, Ejim, Heslip, Hanlan, Doornekamp, Bachynski, Scrubb, Rautins, D. Brooks, D. Pierre, D. Mullins, D. Joseph, K. Joseph

A book signing? Wow.

In any case, if Stauskas and Pangos are absent, we are (at best) looking at our 5 guards being:
Joseph
Ennis
Heslip

and two of:
Scrubb, Hanlan, Mullings, and Rautins.

Haven't heard any rumblings about Rautins returning to the program, and I suspect Scrubb is likely to get a spot, so probably Hanlan and Mullings for the 5th spot.

[mojo13]

I have heard nothing about Rautins either. I am just throwing in extra names out there now (Rautin, Pierre, Mullins, D & K Joseph) because we are possibly losing so many guys. Feel free to speculate other names....damn..throw Carl English's name in the mix!

Seriously though - Rautins is healthy, still relatively youngish and actively playing in Turkey. I don't think we need both him and Heslip (similar player), but you'd think one of them is needed.

[frumble]

I have heard nothing about Rautins either. I am just throwing in extra names out there now (Rautin, Pierre, Mullins, D & K Joseph) because we are possibly losing so many guys. Feel free to speculate other names....damn..throw Carl English's name in the mix!

Seriously though - Rautins is healthy, still relatively youngish and actively playing in Turkey. I don't think we need both him and Heslip (similar player), but you'd think one of them is needed.

Yeah, I hear you. I think Mullings, Hanlan, and Scrubb are more likely b/c they have played for Canada more recently. K. Joseph and Rautins have been absent for a while.

I'd like to see Pierre in camp, but I suppose that may depend on whether he gets (and accepts) a summer league invite.

I suppose D. Joseph might be possible, but his last outing for Canada was a bit of a disaster.

While we are speculating, M. Kabongo back to the program as a dark horse for the 5th guard spot?


Re Pangos, has he had a falling out with the program?

[mojo13]

With Pangos - I am not sure, but don;t think so. He wears his Canadian pretty strong or at least used to. The only thing that scares me is he plays in Spain on a Slovenian passport. I know it is very useful for his employ-ability in Europe as he is not considered an import, but I also hope it isn't something more foreboding like a signal that his days playing for Canada are over. I tend to think we will see him on the SMNT at some point.


I am not sure if I would be surprised to see Kabongo around the SMNT. On one hand he is personal friends with guys like CoJo and TT, but he doesn't have much of a professional resume at this point. I mean, is he even good enough for consideration? That is what I would question most. Ennis and CoJo are still in the mix so hopefully we are set at PG - even though CoJo will surely be playing some SG.


If anyone is interested on the pro/cons of Dwight Powell this a pretty good read. The comments section is good too:
http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2016/6/3/11850336/second-year-player-dwight-powell-struggles-to-find-consistency

"Either Powell figures out how to rebound and defend like a 5 or shoot like a stretch 4. Otherwise he is out of the league" seems like a a good summary.


.

[BilboBanginz]

Dyshawn Pierre pre-draft workout & interview

[tweet]https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/739954758526570496[/tweet]

[mojo13]

Ok - I found some intel. Supposedly all teams needed to submit their 23 name player pool to FIBA by early this week for the Olympics and the Qualifiers). This list of names is where your 12 man roster must come from for the Olympics. No subbing in/out from this list leading up to the Olympics.

The website for the Manila qualifier now lists the Canadian "roster" as list of 23 names. This may be the same list as the total player pool - I have no way to confirm this. Or it could be crap. Speculate away.
http://www.fiba.com/oqt/philippines/2016/Canada


- J. Anthony - -
- A. Bennett - -
- S. Bhullar - -
- K. Birch - -
- D. Brooks - -
- A. Doornekamp -
- M. Ejim - -
- T. Ennis McIntyre -
- O. Hanlan - -
- B. Heslip - -
- C. Joseph - -
- T. Lyles - -
- J. Murray - -
- A. Nicholson -
- K. Olynyk - -
- K. Pangos - -
- D. Pierre - -
- D. Powell - -
- X. Rathan-Mayes -
- P. Scrubb - -
- N. Stauskas - -
- T. Thompson -
- A. Wiggins - -


Surprised to se Olynyk there, but maybe they think there is a small chance he recovers by the Olympics if we qualify. Seems like a waste of a slot considering his projected recovery time.
Pangos is on the list, that is nice to see.
No Wiltjer, no Bachynski (who had a great year in the D), No English, no Rautins, no J. Anderson (really no "old guard"). No Kris or Devoe Joseph. No Mullins.

It is a pretty good list with no major names missing, however we already know many of these names are "questionable" for the Qualifier at least. I hope we can put together a decent 12 man roster from this for the qualifier.

[Mattd97]

just mullins i would say is a surprise. i doubt bachynski or bhullar would make it so i guess it doesnt matter that bhullar is there instead

edit: not so much surprise as disappointment. and man rautins really dropped off after leo left. he couldve had places on these teams

[mojo13]

I would say Bachynski is a far better player than Bhullar at this time.
Bachynski is a D-league All Star this year, and a selection for the 2015-16 All-NBA D-League Teams (Third Team and All-Defensive Team) as voted on by the league’s 19 head coaches.
Appearing and starting in 49 games for Westchester this season, Bachynski averaged 13.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks over 27.2 minutes per game. Bachynski finished the 2015-16 NBA D-League season second overall in blocked shots.

He has a legit shot to land in the NBA (and don't point out Bhullar's carnival show with the Kings last year). He can actually get up and down the floor fairly well - unlike Bhullar. And don't be surprised if we are digging this far down the list for a back up center for the Qualifier (unfortunately).