Kenter16 wrote:Anybody have predictions on what the roster will look like?
G League bubble starts February 8th, so anyone good enough to be in the bubble is out. Side note, that includes Justin Jackson who is listed on the Lakeland roster.
Are the Euro's going to be available?
Has anybody heard anything about Anthony Bennett? Maybe he is an option.
Obviously tough to make prediction considering the circumstances but the last window should give some insights.
Many of the better Americas teams seemed to assess the level of competition and the need (or lack of need) to win games and just went with a group of domestic players. Brazil and Argentina in particular did this rather than calling on their overseas players. And although some other nations don't have too many Euro pros to call on, some overseas players did show up for other nations. Not near a full turn out, but a decent amount considering.
In Europe, probably because of the relative lack of travel, much deeper pools to draw on and relatively higher seriousness of the qualification process they assembled much more competitive teams. Maybe not all (non-NBA) hands on deck but still very good teams full of EuroLeague players.
So for Canada we really could see anything. There is sort of a "must win" component here. Albeit we only need maybe two games (of 4) against USVI and Cuba. Send a team full of CIS and out of work domestic players could be risky (coin toss if they could get it done). Who is still local of a decent caliber? Duane Notice is hurt. Anthony Bennet is MIA, Tyler Ennis is hurt. Xavier Rathan Mayes perhaps? Kadre Grey, Jordan Baker, Adika Peter McNeilly, Owen Klassen, Manny Diressa, Kyle Landry, Junior Cadugan? Those might be some names not in Europe right now (I think!) that are SMNT caliber and experienced.
But I think we will still see some European SMNT regulars show up. I always think the FIBA affiliated BCL clubs are more supportive (actually encourage players to play) so maybe we see a couple of them. Phil Scrubb, Kyle Wiltjer, Doornekamp. Maybe Dylan Ennis finally gets his shot?
After that I's assume they try to go after guys experienced with the SMNT first (T Scrubb, Ejim, Robertson, Bell-Haynes, ,Keane, McIntosh, Morgan, Best or new guys who could help in Victoria that need some experience (Kyle Alexander or Marial Shayok would be nice but it might be too early for those guys to leave their clubs). Doubt we see EuroLeague guys in Pangos and Pierre.
Point is there are just so many names to draw on and we wouldn't need much. For example just get a Kassius Robertson, Conor Morgan, Trae Bell-Haynes and Phil Scrubb and we are putting out players way better than what USVI or Cuba could floor.
So I'd expect a handful of the regular names that are currently playing in Europe along with some from my "unemployed former SMNT member list" and probably a few first timers from the CEBL/CIS ranks. I'm guessing at least 1 or 2 guys that I've hardly ever heard of.