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Before thinking about the 2012 Olympics in London,England we must first field a team again for the World Championships in 2010. I can see most of this Olympic team back barring injury at that time. So who else do you think will be on the squad should they decide to add fresh faces.

I like most of the core guys but we have to become more powerful at the center spot. That's why I like Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum. It may debatable on who replaces Howard and Bosh but one thing I know for sure is those two won't get pushed around like Bosh and Howard did. With both of them being 7 '1" and 290 lbs , it's hard to see that happening with Oden and Bynum. This will let Howard move to the 4 which on the international level he'll destroy anyone in his path.

With that said here's what I like.

Centers : Oden & Bynum

Point Guards : Paul, Williams, Rose

Shooting Guards: Bryant, Wade , Roy

Small Forwards : James, Anthony

Power Forwards : Howard, Stoudimire ( Beasley or Love will be in the mix too )

I doubt, and really hope that Anthony comes back.

I think Aldridge would get more consideration than Love

I don't want Carmelo on the team but I'm pretty sure he will be.

5) Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum/
4) Carmelo Anthony/Chris Bosh/Amare Stoudemire
3) LeBron James/Kevin Durant/
2) Kobe Bryant/Dwyane Wade/Brandon Roy
1) Chris Paul/Deron Williams/

Would be nice to send back the same squad, they would be a lock for gold I'd imagine.

It seems as if we ultimately end up sending younger players over there rather than established vets though, which likely means Wade/LBJ are out and Durant/Mayo type players will likely take their place.

I think we have enough good young players to field a competitive squad even if the top guys don't sign up.

I would add some guys participating with the select team to your list like Bayless, Iguodala, possibly Kevin Martin. A Bynum/Oden center duo would be nice though.

Jack wore plaid wrote:I think Aldridge would get more consideration than Love

Your right that was an over sight on my part. LA would do good at the 4 no doubt.

It would be nice to see how some of the younger players (like on the practice roster) would do in the 2010 WC. Obviously the 08 players would get dibbs on the '10 roster. For those who werent on the 08 team, he's a group of players that I could see on the team:

PG- Derrick Rose, Monta Ellis, Devin Harris, Rodney Stuckey
SG- Brandon Roy, Kevin Martin, OJ Mayo
SF- Kevin Durant, Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay
PF- LaMarcus Alridge, Michael Beasley Al Horford, Kevin Love
-C- Oden, Andrew Bynum, Al Jefferson

Honestly, I don't see Kobe returning back. He'll focus more on his team to and gather more rings he want in the NBA, especially being 2 years older then. Conditioning would be critical for the long grueling season.

howard didnt get pushed around lol, he was the one fouling recklessly which was dumb cause we had no real big man after

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Wade/Bosh/James are NOT going for the qualifyers. Let's remember that 2010 is THE year for these guys. This is their free-agent year, the year almost every team in the NBA is clearing cap space (and most likely will make a run at these guys) for. Their off-season in 2010 is going to be B-U-S-Y.

We also know that Kidd won't be back. That's pretty much a guarantee. His role has diminished, and his leadership/captain role has clearly been passed on to the younger guys who embraced that role. I think Kobe will remain with the team. This might be his final stint with the US team (he'll be what? 34 when 2012 comes around?), so he'd like to leave his mark one more time. So with that, here's the 2010 team:

PG - Paul, Deron
SG - Bryant, Roy, Martin
SF - Melo, Durant, Gay
PF - Howard, Aldridge
C - Oden, Bynum

Oden and Bynum gets an early invite to give them a taste of the International game and get them ready for 2012 Olympics. Martin provides outside shooting, and Durant/Gay provide added versatility.

Dwight will be there...guaranteed...you're lying to yourself if you dont think he's going to be on that roster...

PG - Deron, Paul, Rose
SG - Bryant, Mayo, Roy
SF - LeBron, Melo
PF - Bosh, Amare
C - Howard, Chandler

I don't think Kobe or Wade will be back.

Wade mainly due to his injuries and Kobe depends on how well the Lakers do, whether or not they win a ring.

One of the area's of weakness was that the team had no outside shooting/a player that can move without the ball on the perimeter. Paul/Deron/Wade/Kobe/LeBron all need the ball typically to score. All of them are better at creating shots for others and themselves over setting themself up for a good shot. Kevin Martin will be perfect for international basketball, few NBA players have his IQ and moves off the ball as well as he does. Plus he is a great shooter.

Line I think we'll see in 2010
PG: C. Paul/D. Williams
SG: B. Roy/K. Martin/A. Iggy
SF: L. James/K. Durant
PF: C. Bosh/C. Anthony/A. Horford
C : D. Howard/G. Oden

Team come 2012
PG: C. Paul/D. Williams
SG: K. Bryant/B. Roy/K. Martin
SF: L. James/K. Durant
PF: C. Bosh/C. Anthony
C : D. Howard/G. Oden
+Best defensive specialist in the league at the time (such as Prince for 08)

Paul, Deron, Rose
Bryant, Roy, Martin
Bron, Iggy, Gay
Bosh, Amare, Melo
Howard, Chandler, Oden

Amare Stoumire will not play for team USA, he isnt stupid enough to get injured and miss a season again.

I bet Gilbert Arenas is on the next squad

I will take Al Horford any day, before I take Bynum's overrated as$.

And Oden hasnt done crap either, besides since with all the controversy with the age thing, I think that they will be more strict in the next olympics, and we will all find out that Greg Oden is really 35 years old.

With that being said I think that roster will look like this.

PG: Paul/Deron/Baron Davis
SG: Lebron / Joe Johnson/ OJ Mayo
SF: Carmelo/ Kevin Martin/ Rudy Gay
PF: Durant/Bosh
C: Al Horford/ Dwight Howard

Al Horford will play for Dominican Republic and therefore he cannot play for Team USA.

Give me Al Jefferson then. Just no Bynum.

Funny that you call Bynum overrated when Horford put up less stats as an older rookie, while being smaller - one of the biggest concerns of the '08 team. The same Horford who looked like a kid when he played a healthy Oden in the NCAA championship game? I for one, do think that Andrew is getting a little overrated, but I appreciate the irony in your post.