Team Canada Basketball Thread V3.0

[Stromile12]

If NAW is cut, I would take a chance on him, plus Nurse is familiar with him from the national team.

[2019nbachamps]

Now that Wiggins has been extended he better start showing up for us again

[mojo13]

It's roster cutting day and a few of our beloved Canucks are on the bubble. Unfortunately, AJ Lawson was cut today to make room for Luke Garza.

Others to look out for:

Lindell Wigginton [Bucks] - Bucks have 15 guaranteed players so his only real hope is to take one of two-ways from one of the other two-way players. He's also competing with Marques Bolden who was pretty good in preseason.

Mfiondu Kabengele [Celtics] - Currently on a two-way. He's probably safe due to the Celtics lack of size, and no other non-guaranteed players really stood out in preseason to snag his spot from him.

Eugene Omoruyi [Thunder] - He's also on a two-way but played very well in preseason so it's highly likely the Thunder keep him around.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker [Jazz] - Considering the Jazz roster crunch I wouldn't be surprised to see NAW cut. He's a 1st round pick from the previous GM so Ainge may not have any particular attachment to him. They need to cut two players and it's likely between him, Leandro Bolmaro, and Udoka Azubuike.

Some other Canadians like Noah Kirkwood [Nets] Nate Darling [Clippers] and Simi Shittu [Magic] were signed and quickly waived by the noted squads so that they could obtain their G-League rights.

Read on Twitter

NAW, Kabengele and Omoruyi all safe.

Wigginton waived - along with Darling, Mulder.

Marial Shayok surprisingly signed with the Celtics yesterday. Expectation is that he is waived in the next day or two so they can also tie him to their g league affiliate and get him a bonus.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Brandon Clarke just signed a 4-year extension. So if there was ever going to be a time to try to bring him into the National Team fold, this would be it. I believe the extension will mean that he's under contract until 2027, when he'll be 31. He'll likely never be more secure, from a contract perspective, in his career again.

Hopefully the Team Canada brass can use this to try to sell him on the idea of finally joining the program.

[mojo13]

World Cup Qualfying Window 5 is in three weeks. Updated the likley Player Pool here:

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Kenny Chery still unsigned is the only head scratcher here (maybe he is hurt?).

I'm seeing marketing promos for Edmonton featuring Phil & Tommy Scrubb and Robertson so far. That's good news. Bad news is it is very doubtful Wiltjer will make it nor any of the EuroLeaguers (Pangos, ALexander, Pierre).

I guess a little more good news is with Lawson, Mulder, Shittu, Darling, Kirkwood were all waived we could see 1 or 2 of them show up. Lawson played this window last November. He and maybe Mulder (or Darling) would be nice here.

Up front still a concern. Klassen, Young, Morgan, Ejim might be the best we can ask for. However Venezuela is not a tall team, but their bigs are usually fairly strong and thick. We'll need some beef to handle them.

[DreamTeam09]

World Cup Qualfying Window 5 is in three weeks. Updated the likley Player Pool here:

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=mUtmJW76xcHigE6S3nc9wA








Kenny Chery still unsigned is the only head scratcher here (maybe he is hurt?).

I'm seeing marketing promos for Edmonton featuring Phil & Tommy Scrubb and Robertson so far. That's good news. Bad news is it is very doubtful Wiltjer will make it nor any of the EuroLeaguers (Pangos, ALexander, Pierre).

I guess a little more good news is with Lawson, Mulder, Shittu, Darling, Kirkwood were all waived we could see 1 or 2 of them show up. Lawson played this window last November. He and maybe Mulder (or Darling) would be nice here.

Up front still a concern. Klassen, Young, Morgan, Ejim might be the best we can ask for. However Venezuela is not a tall team, but their bigs are usually fairly strong and thick. We'll need some beef to handle them.

Wheres Anthony Bennett? He's not good enough for this event? He has to be better than some of those bigs

[aminiaturebuddha]

World Cup Qualfying Window 5 is in three weeks. Updated the likley Player Pool here:

I guess a little more good news is with Lawson, Mulder, Shittu, Darling, Kirkwood were all waived we could see 1 or 2 of them show up. Lawson played this window last November. He and maybe Mulder (or Darling) would be nice here.

Up front still a concern. Klassen, Young, Morgan, Ejim might be the best we can ask for. However Venezuela is not a tall team, but their bigs are usually fairly strong and thick. We'll need some beef to handle them.

I would love to see Kirkwood involved in one of these windows. I've always liked his game, as a Jack-of-all-trades kind of glue guy who shouldn't be the focal point of any offence or defence, but will help a team all over the court.

It looks like he's probably going to spend the year in the G-League, and keep working on that NBA dream. But I really think his destiny is as a mid-level European player, so I hope he doesn't delay heading across to Europe by more than a season or two.

[mojo13]

Wheres Anthony Bennett? He's not good enough for this event? He has to be better than some of those bigs

He is listed there. Sorry but the full list isn't previewing and you need to click on the pic.

However, I very much do not think he will play as getting in and out of Taiwan I think is still logistically difficult. That could have changed by now and I'd welcome him as a decent strech 4 and big body who knows Canada's system. He defense is pretty pathetic though...


Edit: I just checked an Taiwan recently lifted its quarantine on entry. So perhaps Bennett would join the team. Edmonton is closer than hauling all the way to the GTA.

[Kenter16]

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Not too shabby!! This guy is the real deal!

[tecumseh18]

The future at the 5-spot on the NT?

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But I doubt he could defend on the perimeter.

[mojo13]

The future at the 5-spot on the NT?

Read on Twitter

But I doubt he could defend on the perimeter.

Hah...guess you didn't watch the U17 WCs this summer. He was awful.

Still super young, raw and improving but he has a long way to go to think he could start for a D1 team let alone contribute to the SMNT.

He is no Zach Edey....but then again Edey was on no one's radar at this age. Still Bediako, Aimaq, Edey, even Enoch Boakye are much more interesting.

[B-Ball Freak]

Mathurin looks like a future All Star and Sharpe has immense potential. We just need some bigs to develop.

[mojo13]

Ok....two weeks until the SMNT hits the floor again for the WC Qualfiers.
First up - Venezuela at home in Edmonton (Nov 10).

Last year's winter core was just excellent, never really being challenged. This year could be a little rougher with a couple key players from last Winter moving to different leagues/clubs and not looking likely they will be available.

First up - who I think is in:

Trae Bell Haynes
Phil Scrubb
Kassius Robertson
Thomas Scrubb
Khalif Young

All have been featured in Canada Basketball's marketing campaign. that is usually a very good signal. All are healthy and playing relatively well in Europe.

After that it gets uncertain.

Top non-NBA players unlikely to make an appearance include Kyle Alexander, Kevin Pangos & Dyshawn Pierre all in the EuroLeague (schedule conflicts), Kyle Wiljter (China travel restrictions), Kenny Chery (just recently joined his Turkish team) & Tyler Ennis (on going injury risk). Wiltjer and Alexander were the key front court pieces of last winter's core and play positions Canada s very shallow at. Chery was very good too (he could still play, but I am doubtful).

Next up - I think Canada looks to guys who are recent vets of the SMNT (played within the last year) as the most likely candidates/ They know the system and are plug & play. This includes:

Kaza Kajami Keane
Aaron Best
Melvin Ejim
Owen Klassen

Keane is currently injured but expected back any day. Would he join Canada or is it too soon?
Melvin Ejim is off to his worst professional year ever coming off the bench ofr Unicaja.
Best and Klassen seem to be playing fine and are healthy. I expect them both.

Next would be players we havn't seen so far in this WC Qualification process but are good players, in good leagues, and recent SMNT vets who are probably plug & play. These include

Conor Morgan
Johnny Berhanemeskel
Isiaha Mike

I'd really like to see Mike (6'8 SF/PF) and Morgan (6'9 PF) to help bring some size to the team. Both are more perimeter bigs who shoot solid from distance and could help replace Wiltjer's role.

G-League players show up from time to time. AJ Lawson played last year (and hopefully again). The G-League hasn't started but they seem to be gathering up and practicing. Players with recent SMNT caps headed to the G include:

Abu Kigab
JV Mukama
Jahvon Henry Blair

No one here really can help much, besides a deep bench role (none should be getting minutes at this level). Kigab might be the only one I'd be happy to see (for future development)

Other intriguing G-League names include:
Lindell Wigginton
Nate Darling
Simi Shittu
Noah Kirkwood

I'd enjoy any of these guys showing up, but none have SMNT expiernece and am not sure how much they can add in such a short prep time.

Some other unlikely (but possible) names include Andrew Nicholson (Philippines/HK) & Anthony Bennett (Taiwan). I'm doubtful on both because of travel time/distance - although the quarantine rules for a place like Taiwan has loosened up, so don't count either out. Dylan Ennis (Turkey) who has never suited up for Canada and it's tough to see him ever joining at this point. And Nik Stauskas (G League) who is likley done with the SMNT.

Thomas Kennedy, who was a decent big for the AmeriCup team is someone worth mentioning. He is at Windsor as far as I know. Would he be released? Seems doubtful and not sure it matters...he is more a depth big at best.

There are a bunch or other lesser names out there with little to no SMNT experience - they aren't going to help, but we could see a suprise or two (like Young and Makuma last year)/ AmeriCup players like Gray, Pandi, Calloo, Bandoo would be most likely (I wouldn't be happy to to see any of these guys getting minutes - the SMNT would be digging deep)

The Core of the team is likely:

Trae Bell Haynes (PG)
Phil Scrubb (PG/SG)
Kassius Robertson (SG)
Aaron Best (SG/SF)
Thomas Scrubb (SF/PF)
Khalif Young (PF/C)
Owen Klassen (C)

With maybe a Kaza Keane (PG), Isiaha Mike (SF/PF), Cornor Morgan (PF) and/or Melvin Ejim (SF/PF) sprinkled in there.

Good enough? Seems it might be a tight one with Venezuela. But Panama should be easily winneble. One win to Qualify for the 2023 World Cup. Wins over Venezuela are important for FIBA Rankings (probably need to get one to maintain distance).

[Boselecta]

Raps should release there Canadian guys to these tournaments. Its not like we rely too much on any of them right now.

[mojo13]

Joshua...Joshua...Joshua....
There is a another full thread on this elsewhere but we should acknolwdge the SMNT tie-in briefly.
This was (is?) one of Canada's young high level prospects - a young star of the youth teams. An NBA lottery pick in his 2nd year. Before this I don't think he was in the SMNT's short term plans, but I'm certain he have been a next cycle guy.

19 year olds really don't have fully formed brains, especially around understanding risk & consequences and make allot of dumb mistakes. This was dumber than most and he may even have some underlying mental health issues that hopefully can be treated. At this age there should be a path to recovery and redemption for this kid. It will take along time to shake this rep (maybe never) but hopefully he can salvage his young promising career.

He is one waiver's until 5pm ET today - Shams said a couple teams are seriously interested. Either way I highly doubt he plays this year.

Do you still want him in the SMNT orbit?
Assuming he gets the help he needs, puts this behind him and gets his game to the level he can contribute - I do (not sure when though).

Next week in Edmonton too soon? (jk)

[Hair Canada]

At this point, all Primo has shown is some flashes and the potential to maybe be a decent to good NBA player in the future. It might happen or it might not, but the recent debacle certainly doesn't help with his development.

San Antonio was I think the ideal situation for him. Not only because they got rid of guys like Murray and Walker and basically made their two guard positions open for the taking. But also because they took him at 12 in the draft (with many critiques of the move) and were highly invested in him succeeding, if only because GMs hate to be wrong (and their jobs also kind of depend on them being right).

Any other situation he might find himself in in the future is bound to be much less convenient. He'll have to really perform and actually play well consistently to see minutes and teams are going to be much less forgiving, even less so given the bad rep that he'll be carrying. That's quite a weight and I think he'll have to become a legit good player to even get a chance. Could happen but no doubt that this is very unfortunate for him.

By the way, I hope for his sake that all it really was is indecent exposure and nothing more than that. Not that this one is any good, but there are levels to misbehavior and this one is certainly not as bad as something like physical or sexual assault, from which (I'm very glad to see) it's becoming harder and harder for players to make a comeback (unlike in the "good ol' Kobe days").

[WaltFrazier]

The future at the 5-spot on the NT?

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But I doubt he could defend on the perimeter.

From Quebec! Bonjooooooooour.

[WaltFrazier]

At this point, all Primo has shown is some flashes and the potential to maybe be a decent to good NBA player in the future. It might happen or it might not, but the recent debacle certainly doesn't help with his development.

San Antonio was I think the ideal situation for him. Not only because they got rid of guys like Murray and Walker and basically made their two guard positions open for the taking. But also because they took him at 12 in the draft (with many critiques of the move) and were highly invested in him succeeding, if only because GMs hate to be wrong (and their jobs also kind of depend on them being right).

Any other situation he might find himself in in the future is bound to be much less convenient. He'll have to really perform and actually play well consistently to see minutes and teams are going to be much less forgiving, even less so given the bad rep that he'll be carrying. That's quite a weight and I think he'll have to become a legit good player to even get a chance. Could happen but no doubt that this is very unfortunate for him.

By the way, I hope for his sake that all it really was is indecent exposure and nothing more than that. Not that this one is any good, but there are levels to misbehavior and this one is certainly not as bad as something like physical or sexual assault, from which (I'm very glad to see) it's becoming harder and harder for players to make a comeback (unlike in the "good ol' Kobe days").

Maybe an unfortunate choice of words.

[DoctaJ]

Hey all, posting again to hopefully get these in someone else's hands. I have 2 tickets to the Venezuela game on the Thursday - can't make the drive up from Calgary.

They are Courtside C - Row 2. Trying to sell them for what I paid ($107 per ticket - $214 total). If you or anyone you know is interested, please DM me. Would hate for these seats to be empty.

[BilboBanginz]

Pretty good for a November window!