TheFutureMM wrote:WaltFrazier wrote:Hair Canada wrote:Really agree with TheFutureMM here, for several reasons:
1. The idea that Canada basketball wistles and all of our NBA players just come marching in is farfetched. We've seen how that works out in 2019. Guys like Wiggins said it quite clearly -- they don't want to play in the WC. It's their right. But let's not pretend that it's all up to Basketball Canada. NBA teams also apply presures on players not to go to these events, and when the players are young, didn't get paid yet, and are fighting for minutes and their place in the team, teams have quite a bit of leverage.
2. Even if all the players did want to come and the teams were okay with it, there's something to be said about team construction, hierarchy, chemistry, and roles. A tournament like this is akin to the NBA playoffs. You need to quickly establish a hierarchy of 8-9 players and then run with it unless things really go south and you have to improvise (e.g., injuries or a game going so bad that you need a Hail Mary).
3. Related to 2: Suppose everyone did want to come and you manage to bring 12 NBA guys, including a couple of younger ones like Sharpe and Mathurin who many would have liked to see here. Both are currently terrible defenders and can really hurt a win-now team on that end, on top of their offensive inefficiencies. So you bring them and then likely don't give them playing time because they hurt you. Now, if you don't give the Scrubbs playing time, nothing happens. But if you get Sharpe and Mathurin to commit a month and a half that could be dedicated to player development and then you keep them on the bench you risk alienating them and losing their good faith for the future. Same goes for more seasoned NBA players. I remember Boucher once playing with the national team and being relegated to the end of the bench. I suspect this might have had something to do with him not feeling like suiting up anymore.
4. I also agree with TheFutureMM that if CB just turned around and said to all the Winter Core guys: "Hey, we know we said you'll get priority. But we suddenly change our minds and don't feel like it anymore, so none of you gets a real chance at making the team" that would not fly very well with them, and rightfully so. So by doing that you're also alienating your winter core and hurting future commitments, all for bringing in guys who might not even get serious playing time and are likely to feel bitter about it. For Ejim, the WC is a great reward for years of commitment and dedication to the program. He would have no problem getting 5 minutes from the bench and giving everything he has in those 5 minutes while being a net positive in the lockers. But if guys like Lyles or Boucher are relegated to the end of the bench and get 5 minutes they might become resentful for having to spend a month and a half of their time and fly half way around the world just for this.
You and Future MM and Mojo all make good arguments. I get it. I think though in a limited way, the chance of Murray not playing could have been anticipated and at least one younger NBA guard, outside the original 3 year group, could have been groomed.
And in general, even if Nurse's three year concept has been good, surely there has to be flexibility to bring in young NBA stars who blossom as NBA rookies just after the window began.
Part of the deal also has to be to make young players realize that playing competitive Fiba ball for your country is better summer development than working with a trainer and doing Rico type runs.
I'm with you. It's hard arguing against a lot of you guys here because as I was typing up my post, I sat back and said to myself, "damn it would have been nice if Nembhard had got the invite instead of Cherry". Andrew has been a big part of the program both in his youth and in 2018/2019. I think overall, the strategy as developed has been a net positive, but there could be slight leeway in cases like this year where a guy who has been around the program gets a last minute call-up based on need and I'd be OK with it.
I've been on record countless times on here saying I'd be cool if Wiggins was first up for a replacement spot when the Olympics roll around barring in mind someone in the core decides they can't play (Brissett being a good example this year).
I just don't think swapping out everyone for the best talent every year is the right approach.
This approach is definately resulting in better familiarity/chemistry which should help in world cup and hopefully next summer as well. You can see it in the harmony shown on the court with the guys like Olynyk and Powell, for example.
My issue is that the obligations for the 14-member summer core seem to be just spending a few days in camp instead of playing in actual games. Guys that pulled out from the World Cup shouldn't to be able to have a guaranteed spot going forward. Both Cory's and Brissett's spots next summer should be up for grabs, in my opinion.
