Team Canada Basketball Thread V4.0

[duppyy]

He would actually be able to rebound with his vertical which we struggled with.

[CharlieTO]

Not just rebounding, but swatting the ball from the rim would be something he'd excel at. He gets up so high and fast.

[Bobby Plump]

FIBA rarely gives Canada a favorable seeding in a major tournament.

To be fair, Canada hasn't really given them a reason to with some very bad losses that should have been wins, imo.

Canada recently finished first in their FIBA qualification group yet all of the teams that in that group that also qualified for the 2023 World Cup, USA, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, were seeded in groups that provided them with easier paths to advance to the knockout rounds. That is not fair.

[DoctaJ]

FIBA rarely gives Canada a favorable seeding in a major tournament.

To be fair, Canada hasn't really given them a reason to with some very bad losses that should have been wins, imo.

Canada recently finished first in their FIBA qualification group yet all of the teams that in that group that also qualified for the 2023 World Cup, USA, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, were seeded in groups that provided them with easier paths to advance to the knockout rounds. That is not fair.

But we know rankings are not solely determined by their qualification finish and we know the WC draw was f'd from the start when Indonesia picked them.

With the great showing at this WC and move up in the rankings, now we can start to see how "screwed" we are in future competitons.

We've finally played up to expectations and hopefully continue to do so!

[mojo13]

Be sure to check out HairCanada's Top 50 Player Power Rankings.

good stuff here.


viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2323813

[Crazy-Canuck]

How did you weigh whether to play for Canada in the FIBA World Cup this summer or rest?

Wiggins:“This year was tough because I ended the season with a broken rib. But the goal next year is to be with them in Paris. It was tough. But they did a great job there. They qualified, and that was something we hadn’t done in a long time. All of the guys competed hard, led by Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], Dillon [Brooks] and RJ [Barrett]. It was great for those guys.”

So you’ll definitely play for Canada in the 2024 Olympics?Wiggins: “Yeah, I would love to.

”And I’d imagine they said they feel the same way?Wiggins: “Yeah” (laughs)

What’s your outlook on Canada winning gold?Wiggins: “I think our chances are good. We have a great team.”

https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-would-love-all-star-all-defensive-player-andrew-wiggins-bouncing-back-rib-injury-warriors-ahead-2023-24-season-exclusive

Sounds like wiggs and team canada have talked.

[Tor_Raps]

How did you weigh whether to play for Canada in the FIBA World Cup this summer or rest?

Wiggins:“This year was tough because I ended the season with a broken rib. But the goal next year is to be with them in Paris. It was tough. But they did a great job there. They qualified, and that was something we hadn’t done in a long time. All of the guys competed hard, led by Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], Dillon [Brooks] and RJ [Barrett]. It was great for those guys.”

So you’ll definitely play for Canada in the 2024 Olympics?Wiggins: “Yeah, I would love to.

”And I’d imagine they said they feel the same way?Wiggins: “Yeah” (laughs)

What’s your outlook on Canada winning gold?Wiggins: “I think our chances are good. We have a great team.”

https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-would-love-all-star-all-defensive-player-andrew-wiggins-bouncing-back-rib-injury-warriors-ahead-2023-24-season-exclusive

Sounds like wiggs and team canada have talked.

Love to hear that. He will be severely needed when we have to go up against the likes of Lebron/Durant/Tatum.

[CharlieTO]

Khem Birch got some decent minutes tonight and looked good. Maybe he's developing a French connection with Wemby off the court and this will help him solidify a spot!

[mojo13]

matty has a new podcast with Canada Basketball CEO Mike Bartlett.

https://x.com/TheMattyIreland/status/1714289137329819843?s=20

[aminiaturebuddha]

Looks like Khem Birch was waived by the Spurs. It might be too late to try to catch on with another NBA team, so I would guess his options (if he wants to keep playing) are to move into a mentor role on a G-League team, or try to find a spot in Europe.

[WaltFrazier]

Khem Birch got some decent minutes tonight and looked good. Maybe he's developing a French connection with Wemby off the court and this will help him solidify a spot!

I know he was waived since this. But he was playing was he? So is he healthy?

[WaltFrazier]

If Jordi gets an NBA head coach job next end of season, might he have to pull out as Nurse did? Hopefully the Olympics is a big enough deal that his new team would let him go to Paris.

Anyone know what Nate Bjorkgren is doing now? Google doesn't tell me anything, if he has a job for the season or not. I wonder if he'll be back for Paris?

[mojo13]

Khem Birch got some decent minutes tonight and looked good. Maybe he's developing a French connection with Wemby off the court and this will help him solidify a spot!

I know he was waived since this. But he was playing was he? So is he healthy?

Birch did play in at least one pre-season game and looked healthy from the reports I read. He just wasn't in the Spurs plans.

I've seen some reports out of Europe that EuroLeague teams are looking at him. But who knows if he can catch on with another NBA team. He has $7M guaranteed from the Spurs so many may not be the concern this season.

[arbsn]

Obviously things will change with injuries, contracts, etc... But this would be my dream team:
G Shai, Nehmbard
G Jamal, NAW, Mathurin
F Dillon, Dort
F Wiggins, Barrett
C Powell, Kelly, Lyles

Cojo, Sharpe and Boucher are next up

The defensive potential of this group is top level. With unstoppable scorers in Shai and Murray, this team should compete for a medal.

[WaltFrazier]

Khem Birch got some decent minutes tonight and looked good. Maybe he's developing a French connection with Wemby off the court and this will help him solidify a spot!

I know he was waived since this. But he was playing was he? So is he healthy?

Birch did play in at least one pre-season game and looked healthy from the reports I read. He just wasn't in the Spurs plans.

I've seen some reports out of Europe that EuroLeague teams are looking at him. But who knows if he can catch on with another NBA team. He has $7M guaranteed from the Spurs so many may not be the concern this season.

I hope he catches on somewhere. If he signs with an NBA team, or a Euro, does he still also receive the $7M from Spurs?

[mojo13]

I know he was waived since this. But he was playing was he? So is he healthy?

Birch did play in at least one pre-season game and looked healthy from the reports I read. He just wasn't in the Spurs plans.

I've seen some reports out of Europe that EuroLeague teams are looking at him. But who knows if he can catch on with another NBA team. He has $7M guaranteed from the Spurs so many may not be the concern this season.

I hope he catches on somewhere. If he signs with an NBA team, or a Euro, does he still also receive the $7M from Spurs?

Yep...fully guarnteed from the Spurs. Assuming he clears waivers (99.99999% likely).
Thus I could see him anywhere this season really. Probably not worried about money and more concerned with health, getting in gameshape and playing time. EuroLeague as a back-up big could be a good spot. A lower level team with more minutes could be too much for him to handle health-wise right now.

[aminiaturebuddha]

So here's the NBA's list of the 26 Canadians it lists as being on NBA rosters to start the season (yet another new record). Interestingly, for some reason the list doesn't include Chris Boucher, which seems a bit odd to me. I know he was born in St. Lucia, but he moved to Canada when he was 5, and as far as I know, has been a Canadian citizen for a long time now.

Anyway, here's the list:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker - Minnesota
Charles Bediako - San Antonio
Dalano Banton - Boston
RJ Barrett - NY Knicks
Oshae Brissett - Boston
Dillon Brooks - Houston
Brandon Clarke - Memphis
Lu Dort - OKC
SGA - OKC
Caleb Houstan - Orlando
Cory Joseph - GS
AJ Lawson - Dallas
Trey Lyles - Sacramento
Bennedict Mathurin - Indiana
Leonard Miller - Minnesota
Jamal Murray - Denver
Andrew Nembhard - Indiana
Kelly Olynyk - Utah
Eugene Omoruyi - Washington
Dwight Powell - Dallas
Josh Primo - LA Clippers
O-Max Prosper - Dallas
Shaedon Sharpe - Portland
Tristan Thompson - Cleveland
Andrew Wiggins - GS
Lindell Wigginton - Milwaukee

[mojo13]

So here's the NBA's list of the 26 Canadians it lists as being on NBA rosters to start the season (yet another new record). Interestingly, for some reason the list doesn't include Chris Boucher, which seems a bit odd to me. I know he was born in St. Lucia, but he moved to Canada when he was 5, and as far as I know, has been a Canadian citizen for a long time now.

Anyway, here's the list:

Nickeil Alexander-Walker - Minnesota
Charles Bediako - San Antonio
Dalano Banton - Boston
RJ Barrett - NY Knicks
Oshae Brissett - Boston
Dillon Brooks - Houston
Brandon Clarke - Memphis
Lu Dort - OKC
SGA - OKC
Caleb Houstan - Orlando
Cory Joseph - GS
AJ Lawson - Dallas
Trey Lyles - Sacramento
Bennedict Mathurin - Indiana
Leonard Miller - Minnesota
Jamal Murray - Denver
Andrew Nembhard - Indiana
Kelly Olynyk - Utah
Eugene Omoruyi - Washington
Dwight Powell - Dallas
Josh Primo - LA Clippers
O-Max Prosper - Dallas
Shaedon Sharpe - Portland
Tristan Thompson - Cleveland
Andrew Wiggins - GS
Lindell Wigginton - Milwaukee

This happens every year with Boucher.
Supposedly the list is self-identified by the players - so he is the one saying St. Lucia and not Canada. Could be something to read into or more likley it is nothing. Making his Grammy happy or something.

[CharlieTO]

Shaedon Sharpe is gonna be a star. He's already better than some guys who were at the World Cup. He should be on the roster.

[mojo13]

Shaedon Sharpe is gonna be a star. He's already better than some guys who were at the World Cup. He should be on the roster.

Let's break this down:

1) "Shaedon Sharpe is gonna be a star." I'm with you on this. He's is showing some clear glimpses he can get to a Murray/SGA level player for Canada. His upside is massive.

"He's already better than some guys who were at the World Cup." In a vacuum think this is clear with the bottom of the roster (Scrubb/TBH/Ejim/Alexander/Edey). But it is questionable if he is better all-around than those at his position (Dort/NAW/Brooks/Barrett etc).

3) "He should be on the roster."
I don't agree here (yet) for a number of reasons. As noted above, his position need is of least concern. His defense is still really bad. Although he sprinkles in some highlight defensive plays so hopefully that get's much better with time. This is a team that hangs its hat on elite wing defense with Brooks/Dort/NAW and SGA and Barrett pulling thier weight too so it really tough to see minutes for Sharpe.
Further the cost of securing Sharpe's services this summer insurance-wise is going to be huge. Sharpe is looking at a massive extention in a couple years and the insurance to cover his future earning is going to be very expensive. Even if Canada Basketball has those funds (unknown) I question if the funds are best spent on a guy that doesn't fill a need (versus Andrew Nembhard). If there are some bug drop outs, then that is a different conversation.

However, Sharpe is certainly in the long term plans for Canada Basketball and why not get him some experience now? Would he be ok with a minor role and not getting minutes? (Probably at age 20) Take Phil Scrubb's spot as long as there are some other Euro guys to provide some ongoing FIBA expertise? I'm ok with this and woulnd't be shocked to see Sharpe on the team. But he is not really needed (yet), is really inexperienced and will be unnesessarily costly to include in this roster.