State of the Union. Team Canada Basketball. (FIBA Americas Aug.31-Sep.15)

[bozothepope]

So who is likely to play for Canada at the PanAms? With each day that passes, I have less and less faith in seeing any of the NBA guys. Jamal Murray would be cool to see. What about any of the top notch NCAA guys -- XRM, etc? Any rumours?

[Dr Comeback]

Quite impressed with Shimi Shittu's passing and his feel for the game, made some nice passes in the middle of Venezuela's zone. Also really done a great job protecting the rim.

Looks to be a solid but unspectacular athlete.

[Undefeated]

The team is strong at wing, with Jackson, Brooks, Johnson and Poyser (I am guessing that Henry and Provo will play point, with Poyser at SG).

I'm surprised Elijah Long got cut. There was some hype with him this past year.

[frumble]

So who is likely to play for Canada at the PanAms? With each day that passes, I have less and less faith in seeing any of the NBA guys. Jamal Murray would be cool to see. What about any of the top notch NCAA guys -- XRM, etc? Any rumours?

I really doubt any of the NBA guys will be there. Maybe some NCAA guys, depending on their school commitments. Maybe guys like the Scrubbs - looking for contracts.

The only rumours (listed earlier in this thread) are of Murray and the Scrubbs.

In an interview with Rowan Barrett a few weeks ago (I think on the Fan), the host mentioned in passing that Canada would be sending an under 25 team, but Barrett didn't confirm or deny this, and no specific players were mentioned. I haven't seen the U25 thing mentioned anywhere else, but a youth-heavy team would not surprise me.

Maybe more recent grads (CIS or NCAA) rather than current college guys.

[Hendrix]

I sure hope NBA players do the Pan Am games.

Not only does this team really need to commit to getting experience practicing together if they want to accomplish anything but also I'd easily make the drive up to Toronto to watch team Canada if there was some big names in attendance.

[mojo13]

Sounds like the Lakers are picking up Rob Sacre's option and that is probably good news for the SMNT.
He is not the most exciting player in our NBA pool but I think he is an important piece. He is a big, mobile center, who plays above average, D, can hit short/mid range shots, high FT%, good IQ and a terrific locker room guy / teammate. He will be a solid back up C on the SMNT and important if/when we run into teams with strong post players. (Ayon, Splitter, Varajao etc.) I hope he is playing this summer.

[almatic]

So who is likely to play for Canada at the PanAms? With each day that passes, I have less and less faith in seeing any of the NBA guys. Jamal Murray would be cool to see. What about any of the top notch NCAA guys -- XRM, etc? Any rumours?

Jamal Murray is a HS senior headed towards an NCAA scholarship. You don't risk injury/losing a scholarship opportunity like that playing for the National team, especially for something like the PanAm games.
That's why Andrew Wiggins wasn't with Team Canada in the 2013 FIBA Americas.

The only NCAA guys you can't count on seeing playing for Team Canada this summer are seniors who won't be returning to school next year who's draft stock isn't that high for this year like Kevin Pangos. Schools won't let their scholarship guys play international ball & potential 1st rounders like Trey Lyles will be going too many NBA scouting activities.

[almatic]

I sure hope NBA players do the Pan Am games.

Not only does this team really need to commit to getting experience practicing together if they want to accomplish anything but also I'd easily make the drive up to Toronto to watch team Canada if there was some big names in attendance.

I'd rather save the NBA guys for the FIBA Americas in late August to be honest. The Pan Am games has no merit for Olympic/FIBA World Cup qualifying whatsoever.

[mojo13]

So who is likely to play for Canada at the PanAms? With each day that passes, I have less and less faith in seeing any of the NBA guys. Jamal Murray would be cool to see. What about any of the top notch NCAA guys -- XRM, etc? Any rumours?

Jamal Murray is a HS senior headed towards an NCAA scholarship. You don't risk injury/losing a scholarship opportunity like that playing for the National team, especially for something like the PanAm games.
That's why Andrew Wiggins wasn't with Team Canada in the 2013 FIBA Americas.

The only NCAA guys you can't count on seeing playing for Team Canada this summer are seniors who won't be returning to school next year who's draft stock isn't that high for this year like Kevin Pangos. Schools won't let their scholarship guys play international ball & potential 1st rounders like Trey Lyles will be going too many NBA scouting activities.

Not quite...
I agree that players like Murray (and Wiggins) who are entering their first year of NCAA often (not always) skip summer international ball due to pressures from their schools, but is is far from a given. Ennis, XRM and others played the 2013 U19 team and loads of entering sophomores, juniors and seniors play international ball every summer.

Dillon Brooks, Chris Egi and others are on this summers u19 team and there are many others entering their freshman year. The 2013 World Univerisade Team was full of NCAA studs - Pangos, Wiltjer, Powell, Daniel Mullins, Ejim, Bachynski, Heslip and more.

Murray is probably not playing this summer as he likely has a crap-load to get done in order to reclassify to 2015 - keep in mind, even now he is in the 2016 class.

I suspect since the World Universiade Team is all CIS this summer, that the NCCA guys will be called for the PanAm team. I expect the PanAm team to have some of our top current NCAA players (Wiltjer, XRM, Pierre, Notice etc.), some recent graduates (Pangos, Mullins, Hanlan, Scrubbs etc.) and young fringe NBA, Euro and D-league guys (Bachynski, Birch, Ejim, D. Joseph, K. Joseph, Kabongo, Caduogan, Heslip and others). Some of the younger NBA guys may be on the team (Powell? Bennett?) but I doubt any of the key "vets" (CJ, TT, Nicholson, Olynyk, Sacre, Rautins, English, Anderson).

But just guessing here...

[SharoneWright]

Sounds like the Lakers are picking up Rob Sacre's option and that is probably good news for the SMNT.
He is not the most exciting player in our NBA pool but I think he is an important piece. He is a big, mobile center, who plays above average, D, can hit short/mid range shots, high FT%, good IQ and a terrific locker room guy / teammate. He will be a solid back up C on the SMNT and important if/when we run into teams with strong post players. (Ayon, Splitter, Varajao etc.) I hope he is playing this summer.

Yep, we do need at least 1 bruiser, even in the international game, especially with KO as our starting centre option.

[jonny three time]

Sounds like the Lakers are picking up Rob Sacre's option and that is probably good news for the SMNT.
He is not the most exciting player in our NBA pool but I think he is an important piece. He is a big, mobile center, who plays above average, D, can hit short/mid range shots, high FT%, good IQ and a terrific locker room guy / teammate. He will be a solid back up C on the SMNT and important if/when we run into teams with strong post players. (Ayon, Splitter, Varajao etc.) I hope he is playing this summer.

Yep, we do need at least 1 bruiser, even in the international game, especially with KO as our starting centre option.

Thomson will really be the center though. He'll certainly be the center on offense and I'd bet that he guards the center on the defensive end as well. He's strong enough and experienced enough to hold his own with Fiba 5s.

As for Sacre, he should be an upgrade over Joel Anthony. It will be interesting to see who the backup 4 and the 5th big will be. Nicholson, Powell and Bennett are all of a comparable level of young NBA prospects. Levon Kendall always plays great in these tourneys and the team should have some veteran experience who knows how to play senior International ball. Cutting 2 of those 4 guys will be tough.

[SharoneWright]

Sounds like the Lakers are picking up Rob Sacre's option and that is probably good news for the SMNT.
He is not the most exciting player in our NBA pool but I think he is an important piece. He is a big, mobile center, who plays above average, D, can hit short/mid range shots, high FT%, good IQ and a terrific locker room guy / teammate. He will be a solid back up C on the SMNT and important if/when we run into teams with strong post players. (Ayon, Splitter, Varajao etc.) I hope he is playing this summer.

Yep, we do need at least 1 bruiser, even in the international game, especially with KO as our starting centre option.

Thomson will really be the center though. He'll certainly be the center on offense and I'd bet that he guards the center on the defensive end as well. He's strong enough and experienced enough to hold his own with Fiba 5s.

As for Sacre, he should be an upgrade over Joel Anthony. It will be interesting to see who the backup 4 and the 5th big will be. Nicholson, Powell and Bennett are all of a comparable level of young NBA prospects. Levon Kendall always plays great in these tourneys and the team should have some veteran experience who knows how to play senior International ball. Cutting 2 of those 4 guys will be tough.

For me:
C: Olynyk, Sacre
PF: Thompson, Lyles, Nicholson
SF: Wiggins, Player-X, Bennett
SG: Stauskas, HanlanORHeslip
PG: Joseph, Ennis (Pangos if no Ennis)

I need Lyles on my team already for both what he brings and also to ensconse him on the SMNT at a young age.
I don't care how much burn Bennett gets at either the 3 or the 4 as we have better players, so I'll include him at the 3 for spot minutes allowing for our top 5 bigs to all make the team. Again, he's on the team as an investment in his (diminishing?) future value to the national team.
I love that Hanlan can back up the point and I'd lean to taking him on over Heslip as the backup 2 for that reason. Wiggins can also take some minutes at the SG spot.
The huge problem is finding another traditional SF to back up Wiggins. The best options there are all 3/4 hybrids like Bennett and Ejim who might struggle on the wing internationally. I'm not really fond of dropping a tier talent-wise to bring on a more athletic wing-defender like KrisJoseph or DyshawnPierre who can play minutes, but that may be my only option.
jmho

[Hendrix]

I sure hope NBA players do the Pan Am games.

Not only does this team really need to commit to getting experience practicing together if they want to accomplish anything but also I'd easily make the drive up to Toronto to watch team Canada if there was some big names in attendance.

I'd rather save the NBA guys for the FIBA Americas in late August to be honest. The Pan Am games has no merit for Olympic/FIBA World Cup qualifying whatsoever.

Save them from what though? Being tired from playing a few games a month prior?

I'd prefer them to get as much experience together as possible. That can only help with their chances with the Olympics, and Olympic qualifying tournament.

[Mattd97]

For me:
C: Olynyk, Sacre
PF: Thompson, Lyles, Nicholson
SF: Wiggins, Player-X, Bennett
SG: Stauskas, HanlanORHeslip
PG: Joseph, Ennis (Pangos if no Ennis)

I need Lyles on my team already for both what he brings and also to ensconse him on the SMNT at a young age.
I don't care how much burn Bennett gets at either the 3 or the 4 as we have better players, so I'll include him at the 3 for spot minutes allowing for our top 5 bigs to all make the team. Again, he's on the team as an investment in his (diminishing?) future value to the national team.
I love that Hanlan can back up the point and I'd lean to taking him on over Heslip as the backup 2 for that reason. Wiggins can also take some minutes at the SG spot.
The huge problem is finding another traditional SF to back up Wiggins. The best options there are all 3/4 hybrids like Bennett and Ejim who might struggle on the wing internationally. I'm not really fond of dropping a tier talent-wise to bring on a more athletic wing-defender like KrisJoseph or DyshawnPierre who can play minutes, but that may be my only option.
jmho

i think you need rautins on that team. hes been very good for us and we need some international experience. put shepperd or joseph at the 3, lyles doesnt make this team, and have heslip and rautins as the backup combo guards with pangos ready to step in as the back up point if neither are up to it (though they always have been in the past)

[jonny three time]

For me:
C: Olynyk, Sacre
PF: Thompson, Lyles, Nicholson
SF: Wiggins, Player-X, Bennett
SG: Stauskas, HanlanORHeslip
PG: Joseph, Ennis (Pangos if no Ennis)

I need Lyles on my team already for both what he brings and also to ensconse him on the SMNT at a young age.
I don't care how much burn Bennett gets at either the 3 or the 4 as we have better players, so I'll include him at the 3 for spot minutes allowing for our top 5 bigs to all make the team. Again, he's on the team as an investment in his (diminishing?) future value to the national team.
I love that Hanlan can back up the point and I'd lean to taking him on over Heslip as the backup 2 for that reason. Wiggins can also take some minutes at the SG spot.
The huge problem is finding another traditional SF to back up Wiggins. The best options there are all 3/4 hybrids like Bennett and Ejim who might struggle on the wing internationally. I'm not really fond of dropping a tier talent-wise to bring on a more athletic wing-defender like KrisJoseph or DyshawnPierre who can play minutes, but that may be my only option.
jmho

i think you need rautins on that team. hes been very good for us and we need some international experience. put shepperd or joseph at the 3, lyles doesnt make this team, and have heslip and rautins as the backup combo guards with pangos ready to step in as the back up point if neither are up to it (though they always have been in the past)

Fully agree with Matt. I'd even go one step further and possibly take Bennett off to put either Powell or Kendall in. We need a 5th big who can play 5 if needed, as well as a 5th guard who can play the point if needed. There's no point in having 3rd string players as just forwards or just wings, this position can usually be filled by someone moving up or down a spot. Something like...

Thompson - Sacre - Powell or Kendall
Olynyk - Nicholson
Wiggins - ???
Stauskas - Rautins - Heslip or Hanlan
Joseph - Pangos

It would've been great if Ennis was healthy this year, 48 mins of quality PG play would make a huge difference, but Pangos is savvy so hopefully he can fill the void. The backup SF I have no preference on. I just hope they bring the best glue guy who's hopefully better than Doornekamp, but if the other options have weak team skills (ball stopping, questionable decision making/shot selection) then bringing Doornekamp in a low minutes role wouldn't be too bad.

I know everyone is psyched about the future and youth on the team, but this summer is about bringing the best team possible, not about developing future team Canada role players. If they thought all of English, Stauskas and Heslip were better options then Stauskas, I'd be fine with it. Bring the best and qualify. That's all this team should be about.

[mojo13]

For me:
C: Olynyk, Sacre
PF: Thompson, Lyles, Nicholson
SF: Wiggins, Player-X, Bennett
SG: Stauskas, HanlanORHeslip
PG: Joseph, Ennis (Pangos if no Ennis)

I need Lyles on my team already for both what he brings and also to ensconse him on the SMNT at a young age.
I don't care how much burn Bennett gets at either the 3 or the 4 as we have better players, so I'll include him at the 3 for spot minutes allowing for our top 5 bigs to all make the team. Again, he's on the team as an investment in his (diminishing?) future value to the national team.
I love that Hanlan can back up the point and I'd lean to taking him on over Heslip as the backup 2 for that reason. Wiggins can also take some minutes at the SG spot.
The huge problem is finding another traditional SF to back up Wiggins. The best options there are all 3/4 hybrids like Bennett and Ejim who might struggle on the wing internationally. I'm not really fond of dropping a tier talent-wise to bring on a more athletic wing-defender like KrisJoseph or DyshawnPierre who can play minutes, but that may be my only option.
jmho

i think you need rautins on that team. hes been very good for us and we need some international experience. put shepperd or joseph at the 3, lyles doesnt make this team, and have heslip and rautins as the backup combo guards with pangos ready to step in as the back up point if neither are up to it (though they always have been in the past)

Fully agree with Matt. I'd even go one step further and possibly take Bennett off to put either Powell or Kendall in. We need a 5th big who can play 5 if needed, as well as a 5th guard who can play the point if needed. There's no point in having 3rd string players as just forwards or just wings, this position can usually be filled by someone moving up or down a spot. Something like...

Thompson - Sacre - Powell or Kendall
Olynyk - Nicholson
Wiggins - ???
Stauskas - Rautins - Heslip or Hanlan
Joseph - Pangos

It would've been great if Ennis was healthy this year, 48 mins of quality PG play would make a huge difference, but Pangos is savvy so hopefully he can fill the void. The backup SF I have no preference on. I just hope they bring the best glue guy who's hopefully better than Doornekamp, but if the other options have weak team skills (ball stopping, questionable decision making/shot selection) then bringing Doornekamp in a low minutes role wouldn't be too bad.

I know everyone is psyched about the future and youth on the team, but this summer is about bringing the best team possible, not about developing future team Canada role players. If they thought all of English, Stauskas and Heslip were better options then Stauskas, I'd be fine with it. Bring the best and qualify. That's all this team should be about.

Yes, agreed bring the best team possible - no need for Lyles on this team. He won't be available either.
I think you are zoning in on an ideal team (not that all will be available). I would mildly advocate for Anderson over Pangos and perhaps English over Heslip/Hanlan as I am a big believer in bringing FIBA experience into this team. People here often fail to realize what a different type of game it is. I'd personally like to see English there mentoring these guys.

Still not sure who that backup 3 is. Maybe K. Joseph or Ejim. Perhaps Stauskas / English/ Rautins can be that back up three.

[Mattd97]

Id like ejim on teh team ,think hes really undervalued. and as for kendall and english, though i like them a lot as players and have long advocated for them I think kendall has some important family stuff to deal with this summer so Im not sure he'd be available and I think English just doesnt fit with the national team at this point in his career. Though obviously thats up to both of them.

[jonny three time]

Anderson/Pangos is something I'd only be guessing at as I'm not sure how much Anderson has left. Haven't seen him play since two summers ago and he looked over-the-hill then. If it was an injury and he can be 80/90% of what he used to be, he'd probably be a better option. I'm not sure that's the case though.

I've never liked Englishs game. He was the definition of a ball-stopping chucker everytime I've seen him play and the idea of of non-NBA caliber player killing our ball movement and team play would be a nightmare. Maybe his team skills have improved and he's a completely different player, but if he isn't Rautins should be way ahead of him as well as Heslip. The only way would be if Stauskas isn't ready and they're too worried about Rautins/heslip being too small at the 2.

If Kendall can't make it that's fine. We have enough bigs and they aren't as young as the young wings so leadership isnt as needed for them. Olynyk is basically an upgraded version of him anyway, so I'm not worried.

[mojo13]

Anderson/Pangos is something I'd only be guessing at as I'm not sure how much Anderson has left. Haven't seen him play since two summers ago and he looked over-the-hill then. If it was an injury and he can be 80/90% of what he used to be, he'd probably be a better option. I'm not sure that's the case though.

I've never liked Englishs game. He was the definition of a ball-stopping chucker everytime I've seen him play and the idea of of non-NBA caliber player killing our ball movement and team play would be a nightmare. Maybe his team skills have improved and he's a completely different player, but if he isn't Rautins should be way ahead of him as well as Heslip. The only way would be if Stauskas isn't ready and they're too worried about Rautins/heslip being too small at the 2.

If Kendall can't make it that's fine. We have enough bigs and they aren't as young as the young wings so leadership isnt as needed for them. Olynyk is basically an upgraded version of him anyway, so I'm not worried.

You might be right about English (and Rautins being a better player) as it has been awhile since I have seen either of them play. I always thought English was somewhat forced into a chucker role with Team Canada as we had such bad offense and not much scoring from elsewhere. I remember him being a crucial part of the 2009 FIBA America's Team that qualified for the Worlds (memories!). He missed the 2010 Worlds and our offense seemed to suffer (from what I can remember we even had Joel Anthony lead us in scoring for a game or two). English has always seemed to be a very good euro-league player over the years (playing in the better leagues). Back in the 09/10 era I thought English was much better than Rautins, but that was 5 years ago now. I now look at English as our FIBA vet, which has value in its own, but I guess Rautins has quite few years of FIBA experience under his belt now. I agree Heslip is a little small but Rautins is what 6'5? 6'4? Not that bad for FIBA.

[SharoneWright]

I've always favoured Ejim as my backup 3. (ie. my "Player-X") Solid if not spectacular who won't make many mistakes.

I think my main difference is on the necessity of Rautins (even though I actually thought he out-played Heslip at the Fiba Americas), although I could pretty easily be persuaded to replace Bennett with him, as I already admitted Bennet is fairly redundant on this squad. (So you might have convinced me..) Only leaves us with Wiggins and Ejim at the 3 spot though.

And I do think Lyles would look good on that team - and be a contributer. Heck, he could even slide up to the 3 once in a while...

All said though, the main components of that team are pretty obvious.