Team Canada Basketball Thread V2.0

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Thanks.

Add in the six draftees and Dort and we would be looking at 11 summer league players from the Class of 19 alone.
Throw in a couple guys entering their 2nd pro season and a few veterans and there could easily be 15 Canadians in summer league.
I believe there were 11 last year (most of whom were veterans rather than new pros).

[And1Skip]

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[duppyy]

Hoping all these guys can stick with the teams they are playing for in SL.

[Kingsway_fan]

Can't wait to see what our national team looks like in the years ahead....

[TrueNorth31]

Good story on the whole draft experience from Rowan Barrett by Grange. He discusses talking with Clarke and Kabengele about the program.

"Rowan Barrett Sr.: I got the chance to see them all at the hotel, speak to them. It was really interesting to them, guys like Mfiondo Kabengele [who was taken 27th overall by Brooklyn and traded to the Los Angeles Clippers] – ‘hey Rowan and am I going to get an invite [for the national team]? Am I going to be there this summer?’

It’s great to see the excitement. Talking Brandon Clarke’s mother [the Gonzaga star with Vancouver roots was taken 21st and traded to Oklahoma City] and her excitement about wanting him to involved in the national program. Just very, very exciting. All these guys paths are a little bit different, but they’re arriving in the same place, through hard work, head down, grinding."

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/qa-rowan-barrett-sr-rjs-success-rise-canadian-basketball/

I'm not sure these guys will be involved this summer, but glad to see there is some enthusiasm for the program. It's a big day tomorrow for the program.

[gundysmullet]

In a U19 pre-tournament game, France destroyed Canada. On a bright note, Karim Mane, point guard from Montreal was phenomenal and is blowing up.

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[Matty]

Watch on YouTube

[WaltFrazier]

Can't wait to see what our national team looks like in the years ahead....

Been hearing this for awhile now, it's getting old. Can we get all the best Canadians on the court at one time already, this summer?

Side question - does Chris Boucher have any chance of suiting up for Canada at these Worlds ? Is he even on a list?

[frumble]

Can't wait to see what our national team looks like in the years ahead....

Side question - does Chris Boucher have any chance of suiting up for Canada at these Worlds ? Is he even on a list?

Yes, I think he has a chance. With full participation, he is probably on the outside. But a couple injuries and/or no-shows and I think he is right in the mix.

[Kid Canada]

Will Wiggins play?

PG: Shai/Cojo
Sg: Murray/Wiggins
Sf: RJ/Brooks
Pf: Olynyk/Powell
C: Thompson/Birch?

I’m assuming all the rookies but RJ wont play.

[The Nutz]

Will Wiggins play?

PG: Shai/Cojo
Sg: Murray/Wiggins
Sf: RJ/Brooks
Pf: Olynyk/Powell
C: Thompson/Birch?

I’m assuming all the rookies but RJ wont play.

RJ is not playing this summer

[aminiaturebuddha]

Will Wiggins play?

PG: Shai/Cojo
Sg: Murray/Wiggins
Sf: RJ/Brooks
Pf: Olynyk/Powell
C: Thompson/Birch?

I’m assuming all the rookies but RJ wont play.

RJ is not playing this summer

Has this been announced definitively by Barrett or the program?

[daswunderboy]

I'm hoping the summer with Canada under Nurse snaps something in Wiggins brain and he starts to figure **** out. Frustrating to see a guy with all the tools just flounder like he is.

[BilboBanginz]

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[The Nutz]

Will Wiggins play?

PG: Shai/Cojo
Sg: Murray/Wiggins
Sf: RJ/Brooks
Pf: Olynyk/Powell
C: Thompson/Birch?

I’m assuming all the rookies but RJ wont play.

Wiggins will play, RJ will not : https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nba/report-wiggins-to-play-for-canada-at-fiba-world-cup/ar-AAD2ype?li=AA54y7

[mojo13]

Will Wiggins play?

PG: Shai/Cojo
Sg: Murray/Wiggins
Sf: RJ/Brooks
Pf: Olynyk/Powell
C: Thompson/Birch?

I’m assuming all the rookies but RJ wont play.

Wiggins will play, RJ will not : https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nba/report-wiggins-to-play-for-canada-at-fiba-world-cup/ar-AAD2ype?li=AA54y7

That story on Wiggins is old and debunked already.
Or at least aggressively walked by by people “close to Wiggins” saying he definitely has not committed to play for Canada. Just go back a page or two here for the sources.



And unfortunately here is an interview with Barrett saying he won’t be playing.

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[gundysmullet]

Am I the only one that thinks that Thompson should not be automatically penciled in as a starter? I mean he is such an offensive liability. I would start Olynyk and Powell together because they both have more of an international “big” game and bring TT off of the bench.

[gundysmullet]

My starting five, if no Wiggins:

PG: Shai
SG: Murray
SF: Brooks
PF: Powell
C: Olynyk

Three point shooting at every position that creates mismatches for the opposition.

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Am I the only one that thinks that Thompson should not be automatically penciled in as a starter? I mean he is such an offensive liability. I would start Olynyk and Powell together because they both have more of an international “big” game and bring TT off of the bench.

No, you're not the only one who thinks that. Many of us look forward to seeing Powell and Olynyk together, and think TT (even if he starts) should see fewer minutes than either of them. And a good contingent of posters also thinks Birch may be as good or better than TT in a defensive role.

[frumble]

And unfortunately here is an interview with Barrett saying he won’t be playing.

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That's unfortunate.
As with Wiggins, some inefficiency concerns, but given the lack of depth at wing, would have been nice to have had him.