***Official Tokyo Olympic Basketball Thread***

[shrink]

Can’t find a boxscore but looks like Okogie just lead Nigeria to an exhibition win against USA. Trade value up!

https://www.usab.com/news-events/live-stats/2021/mnt/7-10-21-usa-vs-ngr-box.aspx

[jpatrick]

Can’t find a boxscore but looks like Okogie just lead Nigeria to an exhibition win against USA. Trade value up!

https://www.usab.com/news-events/live-stats/2021/mnt/7-10-21-usa-vs-ngr-box.aspx

Okay. With a 4/3/3 stat line, led might be a tad strong.

[shrink]

Can’t find a boxscore but looks like Okogie just lead Nigeria to an exhibition win against USA. Trade value up!

https://www.usab.com/news-events/live-stats/2021/mnt/7-10-21-usa-vs-ngr-box.aspx

Okay. With a 4/3/3 stat line, led might be a tad strong.

Maybe, but the storyline was about the team defense, and Okogie tied for the lead in plus/minus.

I didn’t see the game, but it’s hard for me to imagine the final score without Okogie playing exceptional defense on an All-NBA level player.

[jpatrick]

Not an Olympic game, but I believe at noon est (I think) today Chet Homgrem leads team USA against team France in the U19 championship game.

Holmgren (top five pick 2022) going against French big man Victor Wembanyama, the projected top pick in 2023. If all Non-NBA players were draft eligible this year, Wembanyama might go #1. Ive seen Chet play a few times but never Wembanyama, so should be fun.

Edit: Almost at half. Love Chet but Wembanyama is ridiculous. He might be the longest player in the NBA once drafted. He’s the most impactful guy in this game, especially defensively, and he’s almost two years younger than Chet. Maybe Gobert with a three point shot and better passer?

Half complete. It’s only been a half, but I take Wembanyama over Chet or anyone from this draft class (Cade, etc). He is ridiculous in every way. Size, length, movement skills, pure skill. I know centers have been devalued, but as long as he stays healthy, he’s just different. And just turned 17 earlier this year.

[Nick K]

Can’t find a boxscore but looks like Okogie just lead Nigeria to an exhibition win against USA. Trade value up!

I'm not so sure about "leads Nigeria". Josh was 2 of 7 for 4 pts on 28% shooting. A very Josh Okogie like performance.

His new trade value is up to a ham sandwich.

[shrink]

Can’t find a boxscore but looks like Okogie just lead Nigeria to an exhibition win against USA. Trade value up!

I'm not so sure about "leads Nigeria". Josh was 2 of 7 for 4 pts on 28% shooting. A very Josh Okogie like performance.

His new trade value is up to a ham sandwich.

But it used to be tuna!

I’ve been thinking about Okogie trades the last few days. The best buyer would have a young team, appreciate defense, and maybe want to be acting as an over the cap team next year, when they could use Okogie’s Bird rights to keep him as an RFA.

Do you think Thibs would want him for cap space and #32? Or if the Knicks wanted to save cap space and reload for next year, something like Okogi, Layman and cash for cap space and #58?

I understand we are trading away a rotation player, and probably our best defender, but I think the team will want to get some wiggle room under the lux, and this might let us do so while keeping Beasley and Rubio.

Any other teams fit that description (young, appreciate his defense, Bird rights)?

[moonpie]

Read on Twitter

Bolmaro had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 12 minutes of action.

[Nick K]

Can’t find a boxscore but looks like Okogie just lead Nigeria to an exhibition win against USA. Trade value up!

I'm not so sure about "leads Nigeria". Josh was 2 of 7 for 4 pts on 28% shooting. A very Josh Okogie like performance.

His new trade value is up to a ham sandwich.

But it used to be tuna!

I’ve been thinking about Okogie trades the last few days. The best buyer would have a young team, appreciate defense, and maybe want to be acting as an over the cap team next year, when they could use Okogie’s Bird rights to keep him as an RFA.

Do you think Thibs would want him for cap space and #32? Or if the Knicks wanted to save cap space and reload for next year, something like Okogi, Layman and cash for cap space and #58?

I understand we are trading away a rotation player, and probably our best defender, but I think the team will want to get some wiggle room under the lux, and this might let us do so while keeping Beasley and Rubio.

Any other teams fit that description (young, appreciate his defense, Bird rights)?

It's a great idea Thibs just might go for. I'd do Okogie for #32. Layman anf Juancho need to go too.
Bolmaro should be able to pick up the defensive aspects of Josh.

[Nick K]

I'm not so sure about "leads Nigeria". Josh was 2 of 7 for 4 pts on 28% shooting. A very Josh Okogie like performance.

His new trade value is up to a ham sandwich.

But it used to be tuna!

I’ve been thinking about Okogie trades the last few days. The best buyer would have a young team, appreciate defense, and maybe want to be acting as an over the cap team next year, when they could use Okogie’s Bird rights to keep him as an RFA.

Do you think Thibs would want him for cap space and #32? Or if the Knicks wanted to save cap space and reload for next year, something like Okogi, Layman and cash for cap space and #58?

I understand we are trading away a rotation player, and probably our best defender, but I think the team will want to get some wiggle room under the lux, and this might let us do so while keeping Beasley and Rubio.

Any other teams fit that description (young, appreciate his defense, Bird rights)?

His new trade value is up to a ham sandwich.

It's a great idea Thibs just might go for. I'd do Okogie for #32. Layman and Juancho need to go too.
Bolmaro should be able to pick up the defensive aspects of Josh.

[Calinks]

Okogie vs Balmaro!

Watch on YouTube

[Calinks]

Team USA might lose to Australia. They are looking pretty weak lately.

[King Malta]

Patty Mills

[Klomp]

USA is missing key pieces. Tough losses, but not the end of the world.

[RiRuHoops]

Watch on YouTube

hopefully Sixers keep an eye.

[Calinks]

I think we are going to get a lot of highly competitive games this summer. Basketball junkies should not miss out!

[Klomp]

I shared a lot of my thoughts on Twitter last night, but it comes down to this...

USA Basketball is in a transition that is in many ways similar to 2004. However, two important differences:

1. Three teenagers sat on the end of the Team USA bench in 2004 who ultimately ushered in the new era of USA Basketball (James, Wade, Anthony). Who will do the same from this 2021 group? Saddiq Bey and Darius Garland seem unlikely....

2. The world has caught up. These countries are collecting more and more NBA talent. It is no longer just USA, Spain and a few others with a chance.

I'm really curious what the next generation of USA Basketball will look like. Interestingly, in 4 years (3 I guess), Edwards will be around the age that James, Wade and Anthony were on Redeem Team. As of right now I don't see him leading the next crop. But who will?

[jpatrick]

Nigeria putting in work. Beats USA and then routs a very good Argentinian team. Okogie and Bolmaro with 10. Bolmaro was Argentina’s leading scorer with that 10. It’ll be interesting to see what happens when games actually start counting.

[Calinks]

Team USA is looking to replace Bradley Beal. Man, Ant really had a shot at making the team with how things are going. I really hate he and Naz got hurt. I also think Naz may be able to play better right now than Kevin Love has so far. Love has fallen off a cliff, sad to see because he was truly great.

[Calinks]

Love is out too now. What an opportunity, it's shame we have no shot to take it. I know it would be a long shot for Ant and/or Naz to make the final team but if they did, the experience would be so fantastic for them. Bah, I wish it had happened.

[gandlogo]

McGee and Keldon Johnson? Gross. Easily the worst USA team since '88 - the '84 team would handle the current team no problem.