With 11 of 12 roster spots reportedly locked in for USA Basketball’s 2024 Olympic roster, the program could go in a number of different directions with the 12th and final slot. The list of players in contention for that final roster spot includes plenty of big names, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports that Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is currently viewed as the leading candidate.
Leonard’s teammate Paul George, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, Magic forward Paolo Banchero, and Nets forward Mikal Bridges are also in the mix, sources tell Charania.
Leonard hasn’t represented Team USA at the Olympics or a World Cup before, but has support from some of the stars on the roster, including Kevin Durant and LeBron James, says Charania. George won gold with Team USA in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, while Brunson, Banchero, and Bridges competed in the 2023 World Cup.
It’s possible that more than one player in that final group of candidates could ultimately make the cut if any of the top 11 have to drop out due to an injury or for personal reasons. Of course, Leonard is currently dealing with a nagging knee issue of his own, though there’s no indication at this point it would prevent him from playing in July.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Danny Leroux of The Athletic takes a look at the NBA’s 2024 free agent class, evaluating what sort of stars, starters, and rotation players will be available. As Leroux observes, a handful of stars are on track for potential free agency, but few – if any – are good bets to change teams. That group includes LeBron James, Paul George, James Harden, Pascal Siakam, and Tyrese Maxey.
- In an interview with Dean Sinovcic of Nacional.hr, former first-round pick Dzanan Musa, who spent two seasons in Brooklyn from 2018-20, didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to the NBA as early as this offseason, but said he’s focused for now on trying to win Liga ACB and EuroLeague titles with Real Madrid (hat tip to Sportando).
- Sam Amick of The Athletic considers what’s at stake for each NBA head coach in the postseason, suggesting that the pressure will be on Joe Mazzulla (Celtics) to at least reach the NBA Finals. Jason Kidd (Mavericks), J.B. Bickerstaff (Cavaliers), and Darvin Ham (Lakers) are among the others who will be motivated to avoid early exits, Amick adds.
- In a conversation about end-of-season awards, a panel of five ESPN experts weren’t in agreement on who should win Most Improved Player or Sixth Man of the Year. Three different players – Malik Monk, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Naz Reid – earned votes from the five-man panel for Sixth Man honors.
- Which NBA players were the most underpaid this season? Despite being on a maximum-salary contract, Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tops the list from Frank Urbina of HoopsHype.
Since the article mentions “underpaid”. Let’s take a look at the contract that #1 overall pick Caitlyn Clark is getting from the Indiana Fever. The average ticket price for an Indiana Fever game is $250. A family of four costs $1,000 in tickets alone. I see full arenas, and a television contract with ESPN. Are they not also getting some support from the NBA??? I guess this is one way to solve players leaving college early for the pro’s. Don’t pay them.
4 years, $338,056
Year 1 – $76,535
Year 2 – $78,066
Year 3 – $85,873
Year 4 – $97,582
They have a CBA that controls rookie scale contracts that was in place before the recent interest spike. If, and that’s a big if, the WNBA starts to generate actual revenue and profit, that will be reflected in the next CBA and salaries will go higher. So far, that league has been funded by the NBA.
They are paying in the neighborhood of $1 million in salary TOTAL per team. I get the CBA. It’s bogus!!! The Indiana Fever was one of the worst attendance teams last year in the neighborhood of 5,000 fans per game. 20 home games = 100,000 through the door. If average ticket price is $250, they took in roughly $25 million in attendance. Nearly all their games were nationally broadcast = Another Check. ….. Yet they are paying $1 million total in salary??? That is so bogus! The NBA minimum salary is more than the entire salary of entire WNBA teams. Highest paid player in the entire league makes $250k.
NBA maybe funding, but they are also absolutely exploiting these ladies. Pure exploitation.
Why in the hell does Kawhi get a spot on the team? great talent but he’ll miss half the tournament because of hang nails and load management.
I doubt Mazzulla goes anywhere short of the Celtics having their doors blown off in a four-game sweep. And even then, he’s probably safe.
Obviously the 12th spot is for Bronny