2024 Paris Olympics: Projecting Workforce USA’s 12-man roster with Joel Embiid becoming a member of LeBron James, Stephen Curry

Workforce USA’s roster on the 2024 Olympic Video games might be its greatest in a long time. Joel Embiid dedicated on Thursday to play for the USA, becoming a member of a constellation of stars who’ve pledged to take part. If everyone stays wholesome and sticks to his phrase, then this iteration will, just like the 1992 Dream Workforce, honor the most effective gamers of a era and have a number of superstars in or approaching their respective primes.

Earlier than projecting the 12-man roster, this is a (lengthy) checklist of different gamers who need in:

• Stephen Curry (“It is the one factor I have never achieved,” he said at media day. “And I additionally perceive the chance for Workforce USA to type of reassert your self as dominant on the planet and all that sort of stuff, so I undoubtedly wish to be there, undoubtedly wish to be on the staff, and hopefully issues line up that manner the place we’re all there.”)
• Kevin Durant (“I’ll play within the Olympics subsequent yr,” he said at media day.)
• Devin Booker (“I am going to do it,” he said at media day.)
• Bradley Beal (“Sure, sir, 100%,” he said at media day.)
• LeBron James (“From the gamers that we’ve right here that I can consider off the highest of my head that may fill that roster up, I do not suppose it will be an excessive amount of of a bodily toll,” he said at media day. “I would not must do a lot. I imply, rebound a bit of bit, cross a bit of bit, defend, block some pictures.”)
• Anthony Davis (“Bron requested me final yr, and I advised him, in the event that they ask me, I am in,” he advised Spectrum SportsNet at media day (9:45 mark here). “I imply, I solely did it as soon as, actually, and I did not actually — you already know, that is when Bron, Kobe, CP, Melo — I used to be sitting on the bench. I used to be 19 years outdated. So in the event that they ask, I am undoubtedly in.”)
• Kawhi Leonard (“Yeah, I wished to play this summer season, however I had different obligations and I’d’ve needed to depart early, so I wasn’t capable of go,” he said at media day. “So we’ll see what occurs.”)
• Paul George (“All of it is dependent upon how properly we do and the way far we go this season,” he said at media day. “That may play rather a lot into my determination on going and taking part in over in France. I’d like to. I do know Bron is within the forefront of making a hell of a roster, however that is firstly on how my physique is, how my well being is to complete this season.”)
• Jayson Tatum (He told The Messenger’s Jeff Goodman at media day that he intends to play in Paris.)
• Jaylen Brown (“Taking part in in USA Basketball, I feel there isn’t any better honor,” he said at media day. “I feel taking part in on your nation is unquestionably — coming from my group, coming from the place I come from, coming from the place the vast majority of our demographic come from, having the chance to symbolize that, your group, your outer group and the those who assist you, I feel that is part of it as properly, so having the ability to take part could be nice.”)
• Bam Adebayo (He has already dedicated, per the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds. Erik Spoelstra, an assistant coach for Workforce USA, mentioned USA Basketball thought of it a “should” to have Adebayo on the roster, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.)
• Draymond Inexperienced (The Athletic reported in September that he was ready to commit.)
• Khris Middleton (“I’d for positive play,” he said at media day.)
• Brook Lopez (“I might love to do this,” he said at media day. “It is one thing I at all times dreamed of experiencing since I used to be a bit of child. I am completely for it. I requested Steve Kerr whereas I used to be subbing right into a sport final yr — I did not ask, I advised him I used to be free this coming summer season of ’24, so hopefully it will assist remind him.”
• DeMar DeRozan (“If I am requested to do it, I undoubtedly, undoubtedly would do it,” he said at media day.)
• Zach LaVine (“You may’t flip down alternatives like that,” he said at media day.)
• Fred VanVleet (“I’d like to,” he said at media day. “There was some curiosity this summer season, so I used to be involved with them. Simply did not line up with what I had in my private life this summer season, so I could not make the dedication, however I’d undoubtedly like to be part of Workforce USA.)
• Aaron Gordon (“If I’ve the chance to play in Paris, that might be wonderful, and I’d love that and enjoy that chance,” he said at media day.)
• Kyle Kuzma (“I’d like to, if I acquired the invitation, for positive,” he said at media day.)
• Donovan Mitchell (He has indicated he’ll play if requested, per the Associated Press.)
• Julius Randle (He has indicated he’ll play if requested, per the Associated Press.)

Additionally of observe:

• Damian Lillard, De’Aaron Fox and Kyrie Irving have critical curiosity in committing, The Athletic reported in September. At media day, nevertheless, Fox said, “I am attempting to consider a pleasant technique to put this. Proper now, on this very second, I actually do not care what is going on on with Workforce USA, that is not on my thoughts in any respect. Sooner or later, it might change, however as of proper now, I am not eager about it.”
• The Athletic also reported that Desmond Bane is within the combine, and would have been on the World Cup roster had he not wanted to have surgical procedure on his foot. 
• Jimmy Butler, requested at media day, if he’d play for Workforce USA once more, said simply, “Who is aware of?”
• Trae Younger said at media day that he felt disrespected as a result of he wasn’t supplied a spot on the World Cup staff this previous summer season.
• Zion Williamson at media day: “If Workforce USA wished me, that is an enormous honor. However that might be one thing that I’ve to consider when the time comes and if the chance is offered to me.”
• Anthony Edwards, Mikal Bridges and Tyrese Haliburton possible earned themselves consideration for Paris with their play on the World Cup. Additionally on that staff: Jaren Jackson Jr., Austin Reaves, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Cam Johnson, Bobby Portis, Walker Kessler and Brandon Ingram.
• Cade Cunningham, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams have been among the many gamers on the Choose Workforce this previous summer season.
• These names have not been rumored, however: Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball and Darius Garland are American. So are James Harden, Klay Thompson and Chris Paul.

So, who makes the reduce?

For the needs of this train, let’s assume everyone talked about above is wholesome and keen to play, so USA Basketball can successfully have anyone it desires. What may this loaded 12-man roster seem like?

We are able to begin by together with the reported ringleader and all the massive names he has recruited: James, Curry, Durant, Inexperienced, Tatum, Davis, Booker. That is seven spots gone already.

Embiid is clearly a lock, and Adebayo is reportedly a achieved deal. That is 9.

If Leonard is basically on board, you do not flip him down. Ten.

Lillard wasn’t significantly nice for the Tokyo Video games in 2021, however he was harm. Time for him to make up for that. Eleven.

Need one other guard? I might simply see Irving getting the nod. He or Morant could be the best way to go in case you’re searching for star energy, however Edwards has extra dimension and would give the staff a connection to the group that confirmed up this summer season. From a team-building perspective, VanVleet would make sense, too, given his potential to contribute with out getting many touches.

Need one other massive? Jackson might be the following man up, and Lopez is one other, bulkier possibility. Holmgren might play the position Davis performed in 2012.

Judging by the best way USA Basketball has constructed its rosters earlier than, although, I believe it is going to lean into their greatest benefits: Size, athleticism and defensive versatility. Bridges could be a fully excellent match, however, if George desires to take part, I feel the vet is getting the invite.

So what would this seem like? Who begins?

Ha! Does it even matter? Kerr might use Curry as a sixth man if he desires to. He might begin the 5 massive wings (James, George, Tatum, Leonard and Durant) and change the whole lot. The chances are infinite.

However this is one hypothetical look:

• Starters: Curry, Booker, Durant, James, Embiid
• Reserves: Lillard, George, Leonard, Tatum, Inexperienced, Davis, Adebayo 

I would go along with one of many Clippers over Booker with the intention to make the protection as intimidating as potential. The protection ought to be fairly superior regardless, although, on condition that no one has to fret about taking part in heavy minutes or carrying an infinite load on offense.

If the precise roster finally ends up resembling this one, do not be stunned if Kerr experiments with the rotation all through the match and benches somebody you do not count on. If Booker, for instance, finally ends up on the second unit, it may be as a result of the teaching workers desires him to play the bench-scorer position that Dwyane Wade performed (and Edwards did not) for Workforce USA.