Draw for the FIBA World Cup [Manila, Philippines, Apr 29]

[Steadysoul]

I said this was my guess and not what I would do.

Conley is on here because in the past the US would have a veteran PG on the roster to help the young players. See Jason Kidd in 2008 & Chauncey Billups in 2010. Conley also averaged close to 8 assists a game this season. Not everyone can be a scorer.

Kerr, has reportedly already met with Caruso. Who is a high level role player and one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. USA has always brought guys like this, Igoudala in 2010 & 2012.

Haliburton, is a 20p & 10a guy in the NBA. Easy choice.

Poole & Maxey are 20ppg scorers and shoot high levels from 3.

Mikal Bridges is the protoype 3&D player. Can defend multiple positions. Can play SG, SF or PF. Highly versatile.

Keldon Johnson, member of the Tokyo Olympic team. Versatile forward who can play multiple positions.

Cam Johnson & Jalen Williams, also fall into the versatile forward position that the USA has always brought to tournaments.

Myles Turner played 2019 and is a good rebounder and shot blocker.

Evan Mobley, can defend multiple positions and play PF or C. Which might be needed against Greece or Lithuania. Mobley could probably be a game wrecker in FIBA with his length and the fact that the FIBA court is smaller than the NBA court. Less space to cover.

Bobby Ports averaged 14p & 9r per game for the Bucks. Also can play PF or C if needed.

The fact is a lot of best younger players in the NBA are from oversees and USA’s best players are in their 30s and don’t value the World Cup like they do the Olympics. The players who are in the mid 20s like Booker and Tatum don’t value the World Cup like they do with the Olympics.

Conley is cooked though. This is a guy who was waived this year. Jason Kidd was still really good in 2008. That comparison is off. That guy is Jrue Holiday who by all accounts was stellar in 2021. Why pick a guy who is worse with no FIBA experience?
You're thinking too small. There are a lot of guys who have never had the opportunity to play.
Caruso is fine but I'd rather have Herb Jones or Marcus Smart.
Maxey is fine but Poole has a habit of becoming a chucker at the worst possible moments. You could go with Anfernee Simmons, Anthony Edwards, Darius Garland, Ja Morant, or CJ McCollum.
Mikal is a great choice, but I'd also add in Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Saddiq Bey.
Cam is fine but I doubt Jalen makes it. Rookies rarely get the chance. They usually end up on the select team. Collins and Jaren Jackson Jr are definitely getting calls first.
Mobley is a great choice but I find it weird that you didn't include Jarret Allen or Claxton. Wendell Carter too. Possibly Larry Nance.

[Giannis34GOD]

Conley is cooked though. This is a guy who was waived this year. Jason Kidd was still really good in 2008. That comparison is off. That guy is Jrue Holiday who by all accounts was stellar in 2021. Why pick a guy who is worse with no FIBA experience?
You're thinking too small. There are a lot of guys who have never had the opportunity to play.
Caruso is fine but I'd rather have Herb Jones or Marcus Smart.
Maxey is fine but Poole has a habit of becoming a chucker at the worst possible moments. You could go with Anfernee Simmons, Anthony Edwards, Darius Garland, Ja Morant, or CJ McCollum.
Mikal is a great choice, but I'd also add in Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Saddiq Bey.
Cam is fine but I doubt Jalen makes it. Rookies rarely get the chance. They usually end up on the select team. Collins and Jaren Jackson Jr are definitely getting calls first.
Mobley is a great choice but I find it weird that you didn't include Jarret Allen or Claxton. Wendell Carter too. Possibly Larry Nance.

How about Dame Lilliard? I think he needs this one, because he doesn't need NBA rings (according to him)... He will be the veteran that team USA in this year's version needs.... To also added to his underrated resume in his career....

[Giannis34GOD]

There are always a few overly enthusiastic posters who are certain every eligible NBA player (and even those not even eligible) will certainly play for whatever country they are associated with. Maybe these are young posters and this is their 1st or 2nd big tournement and are just a little naive about the pressures NBA players are under not to play FIBA.

Maybe there will be more NBA players than the last World Cup but that it beacuse there are more international NBA players than ever before. Canada alone should add another 8 to 12 into the count. But every big name you guys throw out there and say is 100% playing is actually quite at risk of not playing. I will actually be pleasantly suprised if I see Giannis, Luka, Porzingis, Jokic, Lauri, Wembayama, Gobert, Durant, Tatum or other big names actually show up. Some certainly will...many others won't....

Let's wait a little before getting too excited about anyone.

Last 2019 FIBA WC, The participants was 54.. That was the highest in FIBA WC history, but the biggest name played there was Giannis, Jokic, Gasol and Gobert... Actually in the top 5 best players who played last edition, None of them are Americans... This edition, the maximum might see NBA players participating will be 90, with some mixed blood players might participating such as Clarkson (PHL), Anderson (China), Bol Bol (South Sudan) and Javonte Green (Montenegro), while possible comebacks to their national teams such as KAT (Dominican Rep) and Ben Simmons (Australia)... In the other sight, most of NBA players today using FIBA tournaments as their spring board to their upcoming NBA season, example there was Lauri Markannen of Finland Shai Alexander of Canada... After their successful FIBA stints last year, They continue their hot performance in NBA and led their teams to unexpected decent NBA seasons... There are good and bad results playing FIBA tournaments in off season... Actually, I would rather play in FIBA competitions than meaningless pick up games in off season, where Chet Holmgret get his season ending injury....

[Giannis34GOD]

Will Ben Simmons finally play for Australia?

https://www.netsdaily.com/2023/5/5/23712351/could-ben-simmons-play-in-fiba-world-cup-aussie-coach-says-theres-a-strong-chance

[Steadysoul]

How about Dame Lilliard? I think he needs this one, because he doesn't need NBA rings (according to him)... He will be the veteran that team USA in this year's version needs.... To also added to his underrated resume in his career....

If he's not traded this off season I will honestly be shocked. It's very clear that Portland is in need of a rebuild and he very much doesn't want to be involved in one. I don't know who could trade for him at this point but I just don't perceive his contract situation being stable this summer. I don't know anyone who wants another year of the trailblazers wasting his time and theirs. They can't get better with him at this point.

[Giannis34GOD]

If he's not traded this off season I will honestly be shocked. It's very clear that Portland is in need of a rebuild and he very much doesn't want to be involved in one. I don't know who could trade for him at this point but I just don't perceive his contract situation being stable this summer. I don't know anyone who wants another year of the trailblazers wasting his time and theirs. They can't get better with him at this point.

If he will be traded, I want him in Milwaukee, Giannis needs a teammate who will take over in the crunch time... If Bucks have like Lilliard in their series vs Heat, they will easily beat Miami, even Butler scores 50... They always lose in the 4th qtr and no one in Bucks line up can take over when game is on the line....

[DenverJokic]

Conley is cooked though. This is a guy who was waived this year. Jason Kidd was still really good in 2008. That comparison is off. That guy is Jrue Holiday who by all accounts was stellar in 2021. Why pick a guy who is worse with no FIBA experience?
You're thinking too small. There are a lot of guys who have never had the opportunity to play.
Caruso is fine but I'd rather have Herb Jones or Marcus Smart.
Maxey is fine but Poole has a habit of becoming a chucker at the worst possible moments. You could go with Anfernee Simmons, Anthony Edwards, Darius Garland, Ja Morant, or CJ McCollum.
Mikal is a great choice, but I'd also add in Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and Saddiq Bey.
Cam is fine but I doubt Jalen makes it. Rookies rarely get the chance. They usually end up on the select team. Collins and Jaren Jackson Jr are definitely getting calls first.
Mobley is a great choice but I find it weird that you didn't include Jarret Allen or Claxton. Wendell Carter too. Possibly Larry Nance.

Conley was traded to Minnesota, wasn’t waived. Wanted a real good locker room guy at PG. I really like Holiday, but I think he’s more of an Olympics only player at this point in his career. Went with Caruso because he’s a really good at pressing ball handlers.

Thought about Anfernee Simons, but went with Poole because he’s a Kerr player. I think Anthony Edwards will hold out for the Olympics. Wasn’t sure about Garland. Ja was an obvious no to me because his personal life is a mess right now. CJ is a good option for that vet role.

Brandon Ingram to me is an hold out for the Olympics type of player. He’s the perfect PF that USA likes to use. Didn’t use Scottie Barnes because he has no jumpshot and you need floor spacers in FIBA.

I think Jarrett Allen is more of an olympics guy. Same with Jaren Jackson who is probably the best big man the US has. Was really close to including Nic Claxton, but he’s on the smaller side of being a center. Thought the US would bring bigger bodies for games against Greece and Lithuania.

[Giannis34GOD]

Will Draymond Green play for team USA? With GSW already eliminated, it would be possible, since coach Steve Kerr is the coach of team USA... And coach Kerr needs veteran guy who will lead the team and he knows coach Kerr's system....

https://basketnews.com/news-189429-draymond-green-may-play-for-team-usa-in-fiba-world-cup-2023.html

[Giannis34GOD]

Anthony Edwards could play for team USA this summer? Hope he does since for sure most of top American players will skip this summer event...

https://www.canishoopus.com/2023/5/14/23722754/report-anthony-edwards-team-usa-fiba-world-cup-nba-offseason-gobert-towns-minnesota-timberwolves

[Straight forward]

Green would be surely helpful. Edwards is nice, but still young, he would go up and down in FIBA. Generally I think USA again will have issues if they won't have few superstars.

[Giannis34GOD]

mamasita.jpg

FIBA WC Games schedules already available

[mojo13]

Current betting odds to win the 2023 FIBA World Cup:
FanDuel
USA -180
FRA +1100
AUS +1100
ESP +1200
CAN +1300
SER +1600
SLO +1600
GRE +2700
GER +4200
ITA +5500

DraftKings
USA -180
SLO +800
GRE +900
SER +1000
AUS +1100
FRA +1100
SPA +1400
CAN +1600
GER +2700
ITA +3000

Interesting disparity between GRE & SLO between the two sites. I'm more in line with FanDuel - SLO and GRE seem way overranked with DraftKings.

the USA seems quite overranked (no suprise I suppose)

The slightly tougher odds for ESP, FRA & CAN on DraftKing seem to better reflect the tougher paths these teams face

Seem like the most favorable odds are going with GER (who seem quite underated) and/or going against the USA.

[mojo13]

Some player news:

Ricky Rubio states he intends to play. that is a huge piece for Spain. 2019 WC MVP

Zach Edey decides to return to Purdue rather than stay in the NBA draft. That actually could be big for Canada as the NCAA Player of the Year is a massive, improving quickly and fills a major weakness for Canada (size up front). Him removing himself from the draft greatly increases his chance to play with Canada. I could see him in a rotational role for Canada maybe as the 3rd big minutes wise. Depends who esle shows up of course.

The Dominican Republic FIBA World Cup team gets a talent bump by securing the passport of Golden State Warriors' two-way player and the G-League's 2023 Most Impoved Player - [B]Lester Qui

[mojo13]

Not that verbal commitments meant much for Team USA in 2019, but Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Austin Reaves, Mikal Bridges, and Bobby Portis have committed to play for Team USA, league sources told The Athletic.

[Straight forward]

Young guns without FIBA experience always a chance for other teams to overcome USA. Interesting if they will bring some pieces to secure gold medal spot. Green gives certain balance, but just a solid role player.