FIBA 2017 AmeriCup!

[Hepcat]

So I see that the FIBA 2017 AmeriCup will tip-off on August 25th. It will be contested in the cities of Medellin of Columbia, Montevideo of Uruguay, and Bahia Blanca and Cordoba of Argentina.

The drawing of the groups for the preliminary round went as follows:

GROUP A - Medellin

Brazil
Puerto Rico
Mexico
Columbia

GROUP B - Bahia Blanca

Virgin Islands
Argentina
Venezuela
Canada

GROUP C - Montevideo

Dominican Republic
USA
Panama
Uruguay

[Hepcat]

I've not seen any coverage of this event yet in the local press. The only thing I "know" about Canada's team is that tryouts will be held in Toronto in mid-August. This in my opinion is cutting it too close to the tournament for team building purposes.

Nonetheless I hope to see the Scrubb brothers or any other players who once attended a Canadian university end up on the team.

[locdogjr]

Teams won't send proper squads and the tournament really holds no meaning

[Dtown]

The tournament was always a glorified qualification tournament, and now it's no longer even that.

[locdogjr]

The tournament was always a glorified qualification tournament, and now it's no longer even that.

Yuuupppp.....

If I could stream it for free i still would, but won't be paying for it. Teams will just use this tournament to get their second and third tier squads without NBA players ready to compete in this new qualifying format.....

[Hepcat]

While all that may be so, there won't be any asterisk beside the tournament in the record books. Accordingly in five to ten years time all anyone will see is the medal winners, and that's all anyone will care about. Therefore I'd still like to see Canada get the Gold.

[mojo13]

Prelim rosters are starting to surface.

I took a look at Mexico's preliminary list. Looks like a pretty solid squad. All their primary players are there (Gutierrez, Hernandez, Mota, Cruz, Stoll). Seems they are taking this tournament pretty seriously.

Brazil's list is almost entirely made up of young guys, including guys like Bruno Caboclo and George de Paula. Seems they're looking at it as more of a development opportunity.

Puerto Rico has a couple of familiar names (including Shabazz Napier - when did he start playing for PR?), but not too many I recognize. They also had a bunch of guys near the end of their careers the last few tournaments though, with guys like Arroyo, Balkman and Barea, so maybe it's a youth movement more by necessity than design.

No announcement with Canada yet but we expect it to be a team of lower level Pro's and maybe some youth sprinkled in (CIS, RJ Barrett etc.).-We are trying to keep track of the possible player pool for the WC qualification on the RealGM Raptors Board (Look for the Team Canada Basketball thread).

Here is what we are thinking might be available (assuming the AmeriCup would use this pool too, but who knows if they add some EuroLeague or NBA guys).



Canada's Potential Player Pool for FIBA AmeriCup and WC Qualification Games
This list is focusing on Pro players - Canada Basketball has stated that some CIS guys and younger prospects might be involved as well.

Probably's: (Signed with teams where they officially wont be restricted to play, or FAs that most likely don't sign with restricted teams ie: Euroleague/NBA.

Jermaine Anderson (PG) FA Last season in France
Junior Caduogan (PG) last season in NBL
Duane Notice (PG) FA Last season in NCAA
Olivier Hanlan (PG/SG) FA? last season signed in France. FIBA Champions League team

Justin Edwards (SG) FA? last season in Hungary
Devoe Joseph (SG) FA? last season in Venezuela
Andy Rautins (SG) FA? last season in Turkey
Jason Calliste (SG FA? last season in D-League
Brady Heslip (SG) signed in Turkey
Daniel Mullins (SG) FA? last season in Finland


Dyshawn Pierre (SF) signed in Italy. FIBA Champions League team
Jermaine Bucknor (SF) FA? last season in Germany/Argentina
Thomas Scrubb (SF) signed in Italy. FIBA Champions League team
Jevohn Shepperd (SF) FA. signed in France FIBA Champions League team
Kris Joseph (SF) FA? last season in Italy

Olu Ashaolu (PF) FA? Last season in Japan
Kyle Landry (PF) FA Last season in Russia
Chris Boucher (PF/C) signed a two way for G-League
Owen Klassen (PF/C) signed in Greece
Jordan Bachynski (C) signed in Japan
Rob Sacre (C) signed in Japan
Sim Bhullar (C) Parts unknown, weight unknown....last season in Taiwan and China 2nd Division.

Maybe's: (have the potential to be with teams that won't release them)
Xavier Rathan Maynes (PG) FA - has a NYK camp invite
Phil Scrubb (PG/SG) FA. Last year in Germany.
Dylan Ennis (PG/SG) citizenship - tied to Jamaica? Signed in Serbia.
Carl English (SG) FA? Maybe retired from National Team?
Naz Long (SG) FA - citizenship, may play for Greece
RJ Barrett (SG/SF) Highschool. He is good enough for this team and obviously has tight ties with the program. I could see him taking a break from Monteverde and playing.
Andrew Nicholson (PF) - FA. Last year in NBA
Melvin Ejim (PF) Signed in Russia. EuroCup team - unknown if he will be released
Anthony Bennett (PF/C) FA. Last year in NBA/Euroleague
Joel Anthony (C) FA - Retired? Last year in NBA

Probably Not's:
Kyle Wilter (PF) FA Last year in NBA/D-League. Strong rumors tying him to Baskonia (EuroLeague team)
Dillon Brooks (SF/PF) - Signed with Grizzlies. A chance he will be in the G-league, but doubtful.
Khem Birch (PF/C) Signed with Magic. Non-guaranteed deal. Could be cut or sent to G-League
Trey Lyles (PF) Traded to Denver. A chance he will be in the G-League (lots of PFs on Denver roster)

No's: NBA won't release players in conflict windows, neither will Euroleague. We might get them for the summer series'
All NBA guys.
Kevin Pangos (PG) Euroleague
Aaron Doornekamp (SF/PF) Euroleague
Stefan Jankovic (PF) Euroeague - said he wants to play for Serbia
Myck Kabongo (PG) last season Mexico? NBL? Playing for DR Congo in FIBA Afrobasket.

[tres equis]

Teams won't send proper squads and the tournament really holds no meaning

Well....this tournament qualifies 7 teams for the panamerican games....it has some meaning....¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[tres equis]

Puerto Rico has a couple of familiar names (including Shabazz Napier - when did he start playing for PR?), but not too many I recognize. They also had a bunch of guys near the end of their careers the last few tournaments though, with guys like Arroyo, Balkman and Barea, so maybe it's a youth movement more by necessity than design.

He has yet to play for Puerto rico, and portland did not allow him to play this summer, he has shown interest in playing in future tournaments. His mom is puerto rican so that's why he is eligible to play for PR.

[Mojado]

Mexico's coach Valdeomillos works currently with these 18 players.

Jorge Gutiérrez, Trabszonspor (TUR)
Paul Stoll, Unics Kazan (RUS)
Alex Pérez, San Lorenzo (ARG)
Pedro Meza, Soles de Mexicali (MEX)
Diego Willis, Canarias (ESP)
Myron Molina, Academia Conade (MEX)
Francisco Cruz, Fuenlabrada (ESP)
Josué Lara, St. Augustine High School (USA)
Gabriel Girón, Fuerza Regia (MEX)
Juan Toscano, Fuerza Regia (MEX)
Jorge de la Serna, Academia Conade (MEX)
Héctor Hernández, Fuerza Regia (MEX)
Antonio Álvarez, Canarias (ESP)
Edgar Garibay, Guaiqueríes de Margarita (VEN)
Irwin Ávalos, Santos de San Luis Potosí (MEX)
Lorenzo Mata, Toros de Nuevo Laredo (MEX)
Israel Gutiérrez, Argentino de Junín (ARG)
Fernando Benítez, Panteras de Aguascalientes (MEX)

All bold-marked players should make the team...

[mojo13]

Venezuela announce 15-player preliminary list for FIBA AmeriCup title defense

Angel Blanco
Harol Cazorla
Heissler Guillent
Gregory Vargas
Pedro Chourio
John Cox
César García
José Materán
José Vargas
Anthony Pérez
José Bravo
Miguel Ruiz
Luis Carrillo
Néstor Colmenares
Windi Graterol

http://www.fiba.com/americup/2017/news/venezuela-announces-15-player-preliminary-list-for-fiba-americup-title-defense

And Columbia

http://www.fiba.com/americup/2017/news/colombia-with-16-man-squad-for-americup

And USA confirming it will be using G-League players (this will be interesting)

http://www.fiba.com/americup/2017/news/usa-start-training-camp-for-americup-on-august-17

Camp starts Aug 17

[tres equis]

USA starting camp on august 17?, that's kind of late.

[mojo13]

USA starting camp on august 17?, that's kind of late.

I am sure that the AmeriCup is part of training camp for the USA.
They like Canada, probably aren't even close to knowing who will be there yet. For Canada all we know is:

"The FIBA Men's AmeriCup 2017 will help prepare our men's national team to compete in the new FIBA competition structure. This team will be fielded with professional players from overseas and potentially USports (Canadian university system) athletes. Tryouts and training to take place in Toronto in mid-August."


The USA squad is going to be quite interesting....

[usagre]

I am very surprised that USA basketball is even participating in this meaningless tournament. They didn't send a team the previous two Americas tournaments in 2013 and 2009 in which nothing was at stake. If I had to guess now that this tournament will not serve as an Olympic qualifier they probably won't send a team again.

The only purpose I can see this tournament serving the USA going forward is that considering similar type of players will participate in the upcoming qualification for the Fiba World Cup in 2019 it might be a chance for a group of players to gain some experience and cohesion as unit. Same thing for next tournament in 2021 and corresponding qualifying for 2023 World Cup.
But then again with about 7 teams making it from the region they could pretty much send any combination out there and qualify.

[mojo13]

I am very surprised that USA basketball is even participating in this meaningless tournament. They didn't send a team the previous two Americas tournaments in 2013 and 2009 in which nothing was at stake. If I had to guess now that this tournament will not serve as an Olympic qualifier they probably won't send a team again.

The only purpose I can see this tournament serving the USA going forward is that considering similar type of players will participate in the upcoming qualification for the Fiba World Cup in 2019 it might be a chance for a group of players to gain some experience and cohesion as unit. Same thing for next tournament in 2021 and corresponding qualifying for 2023 World Cup.
But then again with about 7 teams making it from the region they could pretty much send any combination out there and qualify.

USA Basketball has pretty much publicly stated this is their intent for participating.
which is pretty much the same for everyone else.