Author’s Note: This is the second part of a three part series about my predictions for team USA’s final 12 man roster for the 2010 Fiba World Championships. This piece will feature my predictions for the wing players of the team.
My first installment featured the guard portion of my predictions for team USA’s 12 man roster for the 201 Fiba world championships. The wing players will be featured in this slideshow.
Since all the 2008 redeem teamers opted to skip the Fiba world championships, wing players such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony won’t be representing team USA this year. A new wave of stars enters the international ranks as players such as Danny Granger, Gerald Wallace, and Andre Iguodala.
Head coach Mike Kryzewski and Jerry Colangelo both have a tough task ahead of them as they have to cut down the 22 man roster to 12 men, not an easy task. For all it’s worth, here’s my opinion on which wing players should make the team.
Gerald Wallace
Gerald Wallace is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and last season he showed why. Wallace averaged 18 points, and 10 rebounds leading the Charlotte Bobcats to their first ever playoff berth. Wallace also got the nod for his first all star selection.
Wallace will fit perfectly with this roster. He’s extremely athletic, he’s very versatile as he can handle like a guard, and post up and rebound like a forward. He can play both forward positions, and he’s certainly one of the best defenders in the roster.
Wallace is a terrific shot blocker, and could be the team’s primary wing defender. Wallace could start at small forward for the team, because of his defense, and athleticism, his ability to get to the free throw line, and the fact that he’s an unselfish player willing to defer to others such as Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. Overall I think Wallace’s defense alone makes him a lock for the team.
Danny Granger
Danny Granger has been among the NBA’s elite scorers over the past few seasons. Last season Granger averaged 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Granger can get his shot off over any defender due to being a bigger small forward at 6’9”.
Granger is the best scoring player featured on this slideshow, but I would prefer to have Wallace in the starting lineup because Wallace is an elite defender, while Granger’s defense nothing more than average.
If Granger were to start he could be among the team’s leading scorers, however I like him more coming off the bench. Granger could provide instant offense, and if a player like Kevin Durant goes out, the team won’t miss a beat with Granger coming in.
The bottom line is Granger should make the team because he can be valuable as a shooter, and he can play both forward positions, overall Granger would be strong addition regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Andre Iguodala
Many who have read some of my previous writing know that I have been saying the Philadelphia 76ers should trade Andre Iguodala, however that not because Iguodala is a bad player, it’s just that the Sixers pay him to be a franchise player, when he’s a very solid piece when he’s a secondary option, which is why Iguodala is a perfect fit on team USA.
Andre Iguodala is a player who doesn’t get as much attention as he deserves because he’s not in a situation where he can flourish. He’s had a number of different coaches in his career, including a new one this season, however Iguodala can be a great piece for this USA team.
Iguodala is similar to Gerald Wallace, he’s not much of a shooter, but he’s freakishly athletic, and he’s a great defender. While Wallace may be the better overall defender, Iguodala is the better one on one defender. Iguodala is also in the Scottie Pippen mold as he can fill up the stat sheet, (Iguodala averaged 17 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds in his sixth season, Pippen averaged 18 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds in his sixth season.)
Iguodala could start for this team depending on the matchup, if the opposing team has wing player who can score, the team may start Iguodala and assign him to guard him one on one. Iguodala would be perfect in that role, and he would be the third or fourth option on offense.
Iguodala would be a great role player on this team; he would be comfortable in that role for team USA, this is the role he should be playing in the NBA.
Lamar Odom
It came down to Odom and Rudy Gay for the final wing spot, Rudy Gay may be the better individual talent, and the better scorer, but Odom is the better fit on this USA team. Odom, a back to back NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, is a player willing to take a bench role.
Part of what made the Lakers so dangerous is that they had Odom coming off the bench. Odom can play both forward positions and some center. Odom is big enough that he can operate in the paint, and stretch the defenses with his three point range. Odom is also a great rebounder and a solid shot blocker, and he can guard versatile big men. The knock on Odom however is that he’s inconsistent, some games you wonder why this guy isn’t a perennial all star, and then some games you wonder why he even has a role on the Lakers.
Odom has been in the USA program since 2004 and is one of the few veterans on the 22 man roster. Odom was a part of the disappointing 2004 Olympic team that went to Athens, but was eager to participate in the USA basketball program again.
Odom’s versatility is going to be crucial for the team considering Amar’e Stoudemire won’t participate in the program due to contract insurance issues. The team could use Odom coming off the bench, plug him right into either of the forward positions, let him run the point for small stretches, or use Odom as a center, allow him to operate in the paint, rebound, and post up.
Odom currently isn’t in his best shape as he supposedly hasn’t touched a basketball since he won the title with the Lakers. That may be a big concern, but if he can get back into shape, he should make the team. The team needs a player of Odom’s versatility, and Odom will do a solid job coming off the bench. Odom will have a role with team USA very similar to his role on the championship Los Angeles Lakers.
The Roster so far
So far I have filled up 9 out of the 12 roster spots. The next part of this series will feature the big men, only three will make it, but here’s what we have so far.
PG- Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, Stephen Curry, Rajon Rondo
SG- Kevin Durant
SF- Gerald Wallace, Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala, Lamar Odom
It’s important to note that Durant, Billups, Curry, and Lamar Odom will likely be playing multiple positions.
