Stealth Select Two International PlayersJune 28, 2012NEW YORK (AP) – The Seattle Stealth added to the international flavor of their team with their two lottery draft picks. The new additions to the roster are American-Chinese PG
Wu Jao and Italian SG
Senso Rancati. Jao was always viewed as the first selection of the Draft but Rancati was a late decision with Seattle ditching another Chinese player,
Leo Lai, at the last minute. The Stealth also traded their second round pick to the Houston Rockets for a future second round pick.
Rancati is a 6’6” swingman with a game comparable to that of Golden State Warrior
Marco Belinelli. The Stealth liked the Italian’s very solid long range game as well as the fact that he was a much more NBA ready product than Lai. Rancati is expected to add some depth and fill in the old role that was
Raja Bell's; ironically the player who was traded to Toronto for
Luis Scola and the draft pick used to select Rancati.
Jao’s feats at Maryland and for the Chinese National Team are well known to League observers and it was always a given that he would be drafted first. The Stealth were happy to choose him despite an eleventh hour second look into fellow PG prospect
Ifeayi Ndiaye, who ended up going second to the Houston Rockets.
Jao is expected to come onto the team as
Jason Kidd’s understudy as the veteran prepares for retirement. It is unknown how Jao will do in that capacity as he is known as a scoring point guard and compared to
Allen Iverson. The rookie was noy present on Draft Night as he prepares for the London Olympic Games with the Chinese National Team.
In some controversy after the Draft, Lai told reporters that he had gotten an assurance from Stealth Front Office executives that he would be a member of the team and he was looking forward to playing in Seattle. A conflicting source claimed that the reason why Seattle backed off was that Lai and his agent were pushing for a trade to the Chicago Bulls. The source said, "We don't appreciate being used and won't bow down to any pressure."
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Final Team USA Roster Unveiled Ahead of London 2012July 5, 2012SEATTLE (AP) –
Kevin Durant made the cut for the United States Olympic Team but fellow Seattle teammates
Reshawn Tyson and
Jason Kidd just missed out. A member of the Gold winning 2010 World Championship side, Durant looks like he will push for a bigger role at the 2012 London Olympics.
New Jersey Net
Carmelo Anthony, Cleveland Cavalier
LeBron James, and Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade will reprise their roles as captains for the 2012 side. Reigning MVP James is confident that the United States will come up with Gold in London, “We have the best team in the World. I’m not scared to say that. There will be some tough competition from some countries but we have the best team.”
The final team was announced after a series of exhibition games against South American opponents. The program was carrying 17 players and had to trim the roster by 5. The players who missed out on selection were Seattle’s Tyson, Los Angeles Lakers’
Andrew Bynum, Cleveland Cavaliers’
Rudy Gay, and Boston Celtics’
Rajon Rondo.
However, no roster cut came harder than that of New Jersey’s
Barney Steele. Coach Krzyzewzki admitted that it was especially tough for him to cut Steele from the team as he was a major factor in helping the USA win Gold in Turkey. “Barney is young and has many years ahead of him. It’s hard to fit everyone on the team and in the end it came down to Gilbert (Arenas) and him. So I had to pick one.”
The Team USA roster is as follows:
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic),
Jay Gray (Milwaukee Bucks),
Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors),
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers),
Moses Chara (Sacramento Kings),
Carmelo Anthony (New Jersey Nets),
Kevin Durant (Seattle Stealth),
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers),
Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers),
Joe Johnson (Utah Jazz),
Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets),
Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards).
The United States have essentially the same team as their 2010 World Championship roster except for Bosh replacing Portland’s
Greg Oden and Johnson taking Steele’s spot.
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Olympic Men’s Basketball Will Be Closer Than It SeemsJuly 20, 2012LONDON (AP) – As the Olympic Games get just about set to begin in 7 days, it’s time to take a look at the Men’s Basketball. The competition is always popular and it will be interesting to see if there are any teams ready to snatch Gold from the favorites, the United States of America. After a recommendation by FIBA, the IOC has agreed to raise the number of mens teams to 16 from 12. More teams means more contenders as a number of strong European sides have all qualified through the wildcard tournament.
The USA looks dangerous as they have a roster full of elite talent. Every name is a big name and their biggest weakness could be themselves. With only one true point guard on their roster, everything might fall apart for the much-fancied Team USA come the latter stages of the competition when everyone is fighting for those important shots down the stretch.
China, surprise finalists at the 2010 World Championships, has a strong roster.
Yao Ming backtracked on his retirement from international basketball and joined the national side for what will likely be his international swansong at age 32. He will play on what could be the best Chinese team he has ever played for. Led by 2012 NBA number one draft pick
Wu Jao, the team boasts NBA talents
Yi Jianlian,
Mingyu Li and ex-NBA player
Sun Yue who is currently playing in Europe. NBA lottery pick
Leo Lai will also play in his first Olympic Games for China.
Spain will be led by 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year
Ricky Rubio and Pacers teammate
Marc Gasol. They will be joined by Gasol’s brother Pau, Cleveland Cavaliers’
Rudy Fernandez and Toronto Raptors’ PG
Jose Calderon in what should be the groups final Olympics together before Pau and Calderon calls it quits. Their European rivals, Germany, will also field a strong roster with Dallas Mavericks’ PF
Dirk Nowitzki, Los Angeles Clippers’ C
Chris Kaman, Toronto Raptors’ PG
Chris Hova, and NBA Draft prospects
Florian Ruf and
Christian Oliver. Ruf currently plays in Europe with Spanish Side Real Madrid while Oliver is coming off an impressive freshman year at Virginia University.
Argentina are seen as dark horses to medal at the Games but it’s all depending on the health of
Manu Ginobili who is coming off an NBA Championship with the Atlanta Hawks. Seattle Stealth C/F
Luis Scola will join Ginobili in what should also be their final Olympic campaign together.
There are a good handful of teams with a great chance of winning gold but Team USA are easily the standouts on paper.
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