NBA Odds – Who Will Be on USA’s Rio Roster? [UPDATED]

A couple weeks ago, we touched on Damien Lillard’s uphill battle to make USA’s Olympic Basketball team for the 2016 Summer Games. With a log-jam of players at the guard position, one of the NBA’s most dynamic scorers seemed like a toss-up to make the team. But this week Lillard, and every other team competing in the Olympics, received some good news; reigning MVP Steph Curry will not be going to Rio.

It’s a disappointing announcement for basketball fans everywhere; missing a chance to see the most liked player on the planet take his insane game to the biggest international stage. But ultimately, missing Curry or LaMarcus Aldridge, won’t really hurt USA’s odds at a gold, given how stacked the potential roster is.

However, it does shift the odds of who will be in red, white and blue this summer. Let’s revisit the odds to make Team USA this summer.

Locks to make Team USA roster for 2016 Olympics:

• LeBron James (Cavaliers)
• Kevin Durant (Thunder)
• Steph Curry (Warriors)
• Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
• James Harden (Rockets)
• Carmelo Anthony (Knicks)

All five of these locks played on the 2012 Olympic squad in London, and outside Anthony, all are still in their physical prime. However, Melo’s inclusion is largely due to his years of service, playing for three prior Olympic squads.

While we believe all these players are only locks to make the squad, not all of them have fully committed to going yet. Westbrook, Anthony and James are all on the fence, and since it looks like LeBron is headed for another disappointing Finals appearance, he may just need some time away from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

Odds to make Team USA roster for 2016 Olympics:

• Klay Thompson (Warriors): 1/10
• Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers): 1/8
• Draymond Green (Warriors): 1/5
• Kawhi Leonard (Spurs): 2/7
• Paul George (Pacers): 3/10
• Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers): 1/3
• DeMarcus Cousins (Kings): 1/2
• Jimmy Butler (Bulls): 1/1
• Andre Drummond (Pistons): 3/2
• LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs): 7/3
• Mike Conley (Grizzlies): 5/2
• DeAndre Jordan (Clippers): 7/2
• Andre Iguodala (Warriors): 5/1
• Kevin Love (Cavaliers): 6/1
• DeMar DeRozan (Raptors): 9/1
• Kenneth Faried (Nuggets): 12/1

While the decision at guard becomes less and less difficult by the week, the shape of the front-court continues to be a source of great debate. How many wing scorers does this team really need? And with the Gasol brothers likely to miss Rio for the rival Spanish team, how many true rim-protectors will this team really need?

It will be interesting to see if Coach K tries to fill roles or just takes the best 12 guys who are willing to risk Zika virus. Either way, it’s hard to envision either Paul George or Kawhi Leonard being left off at small forward. The dominance George can exert at the offensive end can only be matched by Leonard’s dominance on defense.

As for the rest of the bigs, making an argument for Kevin Love is getting tougher after the lame duck showing he’s had in the 2016 NBA playoffs. But, odds are, he won’t be healthy anyways.

Kenneth Faried is one of the biggest movers as a result of the last few weeks. As one of the last true fours invited to tryout, the 2014 World Cup member has somehow gone from incredible longshot to regular longshot.

(Photo Credit: Airman 1st Class Daniel Hughes/99th Air Base Wing [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)