Kevin Durant will give USA Basketball needed outside shooting. (Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
Story Highlights Team USA's roster is filling up quickly Kevin Durant will give the team needed outside shooting There will be a battle for the last few roster spots
LAS VEGAS - Already, it's turning into a numbers game for the remaining spots on next summer's U.S. team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
Forwards Kevin Durant and Kevin Love are in for sure, as long as they're healthy and guards Russell Westbrook and James Harden will have spots if they want to play. And be sure, Durant will, if he hasn't already, put pressure on both to help the U.S. defend its championship.
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Given the praised directed at guard Kyrie Irving and big man Anthony Davis by USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and U.S. men's national coach Mike Krzyzewski, count on those two making the team, too.
Wing Paul George, center DeMarcus Cousins and guard Stephen Curry are strong candidates, if not givens, to make the team, and guard Damian Lillard has impressed USA Basketball staffers as has Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried with his trademark energy and activity around the basket.
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That's 11 names for a 12-man roster, and it doesn't include players such as Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose and Kawhi Leonard, who are all possibilities if they show an interest in playing.
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That's why it's best to slow down and let the process play out. Colangelo and his staff will watch closely the first three months of the NBA season, and sometime in January, possibly early February, Colangelo will announce a pool of 25-28 candidates, and from that list, approximately 15-18 will be named later in the NBA season to a roster for a camp in Las Vegas just before the World Cup. From that list, 12 will make the team.
As noted, so much can happen between now and the next two roster announcements, starting with injuries. The development of players this season will also be important, and there will be speedy, unforeseen developments in players who might just be a faint blip on USA Basketball's radar right now.
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The term "position" - guards, wings and bigs - is used broadly because in international competition, players who play a certain spot in the NBA can play another position - bigger or smaller - in the World Cup. For instance, Durant can play small forward, power forward and even center, and a player such as Irving can play point guard or shooting guard. George is a two, three and four in international competition.
The U.S. is loaded at the guard spot, especially point guard, and that's why Krzyzewski had point guards playing off the ball at shooting guard during the four-day mini-camp, which concluded Thursday in Las Vegas.
Next summer, the U.S. will need shooters at the three-point line. Durant's commitment alleviates a dire need to find more. His shot is perfect for the international game, and he proved that at the 2010 world championship and 2012 London Olympics. Durant made 45.6% on three-pointers in the 2010 worlds 52.3% on threes in London.
But another shooter or two, beyond Irving and Curry, will help - possibly Bradley Beal, who attended the camp but did not participate as he rehabbed his right fibula, or Klay Thompson.
After Durant and George, the U.S. will be in search of more wings - possibly a defensive specialist to play the role Andre Iguodala did in 2010. And maybe Iguodala, with his contract locked up, will be the guy. It could also be someone such as Leonard, who can defend and knock down the corner three. Westbrook has one of those versatile games, too, where he can play one, two or three.
The big men will be interesting to watch. In previous years, there was a shortage because of injuries and dearth of quality big men. But there is a noticeable change in the talent pool.
While the U.S. might not be looking at a surplus of big men, it has several candidates to consider, including Faried, and Andre Drummond, who at 19 could be on the verge of turning into a force. He is 280 pounds with just 6% body fat.
Beyond the traditional big man who can play in the low post or high post, there is also someone like Ryan Anderson, a stretch four, who can hit the three, rebound and play physical.
While spots are filling up, there is plenty of time and opportunities for players to get noticed. Let's take a look at the possible pool of players who might be named to the pool of 25-28 after the new year. Also, since no 2013 draft picks were invited, none will show up on this list, but some very well could be on preliminary roster in January or early February.
Guards - Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Rose, Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Klay Thompson, Gordon Hayward, John Wall, Jrue Holiday
Wings - Kevin Durant, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala
Bigs - Kevin Love, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, Larry Sanders, Derrick Favors, Ryan Anderson, Mike Conley