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USA Basketball: Early starting lineup and bench projections for 2024

By Blake Hinckley

Joel Embiid (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Joel Embiid (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 18: Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Clippers 123-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 18: Kevin Durant #35 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Clippers 123-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Who Should Go

Devin Booker

This is a no-brainer. Devin Booker and KD are teammates on the Suns, and Booker has pretty much taken over as the go-to guy in Phoenix. Not only can he score at absolute will, but he has turned himself into a solid facilitator as well. He could command a second unit for Team USA, or he could come in and give the starters another scoring punch.

He can play off-ball or you can ask him the be the de facto point guard. Basically, he can do it all, and at 6’6 he isn’t the easiest player for teams to match up with.

Anthony Edwards

Again, a no-brainer. ANT has become an absolute superstar in Minnesota with the ability to turn it on whenever (Don’t agree? Ask Draymond Green how that turned out). Edwards was by far the team’s best player this past summer, so it would seem silly to leave him off of the roster come time for Paris.

I think another important aspect of this team should be youth and explosiveness, allowing them to go all out for the entirety of the game. ANT is hitting his stride this season and is one of the more explosive guards in the NBA. I think you could even make the argument that he and Booker should actually be starters on this team, but I digress.

Tyrese Haliburton

Haliburton is another explosive guard that would allow the team to play with speed and run up and down the court, forcing teams to try and keep pace with the US would be a fruitful strategy for the team to employ. Not only can he score with ease from all levels (23.5 PPG), but he can create. As of writing, he is averaging a whopping 11.6 assists per game, tops in the NBA. When you have a guy with his length, speed, and versatility, I think it would be foolish to leave him home.

Who Should Stay

James Harden 

I don’t think this is even a little bit surprising. Harden has made everything about himself recently and has paired it with some pretty poor play. Paris will be all about ‘Team’ as they try to reclaim world glory, and all Harden has proved recently is all he cares about is ‘Me.’ In addition, iso ball and dribbling in place for 20 seconds would be the exact opposite approach this team should take.

Jimmy Butler

Now 34 years old, Jimmy Butler just isn’t who he used to be. I’m not sure he’d even want to play after finishing the NBA season, but he is a big name that most people are drawn to. Again, I think the best strategy for this team to have success is to get out and run, and Butler would love to slow things down throughout the game.

Other countries play much better team basketball than the US, so running and getting transition buckets will be important. In other words, youth and speed are important for this team, and Butler doesn’t have either of those.

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