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Hayward invited to Team USA Basketball pool (not Favors)

Here's a link:

https://www.deseretnews.com/article...d-included-in-USA-Basketball-player-pool.html

Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward included in USA Basketball player pool
By Jody Genessy, Deseret News


SALT LAKE CITY — Gordon Hayward will get a shot to earn a spot on the U.S. men's basketball team this summer.

It doesn't appear that opportunity will be afforded to Jazz teammate Derrick Favors, though.

Hayward is among a group of Americans who have been invited to USA Basketball's player pool, according to sources. The country's 12-man roster for the 2014 World Cup in Spain will be selected from this group.

Favors, despite his breakout season, was not invited.

Both Hayward and Favors participated in Team USA mini-camps in Las Vegas the past two summers.

USA Basketball will officially announce its 2014-16 USA men's national team roster Thursday morning.

NBA stars Kevin Love and Kevin Durant both announced their participation last summer. Rockets center Dwight Howard has also reportedly committed to the national team after a six-year hiatus.

Other players to be invited to this summer's pool, according to various reports, include former Weber State star Damian Lillard, Steph Curry, Paul George, Anthony Davis, James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMarcus Cousins.

The initial player pool will include between 25-30 names, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Hayward is playing at an elite level this year. In four January games, Hayward is averaging 27.0 points, 60 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 asissts and 2.3 steals. He had a team-high 25 points in Tuesday's loss to Minnesota after missing five games with a left hip flexor
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He's in elite company. The other names on the list are All Stars.

I guess Dwight coming back pushed Favors off the list.
 
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Favors is my favorite player on the team, but he will always be the third best player on a championship team. That does not mean I dont feel he will win a DPOY award or have an all star appearance or two.
 
Even when he hits the rookie wall, Burke is better than MCW and I don't trust Bledsoe's health. Smart hasn't proven anything yet. This team is totally different when Burke is not in the lineup. He may never crack the All-Star game with how loaded the West is right now, but he's a competitor and a winner. Kind of guy I'd want to have my back in a fight.
 
cowhide said:
Gordon's price tag just went up.
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Gordon's price tag was always going to be high. The problem was that Jazz fans were watching him struggle and freaking out about investing the kind of money that they admit they expect multiple teams (with good GMs and young, intelligent coaches) to offer him. He's still probably the best player on the team. I'd love to see him back at the 3 for a bit and playing with Burks and Burke for long stretches.
 
Hayward's style of play is perfect for Olympic style b-ball. He's perfect for beating zones with his shot and being a good playmaker seeing over the defense, and getting the ball inside.
 
Hayward's versatility at both ends is a good complement to the scorers Team USA will have--Davis, Durant, Lillard, Curry, etc. Versatile 6'8" guys are always valuable.
 
Hayward would be a nice complementary player. Oftentimes, the Dream Team lacks a few of those. They may not necessarily be the best players, but they might fit into the team better.
 
LazyD said:
Hayward would be a nice complementary player. Oftentimes, the Dream Team lacks a few of those. They may not necessarily be the best players, but they might fit into the team better.
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Which is why I am shocked Favors wasn't invited. He's the perfect type of player for the olympic team...plays good defense, rebounds, blocks shots, doesn't need the spotlight among a bunch of attention whore type players, a non-drama queen type player.
 
akirac73 said:
Which is why I am shocked Favors wasn't invited. He's the perfect type of player for the olympic team...plays good defense, rebounds, blocks shots, doesn't need the spotlight among a bunch of attention whore type players, a non-drama queen type player.
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Dwight and Favors have too many of the same skill set, he'll be redundant on that team IMO.
 
LazyD said:
Hayward would be a nice complementary player. Oftentimes, the Dream Team lacks a few of those. They may not necessarily be the best players, but they might fit into the team better.
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WHAT did you just call them?
 
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