What does it mean for Draymond to compete in another Olympics?
Anthony Slater, Warriors beat writer: It adds to a resume at all basketball levels — high school, college, NBA, international — that should one day get Green in the Hall of Fame. Plus he just enjoys the competition.
On the previous Olympic team, he didn’t play a ton off the bench. They were stacked. It’s possible, because of the shakier circumstances surrounding these Olympics, there won’t be as much talent on the roster and Green will play a bigger role. Either way, from the Warriors perspective, this should keep Green in basketball shape this summer.
How has a long season factored into players’ decisions?
Joe Vardon, NBA senior writer: We don’t know yet. Lillard signing up is a great start for Team USA as far as this goes.
The Blazers reached the playoffs each of the last two seasons, which meant an even shorter offseason for Lillard than, say, Green, whose Warriors missed the last two playoffs. We will have to hear which players actually decline an invite to join before we know the impact the long season had.
Who else should we expect to join the team?
Vardon: I’m looking squarely at Jayson Tatum. His Celtics were knocked out early and he was on the 2019 team that performed so miserably in China. Which is why he’ll want redemption. Tatum suffered a sprained ankle in that tournament, which he and the Americans believe was the difference between their seventh-place finish at the World Cup, and a championship.
(Photo: Abbie Parr / Getty Images)
