Will a Portland Trail Blazers player be selected for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles? I have already asked myself this question on this same siteBut what do other experts think?
Bill DiFilippo of Uproxx Sports Team USA cited two recent Portland lottery picks as potential candidates to be selected in four years: Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in 2023, and Donovan Clingan, the seventh pick in 2024. The Americans will be looking to win their sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
In terms of Henderson’s competition at point guard, Indiana Pacers third-team All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton is considered a surefire player to return in a larger role in 2028. Haliburton was essentially the 12th man on Team USA’s run to its fifth consecutive gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Second-team All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson played for Team USA’s C team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and was captain of that team. The United States failed to medal, ultimately losing to Oklahoma City Thunder’s First-team All-NBA Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the bronze medal game. Philadelphia 76ers All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey, struggling and injury-prone Memphis Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant, and 2024 Olympic and NBA champion Derrick White, who will be 33, are all considered potential candidates for the Los Angeles games.
Henderson is among the wild cards that could be retained. He is joined by Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (1st pick in the 2021 NBA draft), Team USA 2024 star player Steph Curry (40 years old), Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs and Atlanta Hawks All-Star offensive-only point guard Trae Young.
“Henderson is a talented youngster, and even though he’s coming off a tough rookie year, we’ll see where he is as a player in 2028,” DiFilippo wrote.
Miami Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo, who along with Anthony Davis clearly and badly outplayed starting five Joel Embiid in Paris, is considered by DiFilippo to be the only player guaranteed to participate in the 2028 games. Adebayo, already a three-time All-Star and two-time NBA finalist, would be playing for his third gold medal, and would be only 31 years old.
DiFilippo sees Davis and Embiid, both in their 30s, as potential return candidates. He also believes Oklahoma City Thunder All-Rookie First Team member Chet Holmgren, Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cleveland Cavaliers All-Defensive Team member Evan Mobley are likely to be in the running for the 2028 All-American team.
Jackson, a power forward who just won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award, has emerged as the team’s best center. He’s been awful and has struggled to bounce back against international competition. Holmgren and Mobley clearly have All-Star potential, though neither has earned that honor yet.
Clingan is listed as a wild card at center, along with Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler and Dallas Mavericks All-Rookie Team pick Dereck Lively III.
“Could Clingan, who the Blazers picked seventh overall this year, have a chance to stop Victor Wembanyama?” DiFilippo wondered. “You don’t want to build your entire roster around a team having Wembanyama, but having a big man in the wings who can battle with him wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.”
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