Team USA Basketball Names 14 Veterans And 14 New Players To National Pool; Who Will Make The Final Cut For Spain?

Team USA Basketball through Coach K and his brain thrust has released the names of 28 players tasked to continue the American dominance of the sport.

The 28 players consisted of 14 players who have donned the national colors before and 14 new names that have yet to join the senior men's team.

ESPN explains: "The pool, chosen by USAB chairman Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski. (The same pair) will choose 12-man rosters for both the World Cup, which starts in late August, and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil."

The 28 man pool has 11 players from the London Olympics Gold Medal team in 2012, with Kobe Bryant the only exclusion. Bryant was quoted in Sporting News mentioning to Coach K that "You probably won't want to play me" with regards to the 2016 Olympics. Bryant will be 38 years old that year.

The full line-up, from USA Basketball:

"Returning to the USA National Team for 2014-16 are three-time Olympic medalists and two-time Olympic gold medalists Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) and LeBron James (Miami Heat); two-time Olympic gold medalists Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets); 2012 Olympic gold medalists Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); Kevin Durant(Oklahoma City Thunder); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Andre Iguodala (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); 2008 Olympic gold medalistDwight Howard (Houston Rockets), as well as Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), who was originally named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team roster but was unable to participate because of an injury.

Returning to national team roster after capturing gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship are Chandler,Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Durant, Iguodala, Love, Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), and Westbrook.

Completing the USA National Team roster are NBA standouts LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers);Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz);Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks); David Lee (Golden State Warriors); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)."

Notable exceptions were Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat. Both are entering free agency this summer and are expected to prioritize their personal matters.

Among the new players, the centers would have an advantage to make the team as the London team did not have a legitimate center save for Tyson Chandler. Team USA struggled in stretches against tall teams, specifically Spain in the gold medal game, which was highlighted by the Gasol brothers. Either Andre Drummond or DeMarcus Cousins would man the slot, and Anthony Davis is also a probable shoo-in. Of course, health will be a factor in determining the final roster.

The team is also placing a premium on outside shooting, an integral part of the international game. One of the known shooters (Thompson, Korver, Hayward, Curry, Beal) will make it.

For the superstars of the league, they choose to join the Olympics more than the FIBA Worlds(a trait not shared by most of the world). Thus, the team going to Spain will likely consist of more than half of the 14 newbies, and it would serve as an 'audition' for the final lineup at the 2016 Olympics.