Paul Millsap was one of three players officially released from the USA Basketball national team Tuesday, the organization announced. The Hawks’ All-Star forward was cut along with the Wizards’ John Wall and Bradley Beal. With the loss of the Pacers’ Paul George to a broken leg in the Las Vegas training camp last week the roster is down to 16 players.
Hawks guard Kyle Korver remains on the team that will begin a training camp in Chicago on Aug. 14. The camp will include an exhibition game against Brazil on Aug. 16.
Millsap was a late addition to the roster after being named last month to replace the Timberwolves’ Kevin Love.
“We had an excellent training camp in Las Vegas and each player gave a great effort and deserves recognition and thanks for his commitment and hard work,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said in a statement. “We’ve said all along that we would be proud to have any of the players who were in Las Vegas represent USA Basketball and the United States. This phase of the selection process was extremely difficult and very thorough, and it’s worth again mentioning that we are looking to select the best team, which are not necessarily the best players.”
Along with Korver, the roster currently consists of DeMarcus Cousins (Kings), Stephen Curry (Warriors). Anthony Davis (Pelicans), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Andre Drummond (Pistons), Kevin Durant (Thunder), Kenneth Faried (Nuggets), James Harden (Rockets), Gordon Hayward (Jazz), Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Chandler Parsons (Mavericks), Derrick Rose (Bulls) and Klay Thompson (Warriors). Mason Plumlee (Nets) was added from the select team.
Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday that Korver remains in contention for a spot on the final roster.
“Kyle can be a specialist for the team in that he is one of the great 3-point shooters,” Krzyzewski said in a conference call. “And really the oldest guy in the group he could give us some veteran leadership. He is in contention. He played for Tom (Thibodeau, Bulls head and USA assistant coach), so Tom knows him even better. He had a really good week (in Las Vegas).”
USA Basketball will also hold a final camp in New York. The camps will be used to decide the 12-man U.S. roster that will compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup that will be held in Spain starting Aug. 30. That roster must be set by Aug. 29. The U.S. will try to secure an automatic berth in the 2016 Olympics.
