Team Canada has officially announced its 20 training camp invites for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and over the next few weeks will be narrowing it down to the final 12-man roster.
Maybe sooner actually? Now that I look at it, the Olympics are slightly over a month away.
Looked it up! I guess it will only be finalized shortly before the tournament.
Nevertheless, here is who I would put on the final roster if I had full control.
Here’s my thing. I am going stricly for the dub.
Initially looking at this list, it made me excited but also a little sad.
Excited because this potential roster looks awesome, but a little sad because some team Canada staples like Melvin Ejim and the Scrubb brothers could finally be phased out after all they have done for Canada basketball.
However, Team USA ain’t playing no games with the roster they’re bringing out, so we shouldn’t either.
Starting Lineup
Backcourt
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray
This one’s easy.
This is one of the best backcourt combinations that you could create in the world.
These are two young, big, athletic guards who can score the ball with anyone.
SGA finished second in MVP voting this past year behind the three-time winner, Nikola Jokic. SGA has the ability to be the best player on the court in any given matchup, and that is huge in basketball.
Speaking of Jokic, his running mate Murray is an all-star caliber player who has yet to receive the honours officially.
Murray can play as an off-ball shooter and spacer, and can create a shot out of nowhere.
If you need a bucket, there are few better options than these two in the world right now.
Frontcourt
Dillon Brooks, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk
This is where the team starts to struggle a bit.
Brooks and Barrett were fantastic in the World Cup, but are definitely undersized.
Brooks can guard up, and his tenacity defensively will be much needed in this tournament.
Barrett became a different man as soon as he came to Toronto. In the 2023-2024 season, Barrett’s numbers shot up after the trade. He saw his field goal percentage increase from 42.3% to 55.3%, which is absolutely absurd.
His three-point percentage also climbed from 33.1% to 39.2%. This would be huge for Team Canada, if Barrett can continue this level of play for the Nation this summer.
The center position is where there becomes a bit of a drop-off. Canada has never produced a fantastic big. Olivier Rioux could be coming to change that. I’m excited to see how he looks at Florida this year, now listed at 7-9.
As for now, we have another Raptor, Kelly Olynyk.
I think Olynyk is a solid backup big. A good shooter, passer, physical player, but just doesn’t have the size and strength to battle the top centers in the league. Then again, who does.
Bench
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Andrew Nembhard, Luguentz Dort, Andrew Wiggins, Dwight Powell
I think this is where Team Canada will have a massive advantage.
We just went over their starters, and yes they are awesome, but this bench lineup will be better than the majority of team’s starters.
Team USA is the only other squad who can throw out a bench full of NBA players, and not just any NBA players, real quality rotation level players.
Final 2 Spots
Zach Edey, Oshae Brissett
This was a really difficult decision.
I was heavily debating between these two and Trey Lyles, and as much as Lyles may be better than each of these two, this is ultimately why i made the decision.
Both Brissett and Edey give you tools that you can utilize in specific situations.
Lyles is a really solid shooter, but if we’re hitting the point of needing our 11th/12th man to provide the scoring, I don’t think the game is going to look too pretty.
Edey gets some experience at a high level after likely being a lottery pick in this upcoming draft. He is just a massive presence, and as we’ve discussed before, the center position and size is the one area that this team struggles in.
As much as I don’t believe Edey plays a ton of rotation minutes, I could see Canada needing to turn to him to play Center if Powell and Olynyk are getting outmatched defensively or on the glass.
Brissett with his energy, defense and rebounding could also be used if we are getting outmatched size wise.
Even the wings on Team Canada are more shooting guard level height, and we are forced to play them at the three and the four.
Team USA has some massive wings, and I do think that you have to build your roster with them in mind just a bit.
Brissett coming off a championship season, where I know he didn’t do much, could be a worthwhile add to throw in at the end of the bench.
To sum it up, here is my personal hope for the roster.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander / Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Jamal Murray / Andrew Nembhard
RJ Barrett / Luguentz Dort
Dillon Brooks / Andrew Wiggins / Oshae Brissett
Kelly Olynyk / Dwight Powell / Zach Edey
