In keeping with The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Joe Vardon, Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Group USA for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Group USA for the Paris Olympics and will likely be changed, sources inform me and @joevardon. Boston’s Derrick White is a robust candidate to switch Leonard on Group USA, sources mentioned. pic.twitter.com/OlgwcDb012
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2024
In January, Group USA launched its preliminary 41-player pool of candidates for the upcoming Olympic Video games, and 4 Celtics have been listed within the report: Jayson Tatum, Jrue Vacation, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White. Nonetheless, when Group USA finalized its preliminary roster, solely Tatum and Vacation have been chosen to characterize the USA.
The preliminary roster had one spot open because it was unsure whether or not or not Kawhi Leonard can be able to go. After making the journey to Las Vegas, Leonard and the remainder of Group USA started working towards at UNLV in preparation for the Olympics.
With Leonard now withdrawing, it leaves a void within the staff. Regardless of Leonard’s harm historical past when he’s on the ground and wholesome he’s nonetheless probably the greatest two-way gamers within the league. A Defensive Participant of the Yr winner in 2014 and 2015, Leonard would have been the perfect defender on Group USA alongside Jrue Vacation.
Group USA has a choice to make concerning its remaining choice and if the rumors of it being Derrick White are true, they are going to get one other defensive star. White is coming off of an exceptional championship season the place his sacrifices all year long may pay dividends if chosen. In years previous, Group USA at occasions has struggled defending and would win video games by merely attempting to outscore each staff and play little protection. With White at 6’4, he provides Steve Kerr the choice to place him on different groups opposing star guards. Or he can play the backcourt of Vacation and White within the closing phases of quarters or video games in the event that they want a defensive cease.
White can be the kind of participant you need to use in a number of roles if it’s protection he’ll be as much as the duty, he additionally received’t complain about not lack of enjoying time and might play in a pinch if wanted. He can house the ground with the perfect of them taking pictures 39.6% from deep this previous season. White may be one other ball-handler if want be.
UPDATE: Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach is reporting that Derrick White has been added to Group USA’s roster.
Derrick White has been added to the US nationwide staff, a league supply confirms. Now 25 % of the Paris Olympics squad is Celtics.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 10, 2024
After the addition of Derrick White, 25% of Group USA is represented by the Boston Celtics. Lately Jayson Tatum mentioned in an interview that he would take his present Celtics over Group USA, now he’s joined by two extra, a 3rd in case you rely Payton Pritchard who’s on the Choose Group.
After already signing an extension with Boston, White will now look so as to add some gold to his cupboard and can look to do it subsequent to his teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Vacation.
White is contemporary off of signing a four-year extension with Boston and now can look so as to add to an already a powerful summer season by attempting to win gold with Group USA.
