Tea leaves: Andre Drummond unlikely to make Team USA World Cup roster
By Dan Feldman
Andre Drummond – unlike John Wall, Bradley Beal and Paul Millsap – survived the first cut for Team USA’s roster. But that announcement came with bad news for the Pistons center.
Mason Plumlee has been moved from the select team to the main player pool.
Plumlee, who played for Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, will likely make the team ahead of DeMarcus Cousins, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Theoretically, Drummond was competing with Cousins to back up Anthony Davis – but if Plumlee>Cousins, where does that leave Drummond? Especially on a roster with a lot of versatility, questions abound.
Krzyzewski and Jerry Colangelo sought to clear those up today – and reading between the lines, the news is not good for Drummond.
Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News:
"Coach K said he views the center spot independent of the other four, compared to the guard spots and two forward spots being interchangeable"
OK, that means Drummond is competing just with Davis, Cousins and Plumlee. But how many of those four will make the roster?
"Coach K said Anthony Davis will be the starting 5, but hasn’t determined how many true bigs he’ll carry beyond that"
Hopefully, it’s at least three, because if Davis>Plumlee>Cousins, maybe Drummond can pass Cousins. I can’t imagine all four will make it. Heck, it’s possible only one – Davis – will.
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:
"Krzyzewski says Plumlee stood out during Select Team practice, impressed in second half of scrimmage, is “definitely in consideration.”"
"Coach K says Plumlee’s doing “what he did his sr year at Duke, when he was rated the top big in the country.” Says being around KG helped."
Plumlee seemingly has a strong chance. He didn’t get moved up for nothing.
Still, maybe Drummond over Cousins?
"While Coach K is very vague with how he evaluates Drummond, he’s certainly more definitive in praise of DeMarcus Cousins and M. Plumlee"
"Krzyzewski is much more effusive in his praise of Cousins than Drummond, mentions Drummond’s age multiple times."
"Krzyzewski seems to be going out of his way to praise DeMarcus Cousins on this call."
"Coach K doesn’t say how many Cs will go to Spain, but sounds like it’ll be either Davis, Cousins & Plumlee or Davis, Cousins or Plumlee."
Can’t we say something positive about Drummond?
"Coach K on @AndreDrummondd : “Whether he’s on the team right now, we want him on USA basketball going forward because he’s an up and comer.”"
That’s nice to hear, but it also sounds familiar. Where have I heard that sentiment before?
Via Ben Standig of CSN Washington:
"I feel confident that he will part of that future because he’s an outstanding talent."
"I believe we’ll here from him in the future also."
That’s Colangelo on Beal and Wall – two players who’ve already been cut.
I haven’t completely given up hope for Drummond. He survived the first cut and can impress in practice in Chicago. But the odds appear heavily stacked against him.
Hopefully, by 2016, keeping him of the Olympic roster won’t even be a reasonable option.