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 had 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 had 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 practising at UNLV in preparation for the Olympics.
With Leonard now withdrawing, it leaves a void within the workforce. Regardless of Leonard’s harm historical past when he’s on the ground and wholesome he’s nonetheless among the finest two-way gamers within the league. A Defensive Participant of the 12 months winner in 2014 and 2015, Leonard would have been one of the best defender on Group USA alongside Jrue Vacation.
Group USA has a call to make relating to its closing choice and if the rumors of it being Derrick White are true, they may get one other defensive star. White is coming off of an outstanding championship season the place his sacrifices all year long may pay dividends if chosen. In years previous, Group USA at instances has struggled defending and would win video games by merely making an attempt to outscore each workforce 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 levels of quarters or video games in the event that they want a defensive cease.
White can also be the kind of participant you should use in a number of roles if it’s protection he’ll be as much as the duty, he additionally gained’t complain about not lack of enjoying time and may play in a pinch if wanted. He can area the ground with one of the best of them taking pictures 39.6% from deep this previous season. White could 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 workforce, 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. Just 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 if you happen to depend 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 making an attempt to win gold with Group USA.
