Chart: Canada's possible roster for 2015 FIBA Americas tournament

January 15, 2015 at 3:21AM
San Antonio Spurs' Cory Joseph in action during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) ORG XMIT: OTKMS232
San Antonio Spurs' Cory Joseph in action during an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) ORG XMIT: OTKMS232 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Canada must qualify this summer to return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 16 years, this time in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for 2016. If they get there, it will be with a roster that's young but promising because of its NBA pedigrees. Here's a possible lineup it could present at the 2015 FIBA Americas tournament in Mexico:

SF: Andrew Wiggins
Timberwolves

• Just like the Wolves, the Canadian program is hitching itself to Wiggins' ascending star and awaiting a ride for the next decade or more. "There's always been a lot of talent in Canada," Wiggins said. "It's just the fact that now we're getting noticed, like America."

PF: Tristan Thompson Cleveland

• At age 23, he's something of Team Canada's old man, particularly alongside 19-year-old Wiggins. "First of all, it makes me feel old," he said. "Second, it makes me feel honored to be part of something special."

C: Kelly Olynyk
Boston

• Forget the unruly hair, he's an effective stretch 5 — a center who take his man away from the basket — whom Flip Saunders targeted with the Wolves' 14th pick they ultimately used to take Shabazz Muhammad in 2013.

PG: Cory Joseph
San Antonio

• Fourth-year pro and former late first-round pick knows something about winning as member of the defending champion Spurs, but he doesn't sound sold on his Canada team just yet. "We've got a lot of talent, but we know we haven't done anything yet," he said. "We've got a lot of good names on paper, but we've got to put it together."

SG: Nik Stauskas
Sacramento

• It probably won't be a helpful factor should Canada return to the Summer Olympics in Rio, but his northern upbringing improved his ballhandling, thanks to winter play wearing gloves on his family's back-yard court. "The ball doesn't bounce too much when it gets cold, so it helped," he said.

Bench PF Anthony Bennett, Timberwolves; PF Andrew Nicholson, Orlando; C Robert Sacre, L.A. Lakers; PG Tyler Ennis, Phoenix; PF/C Joel Anthony, Detroit; PF Dwight Powell, Boston.


Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas, of Canada, right, drives against Toronto Raptors forward Jordan Hamilton during the fourth quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. The Kings won 113-106. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ORG XMIT: SCA109
Sacramento Kings guard Nik Stauskas, of Canada, right, drives against Toronto Raptors forward Jordan Hamilton during the fourth quarter of an NBA preseason basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. The Kings won 113-106. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) ORG XMIT: SCA109 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson, right, moves to the basket for a shot as Orlando Magic's Andrew Nicholson (44) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, April 2, 2014. (AP Photo/John Raoux) ORG XMIT: DOA
Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson, right, moves to the basket for a shot as Orlando Magic's Andrew Nicholson (44) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, April 2, 2014. (AP Photo/John Raoux) ORG XMIT: DOA (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Andrew Wiggins (22) drove to the basket in the first quarter. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, January 5, 2015, Minneapolis, Minn., Target Center, NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets
Andrew Wiggins (22) drove to the basket in the first quarter. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com, January 5, 2015, Minneapolis, Minn., Target Center, NBA, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) makes a move to the hoop past Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) ORG XMIT: MAEA103
Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) makes a move to the hoop past Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) ORG XMIT: MAEA103 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

More from Wolves

See More
card image
Courtesy of the Timberwolves

The Wolves sent out season ticket renewals on Wednesday, Jan. 21, and there is bound to be some sticker shock.

card image
card image