Kevin Love in London a near certainty

Timberwolves forward Kevin Love on Friday began the U.S. Olympic team's two-day training camp in Las Vegas, his final step toward being named to play in London later this month.

Fifteen players reported to the Vegas camp. The Americans' final 12-man roster will be announced on NBA TV at 6 p.m. Saturday.

You can bet Love -- a 6-9 power forward whose passing and three-point shooting fit the international game almost perfectly -- will be one of those 12 players named.

If he hadn't been a lock before, he is now that big men Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and LaMarcus Aldridge are out injured and Lamar Odom withdrew his week.

Love; Miami's LeBron James; the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant; New York's Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler; Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook; the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Paul; and Brooklyn's Deron Williams all seem certain to make the team.