HoopsHype.com Rumors

Gasol confirmed that he will indeed captain his Spanish National team in the 2012 London Olympics, and would obviously love another shot at the gold medal, perhaps against Kobe and Team USA. Lakers.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Spain, Team USA 

Brian Mahoney: Pop was angry that Colangelo's explanation for choosing Coach K made it sound a bit like Pop wasn't interested in the job. Twitter

Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Brian Mahoney: Pop maintained he said he'd be honored but never heard anything about it again. Either way, Krzyzewski has been good and so would Pop. Twitter

Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Of course Doug Collins, with his history as an Olympian on the cheated 1972 U.S. team, and his connection with Krzyzewski through his son, Chris, the Duke assistant, would be an outstanding choice if interested. So would Rick Carlisle. So would North Carolina's Roy Williams or Michigan State's Tom Izzo, if Colangelo decided to go the college coach route again. But Popovich is head and shoulders above anyone else. And he's due. "I just think it's his turn," a veteran coach with vast international experience said of Popovich Sunday. "I like Coach K, but I thought it was (Popovich's) turn before. There's no doubt in my mind that Pop should be the coach. He's earned the right." NBA.com

Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Were the U.S. team's terrible showings in '02 and '04 -- the impetus, after all, for bringing Colangelo in the next year and giving him the power to unilaterally pick future teams -- held against Popovich? (A source close to James said Sunday that James thinks "very highly" of Popovich, echoing public statements James has made, and would have no problem playing for Popovich in future international competitions.) Or is there some other reason -- or someone else that Popovich has rubbed the wrong way? NBA.com

LeBron James, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Popovich will never talk about this, but there are enough people who will. They make it clear that the Air Force Academy graduate, who spent five years on active duty for his country after graduating, and captained the Armed Forces team that won the 1972 AAU championship -- earning an invitation to try out for the '72 Olympic team in the process -- was terribly hurt when he didn't get the call after Brown. NBA.com

Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Reached Sunday for further comment, Colangelo demurred, saying via text he didn't want to talk further about the coaching search. "It is best to wait until after the Olympics," he said in the text. NBA.com

Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Featuring nine players owning USA Basketball experience, including the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up John Wall, USA Basketball today announced 13 players for the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that will train against the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev. USA Basketball

John Wall, USA Basketball, Las Vegas, Team USA, Kyrie Irving 

Named to the 2012 USA Basketball Select squad were: Ryan Anderson (Orlando Magic / California); DeJuan Blair (San Antonio Spurs / Pittsburgh); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings / Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors / USC); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz / Georgia Tech); Paul George (Indiana Pacers / Fresno State); Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls / USC); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz / Butler); Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers / Duke); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs / San Diego State); Jeremy Lin (New York Knicks / Harvard); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors / Washington State); and Wall (Washington Wizards / Kentucky). USA Basketball

USA Basketball, Team USA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: For those discussing next Team USA coach, it should be Gregg Popovich. That won't happen, though, because of a poor relationship with Jerry Colangelo. tmi.me

San Antonio Spurs, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, Team USA 

Mike Krzyzewski loves Derrick Rose. He would have loved coaching him even more this summer. "I love Derrick," Krzyzewski said Monday at the Team USA media summit. "He helped us win a world championship in Istanbul. He's our starting point guard. I thought he grew a lot from that experience. He's somebody in the future I know will be a point guard for our Olympic team". Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Olympic Games 

Marc Stein: At Olympic press conference in Dallas, Coach K announces that "this is the last time" he plans to coach Team USA in international comp Twitter

Coaching, FIBA, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski 

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson will be named to the 2012 USA Select team – the squad that will practice against the U.S Olympic team this summer in preparation for the London Olympics. Mychal Thompson, Klay’s father, told 95.7-FM The Game on Friday that his son had been named to the team, although the announcement is not yet official. An NBA source confirmed Thompson had made the team and also indicated that Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins and New York’s Jeremy Lin would also be part of the Select team. CSNBayArea.com

USA Basketball, Team USA, Klay Thompson 

After Monta Ellis was traded to Milwaukee in mid-March, Thompson became the full-time starter. Thompson, who shot .443 percent from the field and .414 percent from 3-point range, already has been penciled in to start in the backcourt next year with Stephen Curry. “I heard, and I don’t think it’s been officially announced yet, but I heard he’s been invited to the Team USA Select team to practice against the Olympic team in Vegas,” Mychal Thompson said. “So, he’s going to have a busy couple of months here, and that’s good for him. “He’s shown a lot of maturity throughout the season and offseason … and doing a good job of keeping himself focused on what he’s got to do.” Mychal Thompson said Klay will be in Oakland every other week for the next two months, and then Klay will head to Las Vegas in early July. Thompson will also be a part of the Warriors’ summer league team, which will also be in Vegas at that time. CSNBayArea.com

USA Basketball, Team USA, Klay Thompson 

Jeff Zillgitt: USA Basketball will practice for two days in Las Vegas July 6-7, then name 12-man team. Colangelo expects 18 on prelim roster to be there. Twitter

USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics 

Brian Mahoney: Jerry Colangelo says USA Basketball's understanding is that Deron plans to sign at 1st possible moment. Until then, no contact at USA camp. Twitter

Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Sam Amick: As @Jeff Zillgitt reported earlier today, sources confirm that OKC's James Harden will also be added as a Team USA roster finalist. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, USA Basketball, James Harden, Team USA, Olympics 

With injuries to prospective players for Team USA basketball at the Summer Games in London, an intriguing name has emerged for strong consideration as a late addition to the preliminary roster: Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden. It is not official, but Harden likely will be added, possibly as soon as today, USA TODAY Sports learned from a person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. USA Today

Oklahoma City Thunder, USA Basketball, James Harden, Team USA, Olympics 

John Wall has been invited to participate with the Team USA select team that will scrimmage with the Olympic team this summer, USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo confirmed on Thursday. Wall has long stated that one of his goals is representing this country in international competition and being a part of the select team is an important step in being part of the U.S. men’s national team pool. A few months after the Wizards made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, Wall said he would like to like to have a chance, “hopefully soon .” He added that it was “going to take time .” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics 

Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving will have a busy July representing team and country in Las Vegas. The presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year not only will lead the Cavs’ summer league squad, but also help prepare the U.S. Olympic basketball club as it readies for the Summer Olympics in London. USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo confirmed that Irving will receive an invite to participate on the U.S. Select Team, which acts as a sparring partner for the Olympic team and serves as a pool of talent from which future international sides will be drawn. The select squad, comprised of 10 to 14 players, will scrimmage against the Olympic team from July 5-11, a Team USA spokesman said. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics, Kyrie Irving