HoopsHype.com Rumors

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says he doesn’t plan to replace Chauncey Billups on the Olympic team’s training camp roster, even though the veteran guard likely won’t be healthy enough to participate. Billups will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the Los Angeles Clippers’ overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday. He told Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski that doctors said he’ll need six to nine months to recover. Even the shortest timeframe would extend well beyond Team USA’s deadline to set its 12-man roster for the London Olympics. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Jerry Colangelo, Chauncey Billups, USA Basketball 

Billups is one of 20 players on a camp roster that also includes Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Eric Gordon, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams. Billups helped the U.S. win the 2010 world championships. “I really feel terrible for him in every way,” Colangelo said about Billups. “Not just for the Olympics, but because it is career threatening. There is no guarantee we’d replace him [on the roster]. My gut tells me probably not. “We have a lot of guards. I will check with coach [Mike Krzyzewski], but probably not.” Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Clippers, Jerry Colangelo, Chauncey Billups, USA Basketball 

John Canzano: Aldridge said he wants to play for @USABasketball this summer in London. "It should be perfect for me... that's a big honor." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, USA Basketball, LaMarcus Aldridge 

The exhibition game between Spain and the United States will be played in Barcelona on July 24, three days before the start of the Olympic Games in London. Ara

USA Basketball, Spain 

Rubio asked Bryant if he would be there with Team USA. Bryant said yes, so then the Wolves rookie made a prediction: "You know you're getting the silver medal," Rubio said. "You know that." Meaning, of course, that Spain would win the gold. A brash statement? Perhaps. But not outlandish: Spain won the 2006 title at the World Basketball Championships. In the 2008 Beijing Games, Rubio and Gasol were part of a team that lost 118-107 to the Americans in the final. "I'm taking bets," Bryant responded. "If I win, I get the keys to Barcelona." Responded Rubio: "I bet what you want." Bryant: "I'll take it." All good-natured trash-talking, of course. "We'll see what's going to happen," Rubio said Monday. "It's going to be good. I mean, we have pretty good players. We'll be a pretty good team." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kobe Bryant, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain 

There is a good chance Wolves forward Kevin Love will be on the U.S. team. He already has promised to put Rubio on his behind should he come down the lane on him in England. "I've been told by a few people not to get too friendly with him," Love said. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain, Kevin Love 

Kobe Bryant to Ricky Rubio and Pau Gasol: You talking about London? Gasol: Oh yeah. Rubio: You're gonna be there? Bryant Yeah. Rubio: You know you're getting the silver medal. You know that. Bryant: [expletive]. I'm taking bets! [laughs] If I win I get the keys of Barcelona. Rubio: I bet what you want. Bryant: I take it! Marca.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain 

Having seen promising young guard Rodrigue Beaubois go down playing for France and now seeing face of the franchise Dirk Nowitzki nursing an injury and out of Dallas' lineup after playing for Germany, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said he will continue the uphill battle to make international basketball off limits to handsomely paid NBA players. Cuban has argued that NBA owners should not be saddled with the full risk of their players suiting up for their countries in the offseason, and he said other owners agree with him but aren't as vocal in their opposition. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Rodrigue Beaubois, Mark Cuban, USA Basketball, David Stern, France, Germany 

"It's just the epitome of stupidity that we would allow ourselves to be used so other corporations" -- as Cuban calls the Olympics -- "can make tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars," Cuban said. "There's some guys sitting at the Olympic headquarters going, 'Those dumb-asses, we're taking all their best guys for nothing.' " ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, USA Basketball, David Stern 

Cuban knows he's unlikely to bring change to the system, but he said he will continue "fighting so that we'll pull out." Cuban has repeatedly voiced his displeasure to NBA commissioner David Stern, but his complaints have fallen on deaf ears. He said he tried to make it a topic of discussion during the collective bargaining agreement negotiations over the summer, but that attempt also failed. "The commissioner's office won't open it up to discussion. They just make a unilateral call," Cuban said Monday. "They'll take calls about it, but won't put it up for a vote. Hopefully, I can get him to move it to a vote at some point." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, USA Basketball, David Stern 

There might be some pressure on Irving of another kind later this year. Irving, who was born in Australia, must make a decision on whether he wants to play for the Australian Olympic team in London or hold out for a possible Team USA bid in the future. The catch is if Irving joins Australia this year he might not ever be able to play for the U.S. in an Olympics. James said he doesn’t know enough about the situation to offer Irving any advice. But Irving, who played at Duke under Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski, said he will seek out Krzyzewski for advice. “Most likely I’ll talk to him in the next month or so," Irving said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida. “Right now, it’s preliminary talks (Irving is having with Australia). I’m keeping my options open." FOXSports Florida

Cleveland Cavaliers, USA Basketball, Australia, Kyrie Irving 

Because Irving played for Team USA in the 2010 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, he would need to get a waiver from FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, to be eligible for Australia. “It’s a bit complicated, if I do decide to do it," said Irving, who said he isn’t leaning any particular way now. While Irving isn’t under consideration for Team USA for the 2012 Olympics in London, he would be a strong candidate for the 2014 World Championships and 2016 Olympics. But USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said he doesn’t plan to try to persuade Irving to stick with the U.S. “He’s a terrific young prospect," Colangelo said by phone. “He has to do what’s in his best interests. He certainly would be in our mix going forward (if Irving waits for Team USA consideration). I would never try to sway him if he wanted to to play (for Australia) and he thought it was in his best interests." FOXSports Florida

Cleveland Cavaliers, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Australia, Kyrie Irving 

Told what Colangelo said, Irving said he’s going to remain patient in the process. “Oh, absolutely, I want to be in the mix with any team," Irving said. “But right now I’m not going to limit myself to just one team." FOXSports Florida

Cleveland Cavaliers, USA Basketball, Australia, Kyrie Irving 

It didn’t help that Rondo’s lack of perimeter shooting was frowned upon by coach Mike Krzyzewski, and he was passed over for Rose, Deron Williams, and Chauncey Billups. But it seems odd that he won’t be given the opportunity to at least try out for the team, since he is considered among the top five NBA point guards. Asked if he would have liked the chance, Rondo said, “I just want to see how the season goes. I represent the Celtics, that’s why I’m here. It would obviously be an honor, but it’s not even in my thought process right now.’’ Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo, FIBA, USA Basketball, Team USA, Olympics 

Durant and teammate Russell Westbrook recently were selected as two of 20 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. Two summers ago, both helped lead the USA to its first gold medal in the FIBA World Championship since 1994, and both have a good chance to make the final 12-man roster when it is announced later this year. Durant already is looking forward to it. “I'm excited, man,” Durant said. “It's a great feeling. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to represent my country. Hopefully, I get picked for the team. That's something I always thought about as a youngster is representing my country in the Olympics. So hopefully my name is called.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, USA Basketball 

Durant was then asked what it would be like to face teammate Serge Ibaka, who is expected to compete for Spain in London after being granted Spanish citizenship. “Serge talks a lot of trash about Spain,” Durant said. “So hopefully we get to play those guys. It'll be fun playing against my teammate, though. He's worked so hard to be a part of that great national team over there and hopefully I get a chance to do the same.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, USA Basketball, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Kevin Love joins Bosh and Griffin in this group. But you know what? It probably doesn't matter how you label them, because the likelihood is that all three are going. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Kevin Love 

Colangelo and Krzyzewski know they're going to need frontcourt depth in this tournament, given the switch from the international trapezoid to the NBA lane as well as the size that Spain in particular possesses thanks to the Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka. This particular trio, in support of Howard, would give Coach K every conceivable kind of big man: Bosh as the international vet with a good face-up game who has grown quite accustomed to, uh, blending in with big names at his day job; Love as the rebound machine who has legit 3-point range; Griffin as the superfreak athlete who figures to be a cornerstone of the 2016 team and thus would benefit greatly from being drafted into the program ASAP. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Spain, Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka 

"The international game is a little bit different … so versatility on defense is essential. Like in the 2008 Olympics, [Chris] Bosh did an amazing job at the center position. However, things change. The lane has changed. I think that's the most important thing to consider. There's no longer the trapezoid; it's the NBA lane. So there may be more low-post play than there has been in the past for international competition." Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski, sharing some of the factors involved in deciding how many centers and power forwards to take the Summer Olympics in London in addition to his one lock big man: Orlando's Dwight Howard. ESPN.com

Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and likely starting forward LeBron James both have predicted it will be fair to compare the 2012 Olympic team to the 1992 Dream Team. Gasol begs to differ. “I wouldn’t say that,’’ Gasol said. FOXSports Florida

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, USA Basketball, Spain