Blake Griffin, Lamar Odom to get an extra audition for U.S. Olympic team
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo told Chris Tomasson of FoxSports.com that three players — Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, (soon-to-be-former) Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom, and projected No. 1 pick Anthony Davis — were asked to head to Durham, N.C. late next week to work out under U.S. Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.
Davis won’t be able to make it because of draft obligations, but Griffin and Odom will be there to get a head start on the tryout process.
“We told them that it would behoove them to go out there (to Duke),” Colangelo said. “On Blake Griffin, we just felt that the sooner we got a chance to look at him, the better for us. … We want to see how he looks (after his injury). … Lamar Odom, he didn’t play this year.”
With injuries to Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge taking them out of the running, big men will be at a premium for Team USA, which is why the coaching staff wants some extra time with these three. Among the 18 finalists, Tyson Chandler, Chris Bosh and Kevin Love are the only others who could be considered post players.
