Although it appeared tougher than expected at times, Team USA ended up cruising to another gold medal at this year's Olympics in Rio. What could their performance in the international game against teams with only as many as 5 NBA players mean when they face up against teams made entirely of players from the world's premier basketball league? Here's a look.
Stock Up:
Carmelo Anthony
Melo finished his Olympic career as the most decorated player in U.S. men's basketball history, as he became the first player to win three Olympic gold medals and the program's all-time leader in games played and points scored. However, for all his success on the international stage, Melo is still searching for that elusive Larry O'Brien trophy. Melo's play in the Olympics has shown that he can thrive when surrounded by top-flight complementary talent, the likes of which he hasn't had on his teams at this point through his NBA career. This offseason the Knicks made several big name acquisitions in Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, and Brandon Jennings after drafting the promising Kristaps Porzingis last summer. They don't have to be superstars but the question the Knicks face is whether this core can complement Melo well enough to get the Knicks in position to contend for the All-Star small forward's first NBA title.
Kyrie Irving
After winning the MVP award at the 2014 FIBA World Championships, Irving continued his stellar international play in Rio. From the killer crossovers and hesitations to the clutch shots, his whole game was on display for the world to see. He even shined in one area critics have bashed him for over the years: passing. Kyrie was able to show off his playmaking ability, dishing out dimes like this on his way to an efficient 3.55 assist-to-turnover ratio. Irving's elite scoring and playmaking ability will prove more and more pivotal for the Cavs as Lebron ages and cedes a larger load to him, especially during the regular season. The continued growth of Kyrie Irving will only make the Cavs more dangerous as they look to go back-to-back.
Kevin Durant
Durant once again showed that he is at his best when surrounded by elite talent and as a result we have an idea what he might look like when he takes the court with Golden State next season. He led team USA in scoring with 19.4 points per game on efficient 57% shooting from the field and a scorching 58% from three-point range. For all the arguments that Durant won't be able to match his gaudy scoring averages, his display on the international stage has shown that he can get 30+ points on a relatively small amount of shots. The attention drawn by Durant's new teammates in Golden State should provide him with much cleaner looks and efficient high-scoring nights.
Stock Down:
Draymond Green
Despite his versatile skill set, Green was only able to get on the court for 9.9 minutes a game during the Olympics and was never able to build rhythm. As he's shown throughout his career, Green is at his best with the ball in his hands creating for others and himself rather than being a spot-up shooter. Durant's move to Golden State ultimately means Green will have the ball in his hands less often. It remains to be seen whether he'll be able to make the same impact with Durant taking away some of his chances to be a distributor.
Klay Thompson
Thompson had some frigid shooting stretches in Rio, finishing the tournament shooting just 36% from the field and 32% from three. Whether it was the decreased volume of minutes or shot attempts he saw, Thompson wasn't able to build a consistent rhythm. Although he said Durant coming to Golden State wouldn't change anything about his game, he almost certainly won't be taking the 17.3 field goal attempts he was last year without number 35 on his team. Even if their roles are slightly adjusted, the way Klay and Draymond handle change could have a major impact on Golden State's title chances.
Harrison Barnes
After struggling mightily in the NBA Finals and being unceremoniously dumped by the Warriors in their pursuit for Kevin Durant, Harrison Barnes looked to turn things around in Rio. Unfortunately he was no more than a glorified practice player, appearing in just four of Team USA's eight games, playing a total of 32 minutes, and scoring 17 points. For someone hailed as a 3-and-D player on a USA team that had struggles with shooting and perimeter defense, Barnes' inability to get on the floor is concerning. However, his opportunities will be far more plentiful in Dallas this season after they signed him to a max contract. If Barnes' can play up to his potential, the Mavericks have a chance to be a playoff threat in the West once again.
