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Chandler Parsons will not be joining Team USA in Spain for the FIBA World Cup, as the coaches announce he was one of the final four cuts on the roster.
Parsons, Gordon Hayward, Kyle Korver and Damian Lillard all will be staying home, narrowing the Team USA roster down to 12 players.
USAB trims roster ahead of World Cup -- Lillard, Korver, Hayward, Parsons left off final 12 -- http://t.co/tnbmqdX8LF pic.twitter.com/badtPrW8M3
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 23, 2014
Even with Coach K's decision to bring all four centers, there was still room for a zone-busting 3-point shooter on the wings. Instead, the Team USA staff opted for DeMar DeRozan, who had an excellent scrimmage on Wednesday.
Although there's plenty of shooting from the guards (Curry, Thompson, Irving), this is a departure from the previous Team USA squads that preferred stretch forwards and smaller lineups. Instead, with the loss of Kevin Durant and Paul George, it appears this year's team will play it more "straight up" with two natural power fowards, Anthony Davis and Kenneth Faried, getting most of the minutes next to a true center.
A big part of why I predicted Parsons would make the squad was based on those prior Team USA preferences -- after all the departures, I figured his ability to shoot the three and play the four would be invaluable. But considering Korver and Hayward also got left off, this certainly appears that this year's strategy will be different from what we see in the past.
Fortunately, this gives Parsons plenty of time to enjoy the rest of his summer and hang with his new boo, Kendall Jenner.
Apparently Coach K doesn't believe in handsome basketball.
— Mary (@marysjudgingyou) August 23, 2014