Starting a US National Team?

After watching JJ Redick drop 41 points on second ranked Texas in a 31 point Duke win on Saturday I actually felt bad. Not for the Longhorns or more specifically the guy who had to guard Redick. But rather for Redick himself.

You see, JJ might be one of the best shooters in college basketball history but it's not likely that his game will transfer over well to the NBA. If anything he'll be just another three point shooting specialist. Just another Steve Kerr.

Which got me thinking. Why not start a US National Basketball Team that would practice year round and represent the U.S. at the World Championships and in the Olympics? One of the knocks on recent US all star teams that failed to win the Gold medal was that they didn't have enough practice time before competing. Creating a national team as some pundits have suggested would solve that.

The problem however would be in assembling a good enough team since the top players would still be in the NBA. To rectify that problem I have assembled a team of high schoolers, college players, And One Mixed Tape Tour ballers, and NBA benchwarmers that could do more for their country by coming together as a team than they ever could for their individual careers if they stayed on the solo path.

Here's what I came up with. I hope you're listening U.S. Olympic Selection Team.

Guards

1. JJ Redick: A shooter so talented that he made me want to build a team around him just so that he can continue playing at a high level after college. The selection committee has said that they need to assemble a team with several long range threats to adjust to the international game. Carmelo Anthony and his shaking and baking will take a back seat to sharp shooting guards like Redick.

2. Gerry McNamara: Another college star who probably won't be a high draft pick, if he's drafted at all. He's a great shooter though and natural born leader who would be one of my co-captains.

3. Jason Williams: For some players this national team could be an opportunity to prove to NBA teams that they can play in the league. One such player who could benefit greatly from playing on the national team is Duke's former All American, Jason Williams whose NBA career has been stalled by a motorcycle accident. If he's healthy he can have a spot on my team as a showcase for NBA scouts.

4. Reggie Miller: Every team needs a veteran presence to help guide the younger guys. And who better to teach Redick and McNamara than one of the NBA's all time great three point shooters and a guy whose been on Gold medal winning Olympic teams.

5. The Professor: I'm only half kidding about adding this 'And One Mixed Taped Tour' baller but in theory it might not be a bad idea to scour our nation's playgrounds for a ballhandler with great court vision who can handle the point guard position and help to break presses.

Forwards

6. Sheldon Williams: "The Landlord" might be a top ten pick in next year's draft but he's also a guy who could slip because he's a tweener, a guy whose too small to be a center and not atheltic enough to guard forwards. He could have a home though on my team and considering a Duke heavy roster that could be coached by Coach K it makes sense.

7. Eddie Griffin: A former first round draft pick whose bottomed out and ran into off the court problems this is the kind of player who could benefit from a stable situation. The team would benefit from his athleticism if he were added.

8. Randolph Morris: This Kentucky big man was recently ruled ineligible because he signed with an agent last year when he came out for the draft. Like a lot of talented guys who get bad advice he went undrafted and now can't play in college. This is exactly the kind of guy who could find a home on a national team.

9. Ron Artest: I'm looking for an established NBA star to give up his NBA stardom and become the face of USA Basketball. Artest, a perennial defensive player of the year, is such a headcase that he might just come on board.

10. Al Jefferson: This young Celtics forward could be the next Jermaine O'Neal, a guy who skipped college and developed into a big player after a few years of learning via trial by fire. He also could develop while starting on a US National Team.

Centers

11. Andrew Bynum: This young Lakers center also skipped college and is a few years away from starting in the NBA. Why not develop on my team with the Lakers retaining his rights should he chose to go back to the NBA.

12. Jackie Butler: Only 20, this former CBA big man could be a force if he can find his way into Larry Brown's rotation in New York. The problem is that he might sit behind Eddy Curry and Jerome James which means he might benefit from playing on a national team.

With that roster a potential starting lineup could look like this:

PG: McNamara
SG: Redick
SF: Artest
PF: Jefferson
C: Butler

And that's not half bad.