Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond, Gordon Hayward likely next three Team USA cuts

Apr 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports /

Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond and Gordon Hayward always seemed like long shots to make the final 12-man Team USA roster for the FIBA World Cup, so it’s not surprising that Tim Bontemps of the New York Post is reporting that the three young players are likely the next cuts from the team.

After being around the team this week, seems like Lillard, Drummond, Hayward will likely be the first three cuts.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 21, 2014

Lillard is really getting the short end of the stick here. While there’s a strong argument to be made that he’s better than Kyrie Irving, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski coached the Cleveland Cavaliers point guard at Duke and is likely influenced by his relationship with Irving. Also, Team USA has gone so far out of its way to constantly praise Rose this summer that they can’t really cut him, which Bontemps suggests.

@SherwoodStrauss I think they have backed themselves into a corner re: Rose. Unless he chooses to back out he is going no matter what.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) August 21, 2014

Drummond will likely be cut because he doesn’t have the talent level of DeMarcus Cousins or the Duke connection that Mason Plumlee has. Both Plumee and Cousins are also fighting for the backup center spot behind Anthony Davis.