Team USA roster: Who will take the last spot on 2021 Olympics men’s basketball roster?

Team USA has named 11 players to the roster for the 2021 Olympics, but who will get the last spot on the roster?

After three were added to the Team USA roster with Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton earning a spot on the 2021 Olympics squad, there is one spot remaining. But who will get it?

With superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul among the notables saying they won’t play in the Olympics, Kevin Durant, James Harden headline a group that includes Damian Lillard, Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum, among others.

With Olympic basketball rosters limited to 12 players per team, there’s just one final spot remaining. Let’s speculate on the top 3 contenders to claim that last spot.

Possible picks for the last spot on Team USA men’s basketball

3. Zion Williamson, Pelicans

Last but not least, we wouldn’t be surprised if Team USA opted to use its final roster spot on New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson. This past season, the power forward showed why he was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019, posting averages of 27 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in just his second year as a pro. Plus, he would undoubtedly add a strong interior presence to a roster full of players who can shoot from distance. Just 20-years-old, there’s reason to believe he is the future of Team USA, so why not get him into Olympic competition now?

2. Trae Young, Hawks

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young is too busy focusing on the Eastern Conference Finals right now to think about the possibility of going to the Olympics, but he is making a strong case during the NBA playoffs.

Young’s shooting is slightly less efficient than LaVine’s, but his ability to lead his team and win big games is shining through in the Hawks playoff run. He also finished second in the NBA in assists (9.4 per game) in 2021, proving he’s more than capable of setting up the elite scorers already on Team USA.

The biggest question may end up being about fatigue. Young has played 38.3 minutes per game in 12 playoff contests. As it stands, only two other guys on the Team USA roster are still active (Holiday, Middleton) in the playoffs. That said, at 22, he would be one of the youngest players on the roster.

1. Zach LaVine, Bulls

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is coming off the best year of his young career. The 25-year-old averaged 27.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season — all career-highs. LaVine also shot 50.7 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from 3-point range and 84.9 percent from the line in 58 games played. The former UCLA product was also named an NBA All-Star in 2021 for the first time in his career. With the Bulls missing the NBA Playoffs, LaVine is well-rested ahead of a potential Team USA selection.