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NBA rumors: Warriors grooming Steve Kerr replacement, Trae Young’s Team USA debacle, Siakam trade chatter

By Ian Levy

May 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr at a press conference during game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr at a press conference during game four of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 06: Trae Young #22 of the 2019 USA Men’s Select Team attends a practice session at the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team World Cup minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on August 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 06: Trae Young #22 of the 2019 USA Men’s Select Team attends a practice session at the 2019 USA Basketball Men’s National Team World Cup minicamp at the Mendenhall Center at UNLV on August 6, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

NBA rumors: Trae Young already burned his Team USA bridges

Team USA will be attempting a run to a FIBA World Cup title with a roster heavy on NBA role players. The biggest names often sit out World Cup years, saving their energy for Olympic summers but this roster, headlined by Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson, seems decidedly short on flash and star power.

Trae Young is not on the roster and in a recent appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast he made clear that this was not because he wasn’t interested, it’s because he wasn’t invited:

"“I would love to play with guys and show off my passing and not have to go out and score a lot and just be there if they need me to. I’d be happy to, obviously, I’d love to play, but I respect the OGs and understand you need to take your turn, but I believe that I should be on there.”"

Young has been a part of Team USA just once before, winning a gold medal with the team during the 2016 U18 Americas Championship. This was before his freshman season in college and he was on a roster loaded with future NBA talents — Mo Bamba, Markelle Fultz, Jarrett Allen, Hamidou Diallo, Kevin Huerter, Michael Porter Jr. and P.J. Washington.

He didn’t really stand out among all that talent, shooting 7-of-34 from the field and 5-of-21 from beyond the arc, with just 16 assists across five games. And, according to Tim McMahon on a recent episode of the Hoop Collective podcast, that previous tournament may have been why he hasn’t gotten another chance: “I also heard at one point a question was presented to Trae Young something along the lines of ‘Are you ever going to go over a bleeping screen?’”

Young is an NBA star but clearly functions best in a situation with massive offensive responsibility and a roster built around his skills. Effort aside, the collaborative environment of Team USA doesn’t seem like it would play to his strengths. His burgeoning reputation as an unpleasant teammate certainly isn’t helping his case either. And, sevenish years after the question was asked — no, he still hasn’t gone over a single bleeping screen.

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