In response to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Joe Vardon, Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Workforce USA for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Kawhi Leonard is withdrawing from Workforce USA for the Paris Olympics and will probably be changed, sources inform me and @joevardon. Boston’s Derrick White is a powerful candidate to exchange Leonard on Workforce USA, sources stated. pic.twitter.com/OlgwcDb012
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2024
In January, Workforce USA launched its preliminary 41-player pool of candidates for the upcoming Olympic Video games, and 4 Celtics had been listed within the report: Jayson Tatum, Jrue Vacation, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White. Nonetheless, when Workforce USA finalized its preliminary roster, solely Tatum and Vacation had been chosen to signify america.
The preliminary roster had one spot open because it was unsure whether or not or not Kawhi Leonard can be able to go. After making the journey to Las Vegas, Leonard and the remainder of Workforce USA started practising at UNLV in preparation for the Olympics.
With Leonard now withdrawing, it leaves a void within the crew. Regardless of Leonard’s harm historical past when he’s on the ground and wholesome he’s nonetheless the most effective two-way gamers within the league. A Defensive Participant of the Yr winner in 2014 and 2015, Leonard would have been the most effective defender on Workforce USA alongside Jrue Vacation.
Workforce USA has a call to make concerning its remaining choice and if the rumors of it being Derrick White are true, they’ll get one other defensive star. White is coming off of an exceptional championship season the place his sacrifices all year long might pay dividends if chosen. In years previous, Workforce USA at instances has struggled defending and would win video games by merely attempting to outscore each crew and play little protection. With White at 6’4, he provides Steve Kerr the choice to place him on different groups opposing star guards. Or he can play the backcourt of Vacation and White within the closing levels of quarters or video games in the event that they want a defensive cease.
White can also be the kind of participant you need to use in a number of roles if it’s protection he’ll be as much as the duty, he additionally gained’t complain about not lack of taking part in time and may play in a pinch if wanted. He can area the ground with the most effective of them capturing 39.6% from deep this previous season. White will be one other ball-handler if want be.
UPDATE: Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach is reporting that Derrick White has been added to Workforce USA’s roster.
Derrick White has been added to the US nationwide crew, a league supply confirms. Now 25 p.c of the Paris Olympics squad is Celtics.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 10, 2024
After the addition of Derrick White, 25% of Workforce USA is represented by the Boston Celtics. Lately Jayson Tatum stated in an interview that he would take his present Celtics over Workforce USA, now he’s joined by two extra, a 3rd for those who depend Payton Pritchard who’s on the Choose Workforce.
After already signing an extension with Boston, White will now look so as to add some gold to his cupboard and can look to do it subsequent to his teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Vacation.
White is contemporary off of signing a four-year extension with Boston and now can look so as to add to an already a formidable summer time by attempting to win gold with Workforce USA.
