Why Is Harrison Barnes on Team USA?

Between the Zeka virus scare and the near year-long demand of the NBA season, the USA Basketball roster heads to Rio de Janero undergoing a changing of the guard. Just because the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis and a slew of other stars are passing on this year's competition, doesn't mean expectations for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics should be low. Anything short of a Gold Medal will be viewed as a failure because this team is stacked with talent. 

That being said, I can't help but scratch my head at the inclusion of Harrison Barnes on the 12-man roster. On one hand the move makes sense as Team USA looks ahead to 2020. By that time, Curry, LeBron, Kevin Durant, and Carmelo Anthony will all be past the age of 30 (James and Anthony are already past 30). We'll be officially in a new era of basketball stars. Barnes is only 24, and would be right in his prime when the Olympics begin in Tokyo.

He's also a combo-forward. Athletic enough to play the three and strong enough to play the four. That kind of versatility is even more valuable on the international stage. Just reference other combo-forwards with smooth jump shots in Durant and Anthony, two players that led Team USA in 2012. 

And hey, he is used to playing with a super talented team and making shots that those players create for him (save for those NBA Finals). 

But Barnes is not a star right now. Nor is he an ascendant star. Nor an All-Star for that matter. In 2012, the Olympic roster only had one player that was not named to an NBA All-Star roster: Tyson Chandler. But he had just won NBA Defensive Player of the Year (and would be named an All-Star in 2013). In 2008, Tayshaun Prince was the only non-All-Star on the team. But he was coming off four straight seasons of being named second-team All-Defensive. So while there is precedent for a non-NBA All-Star to make Team USA, you have to still win accolades. Barnes was first-team All-Rookie and that's about it. 

Even with all the declines and withdraws, there are still a few better options out there than Barnes. The biggest omission is Paul Milsap. He wasn't even named to the 30-man preliminary roster in January, which is shocking to me. Milsap has improved his play every year, finishing 28th in the league in terms of PER. He averaged about seven more points than Barnes and grabbed almost four more rebounds. He's able to stretch his game out to the perimeter and can moon-light as a small forward if needed. It's a shame Team USA didn't at least consider Milsap. His game would have been great to see on the international stage.  

Another name I would have liked to see is the NBA's richest man, Mike Conley Jr. My brother probably rolled his eyes, because for some reason, he's my "boy". That being said, Team USA doesn't have Chris Paul on this roster. The two point guards on the roster are Kyle Lowry and Kryie Irving, both amazing players, but both are of the score-first variety. Conley would have given Team USA a true floor-general that could run an offense full of superstars one one side, and provide stellar defense on the other side. Yes, he's coming off of an Achilles injury, but it sounds like he didn't withdraw himself.  

And if that 12th roster spot really is devoted to a prospective player, why not give it to one of the best in Karl-Anthony Towns? The reigning Rookie of the Year averaged a double-double and even converted .341 percent of 88 attempted three-pointers. He's only 20-years-old, but maturity has never been an issue for him. And in 2020, he'll be anchoring the post with Anthony Davis without a doubt. 

I don't mean to tear into Barnes too much. He is a good player that does fit into Team USA's roster. But I do feel there are better American basketball players out there that are more deserving of the roster spot. If Barnes averaged 11.6 points per game on the Houston Rockets last year, would he even be on the shortlist for Team USA? I don't think so.