US planning for 2010, some '08 stars could return

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the core of the Olympic basketball champions could be back in USA uniforms next summer for the world championships.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo met with half of the team during the NBA All-Star break and said it's a "distinct possibility" that some of the gold medalists will play in Turkey in 2010.

During the meeting, which also included Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Chris Bosh, Colangelo said he wanted only a two-year commitment this time, with those years being 2010 and 2012. If the Americans win the world championships, they would automatically qualify for the London games and not have to play in '11.

"They said they bought into that, let's do that," Colangelo said. "Now I think it's important, as far as I'm concerned, that's what they indicated then. I think that's really where they are. A lot of things could happen between now and '10, and we just have to play it by ear. I think right now we have the buy-in."

He believes at least some of them will keep that commitment.

"Yes, it's a distinct possibility that most of the core players of our Olympic team would represent us in Turkey," Colangelo told The Associated Press.

Colangelo added he is giving coach Mike Krzyzewski time to decide if he wants to return and expects to have a coach in place in the fall. New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, a U.S. assistant the past three years, is a leading candidate if Krzyzewski doesn't return.

"I don't want him to make just an emotional decision one way or the other. So it's about what's in his best interests as it relates to his age, his health, job, his family, all of those things," Colangelo said. "No different than it was four years ago, but four years have gone by, so he's got to be sure. That's No. 1, because his gut would say yes real quick. That's his competitive side."

Either way, the Americans plan to be ready for the world championships by holding a minicamp this summer for 24 young players who could be candidates for the team. Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose, the past two rookies of the year, along with likely No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin from Oklahoma have accepted invitations.

Greg Oden and O.J. Mayo are among the 19 commitments Colangelo has received for the July 22-25 camp in Las Vegas, which will culminate with a blue-white exhibition game.

Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano will direct the camp, joined by assistant coaches Dave Cowens of Detroit, Utah's Tyrone Corbin, Kenny Gattison of New Orleans and Minnesota's Jerry Sichting.

The plan is to have a team capable of ending the Americans' run of futility in the world championships. The United States finished third in 2006 and hasn't won gold in the worlds since 1994. Colangelo believes the Americans would show more respect to other countries by taking the event " bigger to some internationally than the Olympics " more seriously than they have in the past.

"The rest of the world, the basketball world, looks at the world championships differently. In other words, they put a lot of emphasis on it, and it's important to show respect there, also," Colangelo said. "Our showing in the world championships in the last decade has not been very good, and so this is a chance to further show that respect by putting a lot of emphasis into it."

Some of the players in camp will compete in 2010, others will remain in the program for future events. Colangelo said even if the Americans are off in 2011, he would consider entering a team in that summer's FIBA Americas tournament.

With the success of the Olympic team making it "an 'in' thing to represent your country again," Colangelo expects to have quality players and coaches available when it is time to finalize rosters.

"One could very easily conclude, 'Well, you just keep the ball rolling. We've got a good thing going just the way we are,"' he said. "But we're just letting some time go by so that we can come to some conclusions at the appropriate time.

"I just think when you're changing a culture like we did, the more buy-in you get into the program and the plans and the participation, that's what this is about."