Andrew Wiggins on, Tristan Thompson off Canada's Olympic qualifying roster
10 NBA players named to camp ahead of key FIBA Americas tournament
Minnesota Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins is one of 10 NBA players named to Canada's Olympic qualifying training camp roster.
"We have a talented mix of NBA and pro athletes and we're excited to get them in the gym together," Canadian coach Jay Triano said in a release. "This camp will be an opportunity to train, build team chemistry and prepare for a tough and important tournament with the goal of qualifying for Rio."
Wiggins is joined by Anthony Bennett (Minnesota), Sim Bhullar (Sacramento), Melvin Ejim (Orlando), Cory Joseph (Toronto), Andrew Nicholson (Orlando), Kelly Olynyk (Boston), Dwight Powell (Dallas), Robert Sacre (Los Angeles), and Nik Stauskas (Philadelphia) to make up the NBA contingent for the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament that tips off Aug. 31 in Mexico City.
Ejim just signed with the Orlando Magic last week.
While Canada will field an impressive roster, the absence of Tristan Thompson is a blow to the team.
Thompson will not play w/ Canada this summer.Triano: "We've been in communication w/ him & were fully aware that this was a possibility..."
—@CanBballTriano: "We want what's best for our players & without an insurable contract it doesn’t make sense for him to play this summer..."
—@CanBballTriano: "We will miss him both as a player & a leader, but we are fortunate to have some depth at his position."
—@CanBballThe 16 players will open training camp Friday in Toronto.
The first and second-place teams in Aug. 31-Sept. 12 tournament earn berths in the Rio Games. The Canadian men are looking for their first Olympic berth since 2000 in Sydney.
The roster's remaining six players are Aaron Doornekamp, Carl English, Olivier Hanlan, Brady Heslip, and Phil Scrubb, who are all on European teams, and Jamal Murray, who recently graduated from high school and is headed to the University of Kentucky.
Canada is coming off a silver-medal finish at the Pan American Games, but the roster was significantly different. It featured just three NBA players in Nicholson, Bennett, and Bhullar.
The 20-year-old Wiggins, who is coming off winning NBA rookie of the year, participated as a torch-bearer in the Pan Am opening ceremony at Rogers Centre, but like most of the Canadian NBA players couldn't give up such a large portion of the off-season competing in both tournaments.
As a tuneup for the Olympic qualifier, Canada will play in an exhibition tournament in the Tuto Marchand five-team exhibition tournament from Aug. 23-26 in Puerto Rico.
With files from CBC Sports