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The USA basketball team's roster continues to thin out, even before coach Mike Krzyzewski begins making cuts.

Kobe Bryant's knee injury is keeping him out of the World Championships, Lamar Odom's family situation will keep him away, and J.J. Redick's back will ground him. Shawn Marion is the latest NBA superstar to back away from the team.

Marion told ESPN.com during the final day of team workouts in Las Vegas that he would not be traveling with the team.

"My knee has been bothering me a bit. I sat out the last two days of practice. I just came in here and got right into it. So, I'm going to check it out [Tuesday]. I'll make sure there's nothing wrong with it, rest it and take care of it.''

Although he won't be with the team when they travel to Japan for exhibition play, Marion is still part of the program. He told ESPN he'll still be there in spirit.

"The process [of picking the team] was great,'' Marion said. "Everybody feels a part of the family for all three years. If I'm not there, I'll still feel like I'm there cheering them on.''

The cutting process has gotten alot easier for Coach K and his staff due to the injuries. The roster is currently at 17, and the coaches must trim it to 15. ESPN's Andy Katz claims the Bobcats' first round draft pick, Adam Morrison, and Sonics' guard, Luke Ridnour, will be the final two players cut from the program.

The 15 players who will return to Las Vegas on July 31 for exhibition games will be announced Tuesday morning. The Americans aren't required to submit a final roster of 12 players until 24 hours before the first game in Japan on Aug. 19.

The 15 player roster will most likely consists of: Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade and Kirk Hinrich. The coaching staff will meet Tuesday morning before the news conference to make the final call.

Ridnour told ESPN, he's not upset about possibly being cut because he's there to improve his game.

"I'm here for the experience, and if it doesn't happen this summer then I've got two more years,'' Ridnour said. "When they called me during the season they told me that there were a lot of veterans and it would be tough to make it. But I've got a bright future, and I'm excited about it.''

The Americans plan to have 15 players available on the roster for an exhibition against Puerto Rico at the Thomas & Mack Center on Aug. 3, and then for games against China and Brazil in Guangzhou, China, Aug. 7-8. The "Baby Dream Team" will then train in Hong Kong, Aug. 9-11, play the World Basketball Challenge in Seoul, South Korea against Lithuania and Korea Aug. 13 and 15 before participating in the FIBA World Championships Aug. 19-Sept. 3 in Saitama, Japan.