USA - Odom, Griffin and Davis to arrive early

LAS VEGAS (Olympics) - Lamar Odom, Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis will travel to Las Vegas before the rest of the finalists for the USA Olympic team in order to be assessed by coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Griffin, the All-Star forward of the Los Angeles Clippers, and American college star Davis, are hoping to play for the national team for the first time.

Odom, who had a nightmare season in the NBA when he was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks and then deactivated before the playoffs, represented the USA at the Athens Games and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

The inability of Odom to compete at the level he is accustomed to this season appeared to rule out any chance of him playing at the London Games but a rash of injuries to finalists have opened the door for a possible comeback.

Los Angeles Clippers big man Griffin appeared to be a lock for the Olympic team before he began experiencing knee problems late this season.

Davis, after leading the Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA title, was selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday evening.

Big men who are finalists and still able to play for the USA in London are Chris Bosh, an Olympic gold medal winner in 2008, and 2010 world champions Kevin Love and Tyson Chandler.

New York Knicks center Chandler boosted his chances of playing for the Olympic team when he was named as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Orlando’s Dwight Howard, a 2008 Olympian, and Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge were finalists but injuries have ruled them out.

The USA will announce their 12-man roster for the Olympics after a practice on 7 July.

They also have a select team that will be playing in Las Vegas this summer against the Olympic side to help it get ready for the London Games.

On the 13-man select team are NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up, John Wall of the Washington Wizards.

Other select team members are Ryan Anderson (Orlando Magic), DeJuan Blair (San Antonio Spurs); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs); Jeremy Lin (New York Knicks); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors).

FIBA