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NBA Rumors
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By InsideHoops.comUpdated Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET
Derrick White was planning on spending this week at a desert resort on the sea. But he was supposed to be in Cabo facing the Pacific Ocean on a family vacation, not in Abu Dhabi on the Arabian Gulf back competing in high-level basketball. But that's where White is after joining Team USA for his first practice Sunday, arriving at 2:30 a.m. after a long flight from the U.S. Team officials had called him in four days earlier to replace Kawhi Leonard, who continues to recover from a knee injury. White knew he was a top candidate to get a replacement spot on the team, but had stood down somewhat after Leonard reported to training camp and was going through practices. - ESPN.com
White's versatility defensively is seen as a plus by Team USA decision makers as is his ability to act as a backup to Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday. Teams in the Olympics, generally, are built around star guards or star big men and not as much as star wing players as is common in the NBA. That is why Holiday was a huge recruit for Team USA both for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and again this year. And why White, who has the ability to stick with guards or guard bigger wing players like Holiday, was always on the team's short list. - ESPN.com
Team USA has relocated halfway across the world but is still in a holding pattern with star Kevin Durant, who missed practice again Saturday with a calf strain and likely won't play when the Americans face Australia in a friendly set for Monday. Coach Steve Kerr has been publicly downplaying any concern about the injury but pushed back his timeline before leading the team through practice. "I know there's still a couple of weeks before we have to make a decision roster-wise," Kerr said. "So we're just taking it day by day." - ESPN.com
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