Kevin Love has withdrawn from Team USA because of his “current status.”
That was the explanation given Saturday morning in a news release from USA Basketball announcing that Love will not play for the United States at the World Cup in Spain.
Love’s withdrawal exacerbates the one roster issue the American team was already facing: A lack of depth at power forward following the withdrawal of Blake Griffin.
Love was a lock to be the starting power forward.
“USA Basketball National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo today announced that Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves) has informed USA Basketball that because of his current status he will be unavailable to participate with the USA National Team this summer,” read the official news release.
The Americans will now have 18 players in training camp. There are three centers – Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond – and power forward Kenneth Faried.
Small forwards include Kevin Durant, Paul George, Chandler Parsons, Kyle Korver and Gordon Hayward. There are five point guards – Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, John Wall and Kyrie Irving – and four shooting guards: James Harden, Bradley Beal, Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan.
“The fact is we can only look to the players we have available. Our job is to get the job done with our very, very deep roster, and we’re anxious to get things started,” Colangelo said.
Love has been the subject of rampant trade rumors, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors among the teams trying to acquire him. Love has an opt-out in his contract following the upcoming season and has made it known to the Minnesota Timberwolves that he wants to be traded.
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