USA Basketball exhibition vs. Australia canceled

Team USA won’t get to avenge Monday night’s loss to Australia. Last night, USA Basketball announced that tonight’s exhibition vs. Australia has been canceled “out of an abundance of caution.” Yesterday, guard Bradley Beal was ruled out of the Olympics after being placed in health and safety protocols on Wednesday. Forward Jerami Grant was also placed in protocol out of caution, but has yet to be ruled out.

Team USA will conclude its exhibition schedule on Sunday night vs. Spain. In the meantime, the search for Beal’s replacement continues. USA Basketball officials met yesterday to discuss options, with head coach Gregg Popovich citing conditioning as a key factor since most players have been enjoying the offseason.

“We have to make sure somebody is in shape because we don’t have time once we get there with just a couple of practices,” Popovich said. “It’s going to take a certain individual that we think can pick it all up quickly.”

Among the names being floated out there are former Cat Julius Randle, who Team USA CEO Jerry Colangelo said was very close to making the initial 12-man roster, Hawks point guard Trae Young, Rockets big man Christian Wood, 76ers wing Tobias Harris, and Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson. Fingers crossed for Randle.