By JOSH NEWMAN
As Canadian National Team head coach Jay Triano has been saying for the last 18 months, Canada’s quest to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics will feature the country’s growing stable of NBA talent.
Canada released it’s 16-player training camp roster for the FIBA Americas Championship late Monday afternoon. On it are 10 current NBA players, led by reigning Rookie of the Year and Minnesota Timberwolves wing Andrew Wiggins. Anthony Bennett, Nik Stauskas, Cory Joseph and Kelly Olynyk are among those expected to make the final 12-man roster heading to FIBA Americas from Aug. 31-Sept. 12.
The top two finishers there will qualify for the Rio Olympics. Canada has not been to the Olympics since the 2000 Sydney Games.
Most notably beyond the NBA players is the inclusion of 18-year-old University of Kentucky freshman point guard Jamal Murray, who was brilliant in helping lead Canada to silver at the Pan American Games last month in Toronto.
Murray will go to training camp, but it is unknown if he can play for Canada at FIBA Americas due to a potential conflict with needing to be in Lexington by a certain date. Triano told SNY.tv last month after Pan Am that Canada and Kentucky are working together to try and make his participation happen.
“Obviously, we want him to be a part of our team and that’s something we’re going to have to work out over the next couple of weeks,” Triano said on July 29.
One notable absence is free agent big man Tristan Thompson, who is not yet under contract. Canada announced his absence from FIBA Americas earlier in the day on Monday.
“He will not be playing for Canada at FIBA this year due to his contract negotiations,” Rich Paul, the founder and chief executive officer of Klutch Sports Group, who also represents Toronto Raptors signee Cory Joseph, told Canada’s Sportsnet.ca. “He isn’t allowed to play without an insurable contract.”
Paul said it’s also possible this could be Thompson’s last season playing alongside LeBron James and the Cavs.
“All I know is that TT on a QO [Qualifying Offer] will be his last year with the Cavs,” Paul told the Canadian site.
The entire Canada training camp roster is below.
| NAME | POSITION | HEIGHT | HOMETOWN | CURRENT TEAM/CLUB |
| Bennett, Anthony | F | 6’8 | Brampton, ON | Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) |
| Bhullar, Sim | C | 7’5 | Mississauga, ON | Sacramento Kings (NBA) |
| Doornekamp, Aaron | F | 6’7 | Odessa, ON | Braunschweig (Germany) |
| Ejim, Melvin | F | 6’6 | Toronto, ON | Orlando Magic (NBA) |
| English, Carl | SG | 6’5 | Paradise, NFLD | Athens AEK (Greece) |
| Hanlan, Olivier | G | 6’4 | Aylmer, QC | BC Zalgiris (Lithuania) |
| Heslip, Brady | G | 6’2 | Burlington, ON | Pallacanestro Cantù (Italy) |
| Joseph, Cory | PG | 6’3 | Pickering, ON | Toronto Raptors (NBA) |
| Murray, Jamal | G | 6’3 | Kitchener, ON | University of Kentucky (NCAA) |
| Nicholson, Andrew | F | 6’9 | Mississauga, ON | Orlando Magic (NBA) |
| Olynyk, Kelly | C | 7’0 | Kamloops, BC | Boston Celtics (NBA) |
| Powell, Dwight | F | 6’9 | Toronto, ON | Dallas Mavericks (NBA) |
| Sacre, Robert | C | 7’0 | Vancouver, BC | Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) |
| Scrubb, Phil | G | 6’3 | Richmond, BC | AEK Athens (Greece) |
| Stauskas, Nik | SG | 6’6 | Mississauga, ON | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) |
| Wiggins, Andrew | F | 6’8 | Vaughan, ON | Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) |
