Back in 2008, the best of the best in NBA formed what was dubbed as the Redeem Team in order to get Team USA or the US national basketball team back on top as the world’s best in the sport of basketball.

With the addition of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and arguably the best center in the league in Dwight Howard, Team USA was stacked and for the first time since 1992’s Dream Team was representing the US with its best players.

Fortunately, the combination of all these NBA superstars was exactly what the doctor ordered as Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) was lead this team to basketball greatness by beating Spain in the gold medal game.

Even though the Redeem Team was a great success, all the superstars from that team have declined to return to the team this summer as they have said they desperately need the time off from the game.

So without Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade and Howard, Team USA must move on and basically start over once again. Despite no longer having the superstar talent of two years ago, the US national team still has Coach K at the helm and some promising young players.

Before Wednesday, Team USA had 15 players on the roster, but the first cuts came recently with four players heading home.

Ultimately the Team USA roster must be cut down to 12 men, so three more players will get the boot before August 26^th when Coach K needs to decide on his final squad, but in the meantime Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats), O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies), JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards) and Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings) have all been cut from the team.

It will be interesting to see who Coach K decides to go with from here on out, but I am betting the following players will be the final squad:

Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets), Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers), Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets) and Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks)

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