Durant and his Team USA future

Kevin Durant is currently practicing with the USA Basketball national team, but with a roster loaded with veterans, he may not yet be ready to win a roster spot. There are 15 places on the current roster, which has to be cut to 12 before the FIBA Americas Tournament starts Aug. 22.

Durant may, in fact, slide over to the select team of young NBA players that is practicing against the regular team.

"He had a terrific minicamp in July," said Jerry Colangelo, managing director of the national team, "but we have to make some choices regarding who's going to be on our 12-man roster. Kevin has a real, legitimate shot based on his performance in the minicamp, but if that doesn't continue, we'll slide him over to the select group."

One local player who may surprise and make the roster is Deron Williams of the Colony and Utah Jazz. The U.S. team already has Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups, but Colangelo likes Williams.

"He's a real comer," Colangelo said. "I've been impressed."

-- Jan Hubbard