Scouts Sketch Early 2028 Team USA Core; Satoransky Heads to Hapoel Tel Aviv; Buss Brothers Eye NBA Europe; Vegas Expansion Field Widens
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Preliminary conversations around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are already taking shape. NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin polled scouts, front-office personnel and media members to project a 12-man roster for Team USA, even though player selections remain years away.
Early roster projections
According to the informal survey, six players are viewed as near-locks if healthy: Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Cade Cunningham, projected 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Bam Adebayo. Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson and Evan Mobley are considered strong candidates for the remaining spots, while 11 others — a group that includes Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Devin Booker — are rated as bubble contenders.
Kevin Durant, who will be 39 by the time the Games begin, also appears on the bubble list; Helin notes USA Basketball is unlikely to turn down the four-time Olympic gold medalist if he opts in.
Satoransky signs in Israel
Veteran guard Tomas Satoransky agreed to a one-year contract with EuroLeague club Hapoel Tel Aviv. The 6-year NBA veteran has been playing overseas since 2022 and averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 49.4% from three in 35 EuroLeague games for Barcelona last season.
Buss brothers pursue NBA Europe stake
Buss Sports Capital, led by former Los Angeles Lakers minority owners Joey and Jesse Buss, is positioning itself to join an ownership group in the NBA’s planned European league. Reporting from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and The Athletic’s Dan Woike indicates the brothers are focusing on potential franchises in London, Manchester, Lyon and Rome. Their existing relationship with Tony Parker — whose ASVEL club in Lyon has explored the NBA Europe concept — could factor into any deal.
Las Vegas expansion interest grows
The Ringer’s Katie Baker outlines a crowded list of prospective bidders for a Las Vegas NBA expansion team, assessing which groups have realistic paths to league approval and which remain long shots.
Source: HoopsRumors
