The 2012 Summer Olympics are barely over and people are already talking about Rio and the 2016 edition of Team USA men's basketball. Coach K has already said he is stepping down. Kobe Bryant has said the same. With the attention given and announcements being made, SB Nation's Tom Ziller recently took a look ahead at what the next team could look like.
In the end, he has Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook all making another appearance in Rio for the United States in their hopes for more Olympic glory. At that point, the Thunder could have an NBA title -- or four -- and Durant will not be the young 23-year-old who has the whole world at his fingertips. Instead he will be the savvy scoring champ who will mentor the rest.
Harden is the hardest to figure out here. If he moves on from the Thunder, then it becomes safe to say that his platform will only grow and his inclusion becomes even more likely at that point. If he's the third wheel on the Thunder still, then that brings up the same question.
Ziller places him as a possibility to get pushed out and writes, "Harden is included here in case he leaves Oklahoma City for Charlotte and becomes Ricky Davis Part 2. Or shaves the beard."
For the latest on the 2012 Olympics, check out SB Nation's dedicated Olympics hub.