Clippers Blake Griffin withdraws from 2014 USA Basketball Team, guard John Wall added

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has withdrawn from participating with the U.S. Men's National Team this summer, USA Basketball announced. Griffin has had a history of knee problems and perhaps wanted to avoid the wear and tear of an active summer with the team.  Russell Westbrook recently withdrew from the team as well.

In addition, USA Basketball National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo today announced that NBA All-Star guard John Wall (Washington Wizards) had been added to the USA National Team roster and would be participating in the USA’s upcoming July 28-August 1 Las Vegas training camp.

Wall is a logical replacement for Westbrook, since they play the same position.

“We are excited that John is now able to participate in our training camp. He had an outstanding season with the Wizards and was a strong performer for us at last year’s National Team mini-camp,” said Colangelo. “As we’ve said in the past, we can only extend the invitations to be part of the USA team; the players have to make the final decision and sometimes that decision changes because their circumstances have changed.”

Wall participated in the 2013 USA Basketball National Team mini-camp and recorded 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists in the 2013 USA Basketball Showcase. In 2013-14, his fourth NBA season, he played and started in all 82 regular season games for Washington and averaged 19.3 ppg., an NBA second-best 8.8 apg, 4.1 rpg., and an NBA eighth-best 1.8 spg.

Previously named 2014 USA National Team members who are expected to participate in the Las Vegas training camp include: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); James Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chandler Parsons (Dallas Mavericks); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors).

The 2014 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Cup, featuring a total of 24 national teams, is scheduled to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services