Team USA to gauge NBA stars' commitment at August minicamp in preparation for 2016 Olympics

Although there are no international competitions for Team USA to participate in this summer, USAB is still hoping to draw the NBA's most talented players next month.

If players wish to join the team for its run at 2016 Olympics gold in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, they will have to attend the national team's upcoming minicamp in August.

USAB managing director Jerry Colangelo's message was made loud and clear on Tuesday, as detailed by ESPN's Marc Stein: "I think it's important for those who want to continue with us and be under consideration for '16 to be with us in Las Vegas for a couple days." He added, "it's important for everyone to be here as a sign of commitment for '16."

The compulsory nature of the team's minicamp attendance rule serves a practical function, as it will essentially determine who is eager to dedicate their time to representing their home country while eliminating from contention players who are not fully committed (ie. those who don't plan to show up this year but return to the team next year, conveniently in time for the bright lights and grand stage that are the Olympics).

Colangelo saw no other alternative with regard to his mandatory demand.

"There's no other way to handle it (given) the large of number of players who have expressed interest in wanting to play," he said.

The 34 players who were invited last summer, ahead of the inaugural FIBA World Cup in Spain, will be extended invitations this year in addition to seven new rising stars. This new batch consists of Jimmy Butler, Mike Conley, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo, and Trey Burke.

The minicamp will differ from that of years past. Colangelo stated that this year's events will feature two days of non-contact workouts and "an All-Star game of sorts".

Earlier on Tuesday, Colangelo said that both Kevin Durant and Paul George would be required to attend the camp if they wish to play in Rio, regardless of their respective recovery processes stemming from the injuries each has sustained over the past year.

August 1 will mark the one-year anniversary since George suffered a gruesome leg injury - an incident that caused Durant to withdraw from the team's activities last summer.

Colangelo insists that the altered structure of this year's minicamp is not a function of George's injury - an event which shook the entire basketball world, let alone Team USA members.

USAB's minicamp is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas from Aug 11-13.