The US men's basketball team has received more time to solve the problems caused by its injuries. The Americans have been granted an extension from the US Olympic Committee and won't have to name their London Games squad until July 8, pushed back from June 18. That will allow them to wait until after the NBA season has ended and after training camp has begun. USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said Thursday it hasn't determined how many players will be invited to camp in Las Vegas, with the first practice set for July 6. There are currently 18 healthy players in the preliminary squad. The Americans' original pool of finalists was depleted by injuries to Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Chauncey Billups and LaMarcus Aldridge. No longer even capable of naming a full 12-man squad with six alternates, USA Basketball made two requests of the USOC. They were allowed to add two players, long after the deadline to be included in the drug testing program. Oklahoma City's James Harden, the NBA's top sixth man, and likely No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis from college champion Kentucky were added last week. The Americans also sought and were granted the extended deadline because the lockout-delayed schedule means the NBA finals won't even be completed by then. The US brought only 12 players to camp before winning the gold medal in 2008, and hasn't made cuts after a tryout camp since turning to professionals in 1992. That could change this year, based on who is ready to play in July.
