Dub Hub: Andrew Wiggins selected to Team Canada’s training camp roster

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, June 20th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Andrew Wiggins is among 20 NBA players selected to participate in Team Canada’s Olympic training camp.
• Gary Payton II reportedly opts-in to his $9.1 million player option, per ESPN’s Kendra Andrews.
• The Ringer’s Kevin O’ Connor highlights 10 players who can complete a contending team’s roster.

With the NBA season officially over, the basketball world turns its attention to the 2024 Olympics where players from around the world gather to represent their country.

Several Golden State Warriors have already committed to involvement in the summer games, including Stephen Curry who will be playing for Team USA, Klay Thompson who is practicing with Team Bahamas, and announcer Bob Fitzgerald who will be handling play-by-play commentary.

On Wednesday, that list of Warriors got even bigger as the team announced that Andrew Wiggins was selected to the Canadian national team’s training camp roster.

This will be Wiggins’ second time representing Canada in the Olympics with the country expected to be serious contenders for the gold medal this time around.

Wiggins is among 20 players participating in Team Canada’s extended training camp. He joins a talented roster headlined by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, alongside several other Canadian NBA players.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, June 20th:

Warriors News:

Andrew Wiggins among 20 players invited to Team Canada’s training camp

Gary Payton II opts-in to his player option for next season, according to ESPN’s Kendra Andrews

NBA Trade Block Big Board: New Trade Ideas for Top 10 Targets | Bleacher Report

The trade: Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen

The Warriors need to find a co-star for Stephen Curry. Fast.

That’s why Kuminga is “pretty much” untouchable but not necessarily totally off-limits. If Golden State needed to let him go to land an elite, he might be on the next flight out of town.

Markkanen is that type of talent. And while he’d effectively erase Golden State’s asset collection—pick swaps could be needed to get this done—it might be worth it to give Curry another shot at the crown. An offense featuring those two with Draymond Green connecting the dots feels impossible to stop. Plus, Markkanen, 27, is young enough that if he stuck around, he could help form the foundation of the franchise’s post-Curry era.

Why Draymond doesn’t see Celtics becoming NBA dynasty like Warriors | NBC Sports Bay Area

“I’ll just be completely honest with you — [the Celtics] won’t be as hungry for the next championship as they [were] for the first championship,” Green said. “It’s just not a realistic thing. Now, not saying to you they won’t be hungry and their goal coming into next season won’t be to win a championship again — of course that’s going to be their goal.

“But to think that you’re going to have the same hunger for your first million dollars as opposed to your second million dollars, it’s not the same ... It’s not driven from the same place.”

Warriors players speak on the importance of Juneteenth

NBA News:

Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season, owe him $65 million | ESPN

New Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon, who was hired a month ago, had been meeting regularly with Williams about the franchise’s future, but the decision to dismiss Williams was directed from the ownership level with Tom Gores, sources told ESPN.

Gores and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem had been advocates of dismissing Williams, sources said.

The Derrick White All-Stars: 10 Players Who Could Complete a Contender | The Ringer

Day’Ron Sharpe, Nets center

Contract: One year, $3.9 million

Brooklyn has a crowded frontcourt rotation, and Sharpe averaged only 15.1 minutes per game last season. But on a per-minute basis, Sharpe is one of the NBA’s best rebounding, screening, and passing bigs. The Nets loved using the 6-foot-9 center in dribble-handoff actions, and he’d dart the ball around the floor to find the open man while limiting turnovers. Sharpe also has made 36.4 percent of his 3s in his career (though it’s only 33 attempts) and displays solid touch near the rim, so perhaps he has untapped shooting potential. He’s definitely worth a flier.

Pascal Siakam plans to sign a new four-year, $189.5 million contract to return to the Pacers

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Gary Payton II opts into $9.1 million player option

A defensive powerhouse when healthy, the 31-year-old guard averaged 5.5 points, 1.1 assists, and 2.6 rebounds with the Warriors in the 2023-24 season. Payton II has been plagued by injury in recent seasons, only playing in 44 games in the 2023-24 regular season, however, he fills a crucial bench role for Golden State, and is quite consistent when healthy. In his championship run with the Warriors, Payton II averaged 7.1 points, 1.4 steals(!!!), and 3.5 rebounds per game. Hopefully, he can get back to these numbers, but either way, fans are looking forward to seeing him return for a fourth season in Golden State.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.