Probably doesn't come as much of a shock. I won't be surprised if Rip and Chauncey follow suit.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/113913780393430.xml&coll=1


Prince will withdraw from Olympic team consideration
Sunday, February 05, 2006
By A. Sherrod Blakely
INDIANAPOLIS -- Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince is expected to withdraw from consideration for the 2008 Olympic team within the next couple of weeks.

Phoenix Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo, who also is in charge of assembling the players for Team USA, is expected to release a list of about 20 players during the NBA All-Star weekend (Feb. 18-19) who will be invited to training camp this summer. The roster will then be reduced to 12 for the 2006 World Championships in Japan, another possible qualifying tournament in 2007 and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Colangelo has spoken with Prince, as well as Pistons teammates Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton about the Olympics.

Prince spoke recently with Colangelo, and reiterated his reservations about the three-year commitment players would have to make to be part of Team USA. Prince is concerned that the long-term commitment might interfere with Detroit's quest for winning an NBA title or two.

"Who knows if we (the Pistons) go all the way (through the playoff) to June, and a couple of weeks after we finish, this starts up," Prince said. "If you think about playing for a gold medal, of course, you'll be like, `yeah, I'm for that.' You want to represent your country and USA basketball. But, we're trying to win a title every year."

Prince is the only Piston to appear in every game since the 2003-2004 season.

"The last couple of years, I've played 100-and-something games (a season) and hopefully, I'll do the same this year," Prince said. "If I commit to this, then my whole summer is going to be booked, and then I'll have to turn right back around and start playing another 100-and-something games. That's the most important thing for me to think about."

Hamilton and Billups have expressed similar concerns.

"We feel as though we have a team that can play into the (NBA) Finals every year," said Hamilton, who will also probably turn down Colangelo's invitation. "So that means right after the season, you're playing. And right after that, you're playing for another season. You don't want to tire yourself out and things like that. So it's definitely something me, and all the guys they're talking to on this team, have to think about."

Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal has no plans to rush back from a groin injury that's expected to keep him out for most of the rest of the regular season.

"I have to be patient. That's the reason why I'm hurt now, because I wasn't patient," O'Neal said. "I came back from pneumonia too early and hurt my (left) ankle because my body was too weak. Then I came back from my ankle injury, and overcompensated with my left leg and my groin got tight. The next thing you know, I popped it."

Haha team USA is fucked if all our players withdraw.

This is great news, I hope no pistons go to the olympics. There are only a very few teams in a position like the pistons and spurs, realistically expecting to play into may/june over that period. That still leaves more than enough nba talent at every position to make a gold medal worthy team.

I think Taymelo finally beat down Tayshaun's confidence.

He had no choice but to withdraw.

I think this is the Rasheed Wallace effect, as I believe he came out rather quickly saying he didn't want to even be considered since his lone goal is another NBA championship. Now with Prince saying the same thing that really puts the pressure on Hamilton and Billups. Billups has the added pressure of heading into a contract year next year. Rip could probably say that he runs daily in the off-season, so it wouldn't be an issue for him.

I still say that we trade any player who signed on for the three year committment.

McCoskey says "not so fast"

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060207/SPORTS0102/602070388/1127


Prince mulls committing to U.S team

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Q . Has Tayshaun Prince removed his name from consideration for the U.S. national team?

A . No, he hasn't, and he was quite surprised to learn it was reported he had.

"I ain't said nothing about it," Prince said. "It's still an option."

Prince is weighing the three-year commitment against the strain of playing 100-plus game seasons year after year.

Q . What about Chauncey Billups?

A . All indications are Billups will be on the team in 2007 and in the 2008 Olympics, but he won't be in Tokyo this summer for the World Championships.

Although Billups, through his agent Andy Miller, and national team director Jerry Colangelo still are working out the details, it appears Billups will be allowed to stay home this summer and tend to the birth of he and wife Piper's third child.

Billups may train with the team this summer, and perhaps play in a few exhibitions, but he won't be able to play in the tournament.

I like his chances of being the starting point guard on the 2008 Olympic team.