Team USA basketball is scrambling to find a replacement after Bradley Beal went into COVID-19 protocols earlier this week. While no replacement has been confirmed, one NBA star is undoubtedly out of the running: Trae Young.

Young tweeted a not-so-cryptic post yesterday that included an excerpt of Isiah Thomas discussing his upsetness with being left off the 1992 Olympic squad.

Regardless of regular-season averages of 25.3 points and 9.4 assists, as well as topping 30 points in the playoffs in eight different games, Team USA did not find a need for Young’s services.

They absolutely should have taken Young, as the team lost its first two exhibition games, failing to beat both Nigeria and Australia.

Team USA has won gold in 17 of the 19 Olympics it has participated in.

On Thursday, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced its honorees for the 2020 Hall of Fame inductees.

Among the presenters, Michael Jordan is the biggest name, and he will be honoring the late Kobe Bryant by announcing his induction to the Hall of Fame.

In early 2020, Bryant passed away in a fatal helicopter crash. During his memorial service, Jordan spoke about the Lakers’ legend. “Kobe was my dear friend, he was like a little brother,” Jordan said. “When Kobe died, a little piece of me died. This kid had passion as you would never know, as I got to know him, I wanted to be the best big brother that I could be.”

Growing up, Bryant idolized the Chicago Bulls legend and sought to emulate Jordan’s game. Once Bryant made it to the NBA, he dedicated his early career to learning from Jordan on and off the court. At first, MJ was irked about Bryant’s constant questioning, but it soon faded as a bond was formed between them. “At first, it was an aggravation,” Jordan said. “Then it became a passion.”

The two formed a sibling bond. “He was really like a big brother, and whether it’s because we similarly see things in terms of our competitive spirit or fire or whatever the case may be, there’s an understanding that we have a connection that we have,” Bryant once said of Jordan.

Jordan will be the only Hall of Famer to be presenting multiple people in the ceremony. The Chicago legend will also be presenting women’s coach Kim Mulkey in the Hall of Fame ceremony.

The other inductees and their presenters are the following:

• Patrick Baumann, presented by Russ Granik and Vlade Divac  
• Tamika Catchings, presented by Alonzo Mourning and Dawn Staley 
• Tim Duncan, presented by David Robinson 
• Kevin Garnett, presented by Isiah Thomas
• Barbara Stevens, presented by Geno Auriemma and Muffet McGraw 
• Eddie Sutton, presented by John Calipari, Bill Self and Sidney Moncrief
• Rudy Tomjanovich, presented by Calvin Murphy and Hakeem Olajuwon 

The Detroit Pistons announced on Monday that the organization and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy will part ways after four years, and NBA members and pundits have already begun speculating who could or should replace him.

Charles Barkley On Pistons Hiring Isiah Thomas

On Monday night, Charles Barkley revealed to the rest of TNT’s Inside the NBA crew who he believes would be a strong choice to lead the Pistons.

“I’ve never said this on TV because it’s not my job to say people should get hired or fired,” Barkley explained. “But I would like … the Pistons (to) consider bringing in Isiah Thomas as their president of basketball operations.”

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Barkley went on to note the success the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have found since bringing back Danny Ainge and Magic Johnson, respectively.

“I second that motion,” said Shaquille O’Neal.

And I third it,” said Kenny Smith. 

Thomas served as the New York Knicks’ president of basketball operations from 2003-2008. He hired Larry Brown as coach during his tenure as president. The Knicks went 151-259 during that five-year span. Thomas played for the Pistons before that from 1981 to 1994.

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Thomas became embroiled in a scandal while serving as president of the Knicks when Anucha Browne Sanders — a woman who previously worked in the team’s front office— sued Thomas and Madison Square Garden for sexual misconduct. Sanders alleged Thomas assaulted her and then fired her after she filed a complaint. Thomas and the Garden were found guilty and the lawsuit was settled with MSG. Thomas, however, was forced to pay $11.5 million to Sanders, according to the New York Times.

Van Gundy had one year left on his five-year deal with the Pistons. He led the team to a 125-176 overall record and one playoff appearance in 2016, when Detroit fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Van Gundy also helped orchestrate the trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Blake Griffin in January. The Pistons gave up a protected first-round draft pick as part of that deal.

The Pistons finished 39-43 (ninth in Eastern Conference) this year and missed the playoffs.