DJ Augustin invited to participate in National Team mini-camp this July

[dnbman]

Did you not insinuate that he was a default selection due to there being an inadequate supply of young, talented PG's in the NBA?

So I listed a few young, talented PG's to show that there isn't in fact a "dearth" of talent at the position.

Is it a surprise to me that he was selected? No, not at all.

Sorry. Used the wrong word there. I see why you read my response the way you did.

No. I meant there ARE a lot of young talented point guards.

[spectre]

I think it's great! Getting recognition is always a good thing!

Not to "downgrade" it, but I don't think he was selected from a pool of all PGs (and realistically that wouldn't make any sense). They mostly select rookies/very young players for these scrimmages:

Scrimmage squad set to be Team USA's 'guinea pigs'

"It knocks guys' whole balance off," said Iguodala, whose arsenal of defensive tactics is being put to the test -- and getting enhanced -- this week as he dons a Team USA practice jersey. He is one of eight young NBA players (the others are Channing Frye, David Lee, Devin Harris, Jason Kapono, Al Jefferson, Aaron Brooks and Jeff Green) who have been selected to scrimmage against the U.S. senior men's national team in preparation for the Tournament of the Americas.

Mayo chosen for team to scrimmage U.S. Olympic team

Other NBA players on the select squad include LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), Jeff Green (Oklahoma City), Luther Head (Houston Rockets), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings) and Rodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons).

It's an honor for him and for us. I think it's very well deserved.

[Slam]

Sorry. Used the wrong word there. I see why you read my response the way you did.

No. I meant there ARE a lot of young talented point guards.

Ahhhhhhhh, now it makes sense!!

I was a little shocked when you said there werent many young, up and coming PG's!!

[ohara831]

Congrats to DJ and the Cats. A nice honor.

[ammofan]

GO DJ!!!!!!! Score 40 on CP!

[davcbow]

GO DJ!!!!!!! Score 40 on CP!

LOL, Id love to see that happen...

[rsxnova]

Maybe they figure he is a future star?

[TOOT DADDY]

That is exactly what they feel and he someone in the organization thinks making him the face of the franchise is a good move. He did represent us at the draft and he is a T-mobile corrospondent for one easten conference final game and two finals games.

[bing!]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this invitation mean he'll serve as nothing but a glorified punching bag for the USA nationals?

[teej]

Not only can he ball he is also marketable. In addition to the invite D.J. will also be a special T- mobile correspondent at this Friday's eastern conference final and will also appear twice in the finals. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he is the first to get such national exsposure in the organization. Well besides Jordan. Be glad we got him and know that competing with those guys are going to make him even better.

Actually, Brevin Knight did some playoff tv work back in '05 or '06 I think it was. Not sure on that, but I know for sure he did it while a Bobcat. And Mek got plenty of National Attention during his rookie season, you may remember the "Got Mek?" campaign for his Rookie of the Year Award? And Emeka also is an Olympian, something at this moment DJ can only aspire to. Adam Morrison was a media darling for a fleeting moment as a Bobcat, before we relaized he couldn't play. And Gerald Wallace gets on the highlight reels all the time, and is a subject of semi-star status. He was a "Dunk King" or something of the like at the All-Star game a few years ago. And I'm not even counting the ESPN All-Access day that the Bobcats had a few years ago, where the entire day was devoted to the 'Cats. And I mean entire.

I'd actually put this on the same plane as Raymond, both are Cousy award winners out of college, lottery picks, and NBA 2nd team rookies who were fairly the same media wise their first year. Don't fool yourself into thinking DJ is a star just yet, Toot Daddy