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Team USA may be in search of a forward after Zach LaVine was placed under health and safety protocols following a string of exhibition games in Las Vegas last week. LaVine will not travel with the nation's men's basketball team as they plan to travel to Tokyo on Monday. However, he hopes to rejoin his teammates later this month. Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the news via Twitter on Monday afternoon.
"Team USA's Zach LaVine has been placed under health and safety protocols and will not travel with the team to Tokyo today. USAB hopes LaVine will be able to join the team in Tokyo later this week," the basketball insider tweeted.
Charania did not specify whether or not LaVine had tested positive for COVID-19, but it would not come as a surprise if he did. Thus far, Team USA has reportedly had two players test positive for the virus. Bradley Beal was placed under health and safety protocols and will not be able to travel with Team USA to Tokyo. In contrast, Grant was placed under health and safety protocols, but it appears that he will be able to compete in Tokyo. Also, Kevin Love stepped away from Team USA due to a series of lingering injuries. Both Love and Beal were replaced by Keldon Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs and Javale McGee of the Denver Nuggets.
Team USA continues to struggle with building chemistry after coming together the first time earlier this month. In a string of exhibition games, Team USA lost games to both Nigeria and Australia. However, the men's basketball team was able to bounce back with wins against Spain and Argentina. Within the next week, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton will join the team after wrapping up the 2021 NBA Finals.
Team USA will open its Olympic run on July 25 against France.
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