Kyrie Irving played for the U.S. in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 championship and would need a waiver from FIBA, the international governing body of basketball, to be eligible for the Australian Olympic basketball team.

FIBA officials said Irving could be authorized to represent Australia, despite his previous participation with the USA national team, under two conditions: A) he is "going back" to his country of origin; B) this change is in the interest of the development of basketball in the country of the national team he wishes to represent (i.e. Australia).

As of Friday, FIBA officials could not provide names of any players who had been granted such waivers.

Jason Kidd would like to stay involved with the national program.

"I talked with Coach K [Mike Krzyzewski] about maybe getting into the coaching end of it,'' Kidd said. "I want to stay connected with them in some form.''

No specifics have been discussed, but it's possible Kidd could get involved with the selection committee on who makes up the national teams at the junior and/or Olympic levels.

LeBron James said Tuesday that Gregg Popovich, who has coached San Antonio to four NBA titles, would be a great choice for U.S. Olympic coach in 2016 if Mike Krzyzewski doesn't return.

"Absolutely," James said when asked about that possibility. "He knows the game. He knows the players. And he's coached enough stars at San Antonio. I think he'd be great (as Olympic coach). If Coach K decides he doesn't want to do it any more, I think Coach Popovich would be a great candidate. His resume speaks for itself."

Popovich was noncommittal when asked Tuesday.

"I don't even think about stuff like that," Popovich said. "I just worry about tonight."

Kevin Love expects to win a spot on the final Team USA roster.

"Tremendous honor," Love said. "Any time you get a chance to represent your country -- wearing USA across your chest, red white and blue, get out there and sing the national anthem, compete for a gold medal, all of that -- it's a big deal to me and allows me to be a little bit patriotic.

"I have a high level of confidence I will be able to make the team."

Amar’e Stoudemire is not on the 20-man preliminary roster for the 2012 Olympics.

Stoudemire said there are no insurance issues holing him back, as reportedly there were with his contract in 2010 before the FIBA World Championship.

"It's definitely not my choice, but I would love to play," he said. "My loyalty is with USA basketball, as it always has been. If they want me to play, I'm totally open to playing and representing the USA. I'm totally ready to go."

Team USA released their 20 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.

Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets). Griffin was also officially added to the USA Basketball National Team roster.

The 2012 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University’s Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, and serving as USA assistant coaches are Syracuse University’s Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.

“The USA Basketball Men’s National Team program has come a long way as the elite list of players who are now part of our program shows. The selected finalists are a very, very talented group; the depth of the talent is extraordinary. This selection decision was as difficult of a challenge as I’ve faced since I took on the USA National Team program in 2005,” said Colangelo, who has served as the managing director of the USA Men’s National Team since 2005.

“I feel like we have an outstanding blend of talents from the 2008 Olympic and 2010 World Championship teams that won gold. Reducing to the official roster limit of 12 players will be an even tougher decision, but we’ll evaluate how guys play during the 2011-12 NBA season and as we’ve done with our teams in the past, we’ll attempt to select the very best team we can.”

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving was born in Australia while his father, Drederick, played professional basketball there, and as a result has dual citizenship. He has publicly flirted with the idea of playing for Australia in the 2012 London Olympics and reiterated Friday he hasn’t made up his mind.

“Still haven’t decided,” Irving said. “Really it will come down to whether or not I want to give up my whole summer.”

It also comes down to his future intentions with Team USA, which is led by his old college coach, Mike Krzyzewski. If Irving plays with Australia this summer, he would likely be ineligible to ever play with the Americans.

Fabricio Oberto is set to join Argentinian team Atenas de Cordoba in order to get some conditioning work to prepare for London Olympics with the Argentinian National team later this year.

“I want to get as much time as possible for London. It is my goal,” Oberto said. “And the way to do it, is training and playing on a team.”

Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay confirmed that he was told that he will be among 19 players vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo phoned Gay with the news. Colangelo said USA Basketball will announce all the players by the middle of this month. Gay will be part of a pool of players who will be considered for the U.S team at the London Games this summer.

The final 12-man roster and six alternates must be submitted June 18, before the NBA finals will be complete.

Andrew Bynum hasn't heard from Team USA officials, who are expected to announce finalists for the roster in about two weeks.

 "I haven't been thinking about it," Bynum said. "It's definitely something that's a great honor to do and all that, but for me right now, the health of my knees and stuff like that — I don't know if long summers are the best thing for me."

Bynum doesn't seem to mind, for now or the distant future.

"It's something you keep your door open to, but I wouldn't guarantee seeing me doing it," he said.