"I'm still glad to be part of this [USA Basketball], but I'm more comfortable with it now. I'm better prepared,'' Howard said last week. "I want to do my part to put the USA back on top of the basketball world. That's important.''

While Howard is sure to snag one of the 12 roster spots, sharing time at center with Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix , Redick will go into the start of today's practices with only a long shot at making the team. He and NBA rookie Kevin Durant are the only two of the 16 who didn't play a major role for an NBA team last season.

Durant was the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft by Seattle earlier this summer after playing one season at the University of Texas . Redick was buried on the Magic bench for much of his rookie season. His only chance would be if he has a dazzling week of shooting from long range, leaving everyone else far behind.

Kobe Bryant is expected to be the starting shooting guard, playing between point guard Jason Kidd and small forward LeBron James. Other 3-point shooters, which are at a premium in international competition, among the 16 are Michael Redd and Mike Miller.

"If you're talking about him [Redick] being one of the 12 best players there, I don't know if he fits that bill yet. But if they want shooting on the floor, they'll have to really give him a look,'' Magic General Manager Otis Smith said.

"You can never have enough great shooters."

Smith, who will be traveling to Las Vegas to watch at least a few games next week, said the summer experience for Howard and Redick should prove helpful for the next Magic season.

"I don't think there is any downside to this," Smith said. "It's a plus for the Magic to have them out there. To have Dwight going against Amare Stoudemire in practice every day, it's a good experience.

"To have J.J. going against guys he'll eventually be facing, it can't do anything but help him.''

Howard could become the starter ahead of the more experienced Stoudemire. In the final blue/white scrimmage under game conditions during last month's mini-camp, Howard had 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots in 24 minutes. He made all nine of his field-goal attempts and all three of his free throws.

The first round-robin portion of the USA schedule will include games against Venezuela (Aug. 22), the U.S. Virgin Islands (Aug. 23), Canada (Aug. 25) and Brazil (Aug. 26).

The rest of the schedule, and which other teams they play, will be determined by early results in the opposite bracket.

At some point, the USA is likely to face Puerto Rico , which includes Magic point guard Carlos Arroyo as one of its best players. Puerto Rico beat the USA at the 2004 Olympics.

Other national teams competing will be those from Argentina , Mexico , Panama and Uruguay .

Although Argentina is the defending Olympic champion, it will be without many of its NBA players this summer.

The USA won the FIBA Americas Championship in 1999 and in 2003, using those victories to qualify for the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

They are heavily favored to win again, even though they did not win the gold medal last summer at the World Championships.

Of the 16 players who will open practice today, 15 participated in the national team's minicamp in July. Shane Battier and Kirk Hinrich, who played last month, withdrew from consideration for the USA team this summer. Seattle forward Nick Collison, who missed the July camp, was added to the roster last week.

In an effort to prepare better, USA Basketball even assembled a team of mostly younger NBA players to scrimmage against them this weekend.

They will be coached by P.J. Carlesimo, recently appointed head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics.

Among those on the scrimmage team, which is called USA Select, are Al Jefferson (Timberwolves), Channing Frye (Trail Blazers), Jeff Green (SuperSonics), Andre Iguodala (76ers), Aaron Brooks (Rockets), Devin Harris (Mavericks), Jason Kapono (Raptors) and David Lee (Knicks).

Because the USA team is considered a heavy favorite to win this qualifier, there might be more drama surrounding individual players such as Bryant, who is expected to address the topic of his earlier request for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade him.

The final USA roster also could provide some controversy.

There were hard feelings last summer when Gilbert Arenas and Bruce Bowen were cut before the World Championships.

Although it's purely speculation, the four cuts from the current 16 players that begin practicing today are expected to come from Redick, Durant, Collison, Redd, Miller and Tayshaun Prince.

NBA Future:
Brandon Rush
Full name is Brandon L. Rush... Born July 7, 1985... Undecided major... Brother, Kareem, was a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection at Missouri in 2001 and 2002 and has played four seasons in the NBA... Brother, JaRon, played collegiately at UCLA... Was ranked No. 13 overall and No. 2 small forward, behind KU teammate Julian Wright, by Rivals.com... Brandon Rush pulled out of the NBA draft in summer of 2005 and joined the KU team in August... Twice named an all-star at the Reebok ABCD Camp and was the 2004 ABCD Camp most valuable player while playing for AAU KS Rocktown... Brandon Rush was a late addition to the USA Men's Junior National select team at the ninth annual Hoop Summit in Memphis, Tenn., following the 2004-05 season.

NBA Future:
DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins is a big PF who averaged 26 pts, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 70% FG and 80% FT per game as a freshman in high school last year. DeMarcus Cousins has developing post moves, is an excellent rebounder, and a solid athlete. DeMarcus Cousins' ability to overpower players gives him a very high ceiling. DeMarcus Cousins has a 7'3" wingspan and 9'0" standing reach. DeMarcus Cousins is very raw. DeMarcus Cousins needs to work on his footwork and decision making mostly. DeMarcus Cousins offense is coming along fine, but he needs to become more of a leader on defense. DeMarcus Cousins consistency is also a problem against top competition.

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