Only One Opening Left on Team USA for the Olympics; Chris Paul pulls out

Khris Middleton, Kevin Love and Jrue Holiday will be filling 3 of the remaining 4 spots on the men's basketball team for the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Holiday takes the spot that had been reserved for Chris Paul, who has now declined the offer.

USA Basketball has known that Paul was trending toward this decision for several days, per sources. If Suns reach NBA Finals, there would be virtually no break before end of his NBA season and start of July Olympics in Tokyo. https://t.co/1HS80xs5nf
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2021

Damian Lillard, Draymond Green and Jayson Tatum were the first to sign-up, followed since then by Kevin Durant, James Harden, Bradley Beal, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, and now Middleton and Holiday from the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love.

There's a bit of a hitch in these plans, however, as Booker, Holiday and Middleton could be competing in the NBA Finals up until July 22nd; The Tokyo Games begin on July 23rd. As for Booker, he has his sights set on the Olympics, regardless:

Devin Booker and Chris Paul, or maybe Paul George, might need to slip through a wrinkle in time, or crawl through a worm hole, to get to Tokyo on schedule. Here’s how Team USA would help them do it ⁦@TheAthleticNBA⁩ https://t.co/fEI9QXd5ZD
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) June 22, 2021

Team USA Director Jerry Colangelo says Booker told him: "Even if we (the Suns) go all the way in the Finals and I only have three days to get to Tokyo, I’ll be there.” Colangelo said they'll be happy to charter a special flight for him, and any of the others who play in the Finals.

As noted by The Athletic's Joe Vardon, that final slot on the team is seemingly reserved for Paul George. No word on George, Middleton, and Holiday's intentions should their teams make it to the Finals.

Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports