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Report: Derrick Rose still undecided about USA Basketball participation

REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Don't count Derrick Rose among the long list of stars committed to the USA Basketball minicamp in Las Vegas later this month just yet.

While it's been expected that Rose will attend the three-day summit - described by managing director Jerry Colangelo as more "reunion" than grueling tryout - he remains undecided, ESPN's Nick Friedell reports.

The Chicago Bulls superstar is weighing the opportunity to play for the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics against additional rest ahead of the 2015-16 season. Rose was set to play for the gold medal-winning 2012 squad before tearing his ACL in the 2012 playoffs, and he used the 2014 FIBA World Cup as a means of shaking off the rust from subsequent injuries ahead of last season.

With a torn ACL and a twice-torn meniscus on his medical file, plus myriad smaller maladies in recent years, Rose choosing to avoid additional taxation on his body would be completely justified. But Colangelo has been adamant that attendance at the Aug. 11-13 minicamp is mandatory to be considered for the next Olympic squad.

Rose was able to return from his latest meniscus tear late last season and held up through the playoffs. He hasn't quite gotten back to the MVP version of himself - averaging 17.7 points and 4.9 assists in 51 games last season, while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 28 percent from long range - but entering next season well-rested and fully healthy would probably be a nice step toward that end.

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