I'm a day late with this, but it's awfully interesting:
The feeling-out calls from Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo are starting to trickle in to potential Olympians' voicemails, and one Piston has received the message.
Shooting guard Richard Hamilton needs to return a call to Colangelo, who has begun working on the roster for the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2006 World Championships. ESPN.com reported that Tayshaun Prince also received a call, but he said Friday that he hasn't.
If it came, he'd take it, and as for Hamilton, he is certainly interested in being considered for the team, despite a lengthy commitment.
"Any opportunity to play for your country is exciting," Hamilton said. "You really can't ask for anything better than that, to represent a whole country."
The time commitment -- three years of play, including substantial portions of the NBA off-season -- doesn't bother Hamilton.
"Not one bit," he said.
Team USA should have been focusing on guys like Hamilton and Prince all along -- unselfish players that don't always need the ball in their hands to be effective. More on this if/when it becomes official.
PISTONS CORNER: Hamilton ready to serve country [Detroit Free Press]