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Aron Baynes, Brock Motum make Australia's FIBA World Cup roster

The Boomers will have some WSU ties in Spain with both Aron Baynes and Brock Motum on the roster.

By Mark Sandritter
Paul Kane

Fresh off winning a NBA Championship with the Spurs, Aron Baynes will attempt to add some more hardware to his collection as he will be among the headliners on Australia's FIBA World Cup roster. He will be joined by a fellow Cougar with Brock Motum also making the team.

Baynes didn't play a major role for the Spurs, but figures to be a main contributor for the Boomers. Baynes found some international success playing for Australia in the 2012 Olympics and with Andrew Bogut and Patty Mills not on the roster, he should he should be one of the key cogs. Motum will get his first call up to the national team after playing very well in the Sino-Australia Challenge last month. It's been a good summer for Motum who showed well enough in the Summer League with the Jazz to earn and invitation to training camp with Utah. The FIBA World Cup will be just another opportunity for him to put his skills on display. He's still under contract with Bologna in Italy -- with an NBA out clause -- but playing well in Spain could help his future earnings either in the NBA or overseas.

WSU will have at least two representatives in Spain, but could end up with three players. Klay Thompson is in camp with Team USA, playing for a spot on the American roster. Thompson is one of 19 players in camp with the U.S. with 12 eventually being picked to head to Spain. Mike Krzyzewski loves to stock his rosters with shooters and Thompson's shooting ability is up there with any of the 19. He's also a good defender and long, giving him an advantage over some of the others. It appears Thompson is firmly in the mix for the 12th roster spot and it wouldn't surprise me if he made the team.

If that happens, WSU might just be the most-represented college in the tournament. Kentucky could be that team depending on how rosters shake out, but that's not a lock. If Thompson does make the roster, he could face his former teammates in the second round if Australia advances out of Group D.

Men's Basketball:

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