Anthony Becomes Olympian

Denver Nugget forward Carmelo Anthony accepted an invitation to join the U.S. Olympic basketball team Wednesday.

Connecticut center Emeka Okafor, who could be the No. 1 pick in tonight’s NBA draft, will be invited to fill the final roster spot, ESPN.com reported. Okafor is expected to accept the invitation, which would complete USA Basketball’s effort to complete a 12-man team for Athens after numerous pullouts and rebuffed invitations.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play for my country in the Olympics and I plan on coming back with a gold medal,” Anthony said in a statement issued by the Denver Nuggets.

Anthony and Okafor would get the spots declined earlier this week by the Detroit Pistons’ Richard Hamilton and Ben Wallace.

Only Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson remain from the original invitees. The unofficial U.S. roster now includes Duncan, Iverson, Anthony, LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, Stephon Marbury, Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Lamar Odom and Carlos Boozer.

The U.S. team opens training camp July 26.

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Although at least seven teams are serious about acquiring Tracy McGrady from the Orlando Magic, there won’t be a trade before tonight’s draft, General Manager John Weisbrod said.

“We’re certainly not going to rush anything,” Weisbrod said.

Earlier this week, league sources said McGrady was close to being sent to Houston in a trade for Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, among others.

Weisbrod, however, said that deal was far from certain and that Orlando was still weighing its options.

He also dismissed reports that the Magic-Rocket trade was derailed by Francis’ dismay about going to the team with the NBA’s worst record.

Francis’ agent, Jeff Fried, did not return phone calls.

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The Dallas Mavericks acquired the No. 5 pick in today’s draft from the Washington Wizards for sixth man of the year Antawn Jamison, according to ESPN.com.

The Wizards also will reportedly send Christian Laettner and Jerry Stackhouse to the Mavericks.

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Sacramento King guard Anthony Peeler declined to exercise his contract option for next season, making him a free agent on July 1.