Team USA Hopeful Zach LaVine Will Be Able To Join In Tokyo

Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been placed in health and safety protocols and won’t be traveling with the team to the Tokyo Olympics, though could join them once he’s cleared, USA Basketball announced.

Lavine is being left back “out of an abundance of caution,” the team announced.

“Out of an abundance of caution, USA Basketball Men’s National Team member Zach LaVine has been placed under USA Basketball’s health and safety protocols and will not travel with the team to Tokyo (on Monday),” USA Basketball said in a statement. “USA Basketball hopes that Zach will be able to join the team in Tokyo later this week.”

The Americans are scheduled to begin their quest for the gold Sunday vs. France.

They already lost Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (safety protocols) and Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love (withdrew). Those two were replaced Spurs shooting guard Keldon Johnson and Nuggets center JaVale McGee.

But from the sounds of things, Team USA is expecting to not have to replace LaVine.

But because guards Devin Booker (Suns) and Jrue Holiday (Bucks), and forward Khris Middleton (Bucks) are still competing in the Finals, the Americans could be down to eight available players in their first game.