With this year's edition of the FIBA World Cup in China just weeks away, participating teams are already in the final stages of their respective preparations. For their part, the German national squad has released its preliminary roster for the highly-prestigious tournament, which contains more than a few notable NBA names. As reported by Josh Askounis of EuroHoops.net, the German side will be comprised of the likes of Dallas Mavericks incoming third-year man Maxi Kleber, Dennis Schroder of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics big man Daniel Theis, and Washington Wizards' Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga.
Schroder is perhaps the most prominent name on the squad, with the 25-year-old point guard looking to have a big year with the Thunder. Russell Westbrook is now with the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul does not look to be a long-term option for the team, which means that Schroder will be in line for some huge minutes once the dust finally settles.
As for Kleber, the 6-foot-11 power forward was handed a bigger role in his sophomore year with the Mavs last season, and he was able to put up 6.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 21.2 minutes per contest.
Celtics big man Theis might also be in line for a more significant role with Boston this year following the departure of Al Horford.
As for former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Wagner and Bonga, both players were actually part of the blockbuster trade deal centered around Anthony Davis, and they have now set on different paths in their respective NBA careers.
The FIBA World Cup will kick off on August 31, and Germany will be faced with some stiff competition in their first three games, with France, the Dominican Republic, and Jordan, all posing as a challenge for the German team.
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