New York Knicks forward David Lee may play with USA Basketball

David Lee has been invited back to train with USA Basketball this summer and is a candidate to play with the national team at the World Championships in Turkey in August.

Lee was part of the player pool last July but opted not to practice with the national team in Las Vegas because he was a restricted free agent and had not yet signed a contract.

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has started the process of contacting players and their agents about their participation this summer. Colangelo is hoping that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will all commit to the team even though the three players from the 2008 Olympic gold medal squad will be free agents this summer.

In all likelihood, those players that are unsigned when training camp begins in July will not practice. However, most of the high profile players, are expected to be under contract when the World Championships begin on Aug. 28.

USA Basketball is expected to hold one mini-camp in Las Vegas in July and another in New York in early August. They are also expected to play at least one exhibition game at the Garden, which could turn into a quite an event if James, Wade or Bosh signs with the Knicks this summer.

Most of the NBA players that won gold in Beijing have expressed interest in being a part of the World Championships. In that case, Lee will have a difficult time earning a spot, especially when he'll be competing against the likes Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Denver's Chauncey Billups, two All-Stars who weren't on the Olympic team.

"(Durant) has really separated himself from the pack in terms of readiness," Colangelo recently said.

Lee is enjoying his best season and was in consideration for an All-Star spot. Although he didn't make the team there is a chance he could be added as an injury replacement.

Paul Pierce hurt his foot on Monday and if he misses any time with the Celtics he would likely ask out of All-Star Weekend in Dallas. Chris Paul was forced to pull out of the All-Star Game after injuring his knee. NBA commissioner David Stern picked Billups to replace Paul.

Stern would also pick a replacement if Pierce can't play. Lee, Atlanta's Josh Smith, Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut and Orlando's Vince Carter would all be candidates to replace Pierce.

Another possibility is Shaquille O'Neal, the future Hall of Fame center. O'Neal is a sentimental pick and with the game expected to be played in front of 100,000 fans at the new Cowboys Stadium, Stern may opt to pick a player whose clownish behavior fits in during the league's showcase event. The Cavs also own the best record in the East but only James made the All-Star team.