What Are Jimmy Butler's Chances Of Making The USA Olympic Team?

By Cody Westerlund--

(CBS) Even as the Bulls limped to a 42-40 season in 2015-'16, wing Jimmy Butler's rise to prominence continued on and off the court.

If Butler has it his way, that trend will continue by representing the U.S. men's basketball team at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

"Those guys are some high-level athletes, some guys that can really play," Butler told ESPN.com in mid-May. "But I've never backed down from anybody, I won't now. I think it would be an honor to play alongside those guys and represent this country."

As we sit about three weeks away from when USA Basketball intends to announce its 12-man roster, how realistic are Butler's chances of making the team? They're more or less tied to the desire of several players who sit ahead of Butler on the pecking order of USA Basketball.

Butler is one of 31 finalists, but at least six will be sidelined because of serious injuries or the need to rest nagging injuries: LaMarcus Aldridge, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and John Wall.

That leaves 25 players competing for 12 spots, though Mike Conley missed the end of the regular season with an Achilles injury and has questions that persist about his health too. What muddles the picture regarding Butler here is how Team USA wants to construct its roster.

In the 2014 FIBA World Cup, USA took three point guards, four wings and five big men.

In the 2012 Olympics, the American roster featured three point guards as well. There were also three traditional big men, four wings and then the versatile LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who can each play power forward or small forward.

With Curry and Paul out, Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving figure to be the leading point guards for Team USA this time, given their past experiences. Lillard has left an impression and may finally be rewarded after his dynamic play and further maturation to take on the third point guard role. If only two point guards go, that bodes well for Butler and other wings.

Given their stature and equity in Team USA, James and Anthony are locks to go to Rio if they so desire, but they haven't publicly announced their decisions. James intends to evaluate everything after the NBA Finals are finished.

As it sits among wings, Kevin Durant is also a lock, and he told ESPN.com on Monday he plans to go to Rio. Klay Thompson, James Harden, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have also performed at elite levels that make their inclusion near certainties if they want to go. If they all say yes, Butler will be left at home.

The catch for Thompson is that he's concluding his second straight long, taxing season with the Warriors looking to repeat as champions. He could opt to rest instead this summer. George's last experience on Team USA was marred by a gruesome broken leg in a scrimmage in summer 2014.

Also clouding the picture here is the widespread concern of the Zika virus epidemic in Brazil. Bulls big man and Spanish star Pau Gasol has already publicly expressed his fears, and whispers have persisted in NBA circles for weeks that Zika may cause some high-profile players to withdraw from consideration. It's not clear who those players are, but it's a real fear.

As it sits, Butler's on the outside looking in. For him to make the Olympic team, he'd need several of the James/Anthony/Durant/Thompson/Harden/George/Leonard grouping to withdraw for rest or Zika reasons. At that point, USA brass would weigh Butler against the likes of Bradley Beal, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes, Andre Iguodala, Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gay.

Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo has previously valued role players with defensive prowess. Iguodala and Tyson Chandler were on the 2012 Olympic team, and Tayshuan Prince was on the 2008 squad. When engaged, Butler remains one of the world's best defenders, so that could potentially be his calling card.

There are no more mini-camps or competitive settings for players to go head to head before the 12-man roster is announced, so Butler's done all he can already. If there's some attrition from the highest-profile players, Butler has a chance. If not, he'll have to bide his time to keep that dream alive.

Here's the full USA roster:

LaMarcus Aldridge -- hand, finger injuries
Carmelo Anthony
Harrison Barnes
Bradley Beal
Jimmy Butler
Mike Conley -- dealing with Achilles injury
DeMarcus Cousins
Stephen Curry -- ankle, knee injuries
Anthony Davis -- shoulder, knee injuries
DeMar DeRozan
Andre Drummond
Kevin Durant
Kenneth Faried
Rudy Gay
Paul George
Draymond Green
Blake Griffin -- quad injury
James Harden
Gordon Hayward
Dwight Howard
Andre Iguodala
Kyrie Irving
LeBron James
DeAndre Jordan
Kawhi Leonard
Damian Lillard
Kevin Love
Chris Paul -- hand injury
Klay Thompson
John Wall -- knee injury
Russell Westbrook

Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.