Sean Marks said Wednesday he anticipates going to Rio de Janiero next month because the Nets will have three players --Bojan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola and Greivis Vasquez-- playing in the Olympics.
But he may be only able to see two of his players in Rio. Reports in the Venezuelan press seem to indicate that Greivis Vasquez's status with the Venezuelan Olympic team remains uncertain.
Vasquez didn't play this weekend in a "friendly" game vs. Spain, meaning that of the Venezuelans' four friendlies so far, he's only played in one vs. Lithuania and only 17 minutes in that one, contributing three points, an assist, and a rebound. In the matches against Belarus and the Netherlands he did not participate at all because he was working out the details of his contract with Brooklyn. He signed a one-year, $5 million contract, including bonuses, in New York on July 10.
In explaining why Vasquez did not play against Spain, Venezuelan coach Nestor Garcia said he has been "concentrating on getting in shape physically." Vasquez had surgery in December to remove a bone spur and loose bodies from his ankle. He was expected to be ready to return in April, but the Bucks season had already ended by then. There's been no indication that Vasquez won't be ready for training camp in October.
On Monday, the Venezuelan Basketball Federation tweeted that Vasquez is waiting word on insurance issues. NBA teams and players in international competition will work out insurance arrangements before a player will take the court.
Vasquez has said in recent days that he is not sure himself whether he will be in Rio. He has feuded with FVB, the Venezuelan basketball federation, in the past. Venezuela has two more friendlies this week -- vs. Spain on Wednesday and vs. Team USA on Saturday-- before a final decision is made on the roster. The Venezuelan roster is currently at 14. Final cuts have to be made following the game against Team USA.