ELTON Brand will soon be added to America's fluctuating Athens Olympics' 12-man Dream Team, according to a USA Basketball Committee member. The Clippers' forward was a supplementary pickup for last summer's qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico; this is the thanks he and Richard Jefferson get for their unswerving production and professionalism.
Invitations to Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett have not yet been accepted. Vince Carter (having renounced his spot) and Ray Allen (leaning in that direction) are getting married this summer, apparently prepared to go to any extremes not to play.

Here's the updated unwritten-in-stone view regarding the possible participation of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire: "They're young and should probably wait their turn for the World Games in '06 or the next Olympics in '08," explained the same committee member. "They'll have plenty of chances to represent our country later on."