By Roje Adaimy
Australia will be without Patty Mills and two other NBA stars for their Olympic qualifying games against New Zealand amid concerns about the San Antonio Spurs point guard's shoulder injury.
Mills was not available for the Boomers' upcoming European tour so was axed from the 12-man side to play Slovenia and Lithuania.
That tour is followed by the two-game Oceania championship against New Zealand in August, which carries a prize of direct qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"We are obviously disappointed that Patty can't join us on the European tour, and as a result, has been omitted from the team for this campaign - but we understand and respect his position," said national coach Andrej Lemanis.
"The tour to Europe, playing against quality opposition, is critical in our preparations to beat New Zealand in August."
Mills' former Spurs teammate Aron Baynes, who last week signed a three-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, will also miss the campaign following recent ankle surgery.
Baynes said he was very disappointed to be missing out on the series agains the Tall Blacks on August 15 and 18.
"My priority is ensuring that I am 100 per cent healthy for the Olympics next year, so I made the tough decision to get my ankle cleaned out this off season," said.
Basketball Australia also confirmed Joe Ingles will miss Boomers duty, having decided in March to rest after a tough rookie NBA season with the Utah Jazz.
Two NBA players named in the squad are Golden State Warriors centre Andrew Bogut and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavadova.
The pair squared off in the NBA final series last month, with Bogut's Warriors emerging victorious.
BOOMERS: David Andersen, Cameron Bairstow, Andrew Bogut, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Adam Gibson, Chris Goulding, Nate Jawai, Damian Martin, Brock Motum, Brad Newley
AFP