Utah Jazz: Odds improve for Williams to make U.S. Olympic team

Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams has an increasingly likely shot at making USA Basketball's 12-man Olympic roster when it is unveiled Monday.

ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported today that Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups has withdrawn from consideration for the team, citing undisclosed personal family issues.

That makes Williams, who probably would have made it anyway, a virtual certainty for making his first Olympic team.

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo has said previously the national team planned to take three point guards when it goes for gold this August at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China.

Williams, Billups, Dallas' Jason Kidd (who supposedly has been promised a spot) and Chris Paul of New Orleans were the four under consideration.

Another Jazz player, two-time NBA All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer, a 2004 Olympian, has said previously he fully expects to make the team for a second time.