Kamloops basketball product Kelly Olynyk has been dropped from the Canadian men’s basketball roster as training camp opens in Tampa, Florida today.

Canada is gearing up for the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria which gets underway on June 29.

In an interview with NL Sports two weeks ago, Olynyk implied that he might not make the final roster as he’s a pending NBA free-agent.

“It’s definitely a risk to try and play. If you get hurt, you probably are looking at less of a contract or maybe not signed at all,” Olynyk said, after finishing the season with the Houston Rockets. “It’s something you have to take into consideration.”

“I always want to play if I have the opportunity and the body feels good. I want to represent my country. It’s something that I take pride in.”

Toronto Raptors centre Khem Birch – also set to become a free agent – was also not on the roster.

Canada is hosting one of four Olympic qualifying tournaments, in Victoria, between June 29 and July 4. The Canadians will be in a group with Greece and China. Uruguay, the Czech Republic, and Turkey are the other three teams taking part in the tournament.

The winner of the Victoria tournament will move on to face Iran, France, and the USA in Group A at the Summer Olympics.

Canada is currently ranked 21st in the world and they’re looking to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2000.