Steven Adams was an expected absentee as the Tall Blacks' trialists gathered in Auckland to start the build-up to the Oceania Olympic basketball qualifier against Australia.
But coach Paul Henare remains optimistic the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) centre will be there for the home-and-away series in August, when the winners get direct entry to Rio next year.
"He wants to play - there's no doubt about that," Henare said on Wednesday.
"It all comes down to what his management and the OKC management think is best for him."
Adams' availability has been complicated by a change of coach at OKC, with Billy Donovan replacing the sacked Scott Brooks.
Henare said the 21-year-old Adams had yet to sit down with Donovan.
"Obviously, I'm very hopeful that he's available but you have to let this thing play out," he said.
"When they changed their head coach, it halted the process a little bit, which isn't ideal, but it is what it is and we'll just carry on and keep communicating and hopefully find out soon."
Henare, named New Zealand coach in March, is casting his eye this week over 20 players.
He will choose a 14-strong roster on Saturday for matches against Great Britain, Croatia and Slovenia in Europe later in July, as well for the Stankovic Cup in August in China.
The group will be trimmed to 12 for the series against the NBA-laden Australians in Melbourne on August 15 and Wellington three days later.
Also missing from the trials is Spain-based shooting guard Kirk Penney, who won't be available against the Boomers.
Henare said Penney, 34, was focused on his young family at the moment.
"So we're giving him space and time to sit back and enjoy that part of his life," he said.
"It's a new chapter for him and I'll touch base with him a little bit later down the track and see how he's doing."
Share
