London 2012 Olympics: Byron Mullens pulls out of Team GB basketball squad but are hopeful Ben Gordon will play "Obviously Byron's absence will hurt our chances of having the deepest and most talented team we can but we feel we are pretty strong at the big guys spot - we like our options and out chemistry there," said Standard Life GB head coach Chris Finch in Houston on Thursday. Great Britain can absorb the loss of Mullens but have always counted on Gordon finally committing to the cause after missing the last three summer seasons for various reasons ranging from changing club, requiring knee surgery and needing to be at home for the birth of his son. His debut, if it ever happens, will be the most prolonged in sporting history. After the most compressed and toughest NBA season in history, GB are trying to be sympathetic to Gordon who has cited fatigue as the main issue and indeed Luol Deng, who joined the GB camp promptly last week, is being rested from their early friendlies throughout this month for the same reasons. "We are never in a position to give ultimatums," said Finch. We are going to give Ben all of next week to let us know what his intentions are and then we will map out whether we go forward with him or without him but there comes a point when we have to move forward and make the best decision for the team. The temptation to go the extra yard - again - with Gordon is clear to see. With him on board GB have a fighting chance of not only progressing from their pool - for once the draw has been relatively kind - but of finishing high enough to avoid a quarter-final with the USA which would be curtains. "Ben would give us a real chance," admits Finch. He is the type of player who can help you over the top. But we need to work with him. He is telling us that he is still recovering from the wear and tear of a long NBA season before he decides whether he is fit enough to go through what we need him to go through. Team GB men's squad: Kieron Achara, Assignia Ogo Adegboye, APOEL Robert Archibald, Zaragoza Eric Boateng, Peristeri Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Hacettepe Dan Clark, Estudiantes Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls Joel Freeland, Unicaja Ben Gordon, Detroit Pistons Myles Hesson, Mersey Tigers Kyle Johnson, APOEL Andrew Lawrence, College of Charleston Mike Lenzly, CEZ Nymburk Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Besiktas Nate Reinking, Sheffield Drew Sullivan, Leicester Devon van Oostrum, Caja Laboral