That last possibility seems least likely for now, especially with Williams showing so much offseason improvement.

Then there's the one Sloan proposed Sunday.

"Maybe he (Fisher) stays at 1," Sloan said, "and Deron goes to 2."

Fisher, for his part, also sees himself as a point, so it's safe to assume he'd love that.

But for now he takes a more open-minded approach to the question of how he'll be used.

"No preference," he said Sunday. "I mean, I'm a point guard as far as I'm concerned. But as long as you're on the floor, it's hard to complain about which spot you're in."

When Utah acquired him from Golden State in July, Fisher wasn't sure what the Jazz had in mind for him. Was it more to push Williams or to play with the prized youngster?

"I didn't have any idea which way they envisioned it, so for me it was just a matter of I was going to be prepared to do either one, basically," he said. "If they felt like they wanted to play me at the 1, I'm prepared to do that. If they want me to play alongside Deron, I'm prepared to do that as well.

"Whichever one works, or whichever one the staff feels like gives us the best chance to win, (I'll do)."

Fisher does, however, hint he's pondered the notion of two points sharing what's designed as a one-point backcourt.

"I think the opportunity is there," he said, "because more than one guy can initiate things, more than one guy can call the set, make things happen.

"So, I think it would be good for us, in particular with the idea of trying to get more easy baskets in transition — you know, two guys that can get out and make plays in the open floor, get penetration and find other people that can make shots in transition."

During five days' worth of training-camp sessions at Boise State University last week, Fisher tasted both positions while Williams mostly played point.

And that leaves the issue as unresolved as it was a couple of months ago.

"Right now," Fisher said, "I couldn't say where I see myself in terms of 'this particular role' or 'that role.' I have no idea, really."

Nor, evidently, does Sloan.

"He's jumped around and played two positions already in training camp, and really hasn't seen all the stuff we do at the 1 position," the Jazz coach said of Fisher, who won three NBA championship rings with the Lakers from 2000-2002. "He's a smart guy and can pick (the point) up — but I'd like to see how he plays there."

NBA preseason

Jazz vs. Lakers

Today, 8 p.m.

SaveMart Center (Fresno, Calif.)

Radio: 1320AM

TV: None

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com