"Those are the tough decisions regarding nine, 10, 11 12, or 10, 11, 12 on the roster — and who are the alternates," Colangelo said. "So, I just say Deron Williams is a big part of USA Basketball's future."

Williams does have the advantage of size over Paul, but Paul beat out Williams for a spot on the Western Conference team in Sunday's All-Star Game.

"He is what he is," Colangelo said of Paul, selected one spot behind Williams in the 2005 NBA Draft — making virtually everything he and Williams do a cause for constant comparison.

"He's not gonna grow between now and July," Colangelo said. "But Chris Paul is gonna come in there and make things very interesting."

For his part, Williams fully expects to protect his roster position.

"I've never got cut from a team, so I like my chances," he said Friday.

"I think I impressed the coaches last year," Williams said. "I think I can bring a lot to the team, whether I'm playing five minutes or 20. Whatever they need me to do, I'm there for the team. I can be a cheerleader if they want me to."

As for Boozer, he'll be rooting chiefly for the U.S. to do what it could not in Athens.

Win, that is, Olympic gold.

"We didn't get a chance to make an impact on it," Boozer said of he and then-teammates LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, current NBA All-Stars who played sparingly on the 2004 team.

"We wished we would have had a chance to do it again and play more, and maybe we would have won the gold medal," Boozer said.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com