But he hasn't grown taller, and there's some thought that the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Williams is better suited to the international game. The former University of Illinois star has played in 34 games for the U.S., and he impressed the present coaching staff by averaging 4.6 assists per game coming off the bench in last summer's Olympic qualifying tournament.

Krzyzewski will use the United States' five exhibitions, beginning with Friday night's game against Canada at Thomas & Mack Center, to decide whether Williams or Paul will be first off the bench at the point.

Or maybe they'll both come in together. Krzyzewski has toyed with one lineup that has Paul at the point and Williams at shooting guard.

This week's scrimmages have been closed to the media, so it's difficult to assess how the competition is playing out.

"We won't know about set rotations until we get to Beijing," Krzyzewski said. "But I'm really happy with the point guard spot."

In Paul's view, it doesn't matter how many minutes each point guard plays because there shouldn't be a drop-off when Krzyzewski substitutes.

"Let's just do what we do," Paul said. "We have three of the best point guards in the world. We all have different things that we do better than the other ones, but at the same time we're a collective team. We understand that everything starts with us. As long as we play hard every time we're out there, we'll be fine."

WARRIORS RE-SIGN ELLIS: The Golden State Warriors made sure they would have Monta Ellis in their backcourt at least for the near future, re-signing the explosive guard to a multiyear contract Thursday.

Ellis, who was a restricted free agent, is expected to take over at point guard next season in Don Nelson's up-tempo offense after two-time All-Star Baron Davis opted out of his contract earlier this month to join his hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

NUGGETS SIGN ANDERSEN: The Denver Nuggets brought back Chris Andersen, signing the frontcourt player known as "Birdman" on Thursday.

Andersen was reinstated by the NBA in early March after being kicked out on Jan. 27, 2006, for violating the league's drug policy.

The 6-foot-10, 228-pound Andersen played in five games for the New Orleans Hornets last season, averaging 1.2 points and 1.8 rebounds a game.

He is a high-energy player, something the Nuggets could use after losing Eduardo Najera to free agency and trading center Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles Clippers.

WARRIORS MATCH CLIPPERS' OFFER TO AZUBUIKE: Kelenna Azubuike will return to the Golden State Warriors after the club matched the Los Angeles Clippers' three-year, $9 million contract offer for the shooting guard on Thursday.

Azubuike averaged 8.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 81 games last season with the Warriors, who signed the former Kentucky guard out of the NBA Developmental League in January 2007. He started 17 games for Golden State, and he should see more playing time next season after Baron Davis' departure for the Clippers, Mickael Pietrus' signing with Orlando and Monta Ellis' expected move to point guard.