The Milwaukee Bucks have nearly done a complete overhaul of their roster over the past season and a half.

The Bucks have parted ways with Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis and J.J. Redick this offseason.

The Bucks have only five holdovers from the roster at the end of the season: Larry Sanders, John Henson, Ersan Ilyasova, Ekpe Udoh and Ish Smith.

Lance Stephenson could very well come off the bench for the Indiana Pacers next season with Danny Granger set to return, and the guard is ready to accept that possible role.

"I’m just coming in to play hard," Stephenson said. "Whatever coach (Frank Vogel) decides to do, I think it’s a great decision. Me coming off the bench, Danny coming off the bench, either way, we’re deep. Whatever helps the team, that’s what I want to do."

Stephenson praised Larry Bird's acquisitions this offseason, most recently trading for Luis Scola.

"We’ve made a lot of great pickups," Stephenson said. "Our bench is even better than what it was last year. Once training camp comes, we’re going to see where everyone’s position is at and get ready for the next year."

Metta World Peace's brother, Daniel Artest, believes that the New York Knicks were missing a tough defensive element last season in the playoffs.

“They’ve got a good team but they never had that goon — that defensive goon last season,’’ Daniel Artest said. “Someone that’s not afraid. If Ron was on the team, they would have gotten past the Pacers.’’

World Peace was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers and subsequently signed with the Knicks.

“I’m not worried [he’s washed up],’’ Daniel said. “It’s all about heart. The way Ron plays, he will help the Knicks out the way he plays defense and take pressure off Carmelo [Anthony], [who] won’t have to guard the best forward guy anymore. [World Peace] can guard the power forward. He held a lot of power forwards like Zach Randolph, David West and LaMarcus [Aldridge] last season way below their scoring average. He’s still very strong and has a lot of game left.’’

The Los Angeles Lakers figure to struggle to even reach the playoffs next season due to the departure of Dwight Howard and the uncertainty of Kobe Bryant's return from a torn Achilles' tendon.

Some have pondered whether the Lakers should focus on 2014 and be in a position to have a high draft pick.

"You know that's not our plan. Our plan was to bring back Dwight Howard and that would have sky-rocketed our payroll," Kupchak said. "That's never a plan here with our fan base, to throw in the towel before the season begins. We always try to win, and that's what we're going to do this year.

"We have challenges. There's no doubt. We don't know when Kobe's coming back, and we don't know what level he's going to come back at, although we're optimistic. Everything's good with Steve [Nash]. Pau [Gasol] should be fine. We've added some athleticism. We're hopefully putting ourselves in position where we can compete in every game."

Sam Hinkie is rebuilding the Philadelphia 76ers behind a strategy of accumulating young draft picks and players that have possibly been overlooked.

"Any player we're investing in, we do it because we assume they're undervalued," Hinkie said.

The 76ers have acquired the likes of Royce White, James Anderson and Tim Ohlbrecht this offseason.

"We'll focus on building something that will end in a place everybody will be proud of. If our young players play great, then things will move on quickly. If they don't, then it will move along more slowly," Hinkie said. "It's a little early right now. [Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams] are both under contract for four years. That allows you to look around the bend a little bit, and look past a turnover or be patient with an injury."

Manu Ginobii is motivated by the San Antonio Spurs' commitment in bringing back the core of he, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan after a near championship season.

“I really respect the commitment to (bring back) almost the whole team,” Ginobili said. “I think it was smart. They know we did a great thing last year, and that is why the group is maintained.

“It's hard to think that you're going to change everything because of a few seconds last year. We had a great season, and we were one shot or rebound away from winning a ring, so there is no reason to change a lot.”

Ginobili re-signed with the Spurs this offseason and said he is excited to return.

John Wall believes that he and Bradley Beal form one of the best backcourts in the NBA -- when healthy.

“I feel if both of us stay healthy, we’ll be top-five, top-six best back courts in the league,” Wall said. “Him as a young player, he’s very mature. He knows how the game goes. He’s just like me, a competitive person.”

The Wizards went 16-9 in games with both Beal and Wall in the lineup and 13-44 without one of them on the floor last season.

Wall and Beal both believe they will be 100 percent healthy for training camp.

Dwane Casey plans to change the Toronto Raptors’ offense to get Jonas Valanciunas involved more.

“That’s part of the offense that will change quite a bit because he has developed into the type of player that we can go to on a consistent basis far more than we did last year,” Casey said.

“He’s done a good job this summer not only scoring out of the low post, but of reading defenses, understanding when to pass, when to score, when to attack.

“He’s going to get his big portion of the offence run through him, around him, not only just to score out of the low post, but to quarterback.”

Valanciunas had a strong showing at the Las Vegas summer league, winning MVP honors on averages of 18.8 points on 56.1 percent shooting along with 10.0 rebounds.

Monty Williams has given Jrue Holiday one personal goal for improvement.

"Be more efficient. Obviously he had Chris Paul. From a coaching stand point, just making me more efficient, better as a point guard," said Holiday.

Holiday, who ranked 21st among all NBA point guards in PER last season, has a laundry list of things he wants to improve.

"For one, my jump shot. Being more consistent. Obviously trying to be more explosive with guys like Russell (Westbrook) and Derrick Rose out there. Be more explosive and try to stay in front of John Wall and Kyrie Irving," Holiday said. "But also defense is a big key, especially on the team we're going to have. And then there's my wide open shooting."

Jrue Holiday is hoping to become more familiar with Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson during the three-day Team USA training camp in Las Vegas.

Holiday was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans this offseason.

"Honestly, I'd like (this week) it to bring me closer to a lot of players," Holiday said. "These are some of the best players in the league and I'd like to become closer with them, closer to the coaches. I think that way I can learn more and I can become a better player.

"It's awesome, obviously, that Monty (Williams, the Pelicans' coach) is here, Ryan (Anderson) and A.D. (Anthony Davis) and (Pelicans assistant) Randy Ayers. It's cool to see that my team is actually doing the right things."