The Orlando Magic will continue to experiment with Victor Oladipo at point guard in training camp.

Oladipo was primarily a shooting guard while at Indiana and his results were mixed in Summer League action at point guard.

Jameer Nelson is the incumbent at point guard.

Brad Stevens will adjust his system to the strengths of his players, instead of insisting that players fit the system.

"I don't think style of play is defined by coaches,” Stevens said. “I think it's defined by who the players are. You try to fit with your players to the best of their abilities at both ends of the floor, while at the same time provide a framework for which we can all work together.

"What I would like to do and what I see as a really positive thing with this group, is playing in transition with a lot of spacing. We have bigs that can really shoot the basketball. We have guards that are very athletic that can get into the paint.  We got a couple of wings that can run the floor and do things in transition that are really high level. And then we got guys that can score off spacing, that can score off cutting and score off the bounce."

The Celtics finished near the league average in pace in 2012-13 with 91.7 possessions per game.

Dion Waiters believes he can develop into the NBA’s best shooting guard.

“Without a doubt, I really believe that [I’ll eventually be the best shooting guard in the NBA],” Waiters said. “This year, I’m going to show a lot of people who doubted me and still doubt me. I’m going to show them. And I don’t need praise and all of that. I just want to be respected. I’m coming. That’s all I have to say. I’ve taken my work ethic to another level and I feel as though I still have something to prove. So, watch out.”

Waiters is ready to take his game to another level.

“I’m coming,” he said. “I just feel as though I’m next up as far as shooting guards. If you look around, you know, Kobe [Bryant] and [Dwyane] Wade and those guys, they paved the way for a player like me and they’re almost done. It’s not like that, but I’m just saying, I’m coming. I just want everybody to know that.”

Caron Butler played just 24 minutes per game on the Los Angeles Clippers last season, and he accepted the role due to the team's success. Now, Butler believes he is ready to play elevated minutes on the Milwaukee Bucks.

"After I got back healthy, I actually wanted to play more," Butler said. "I had to accept the role I was given. I felt I was back to my old self. It's never been hard for me to score. As long as I'm out there, I'll find a way.

"I'm good for whatever is needed. I'm definitely in great shape and I can't wait for the season to start."

Larry Drew said word around the NBA was that Butler returned to 100 percent last season.

"You started seeing that pop in his step again," Drew said.

Flip Saunders expects Ricky Rubio to become more efficient as a scorer.

"In order for him to get to the next level, that's what he's going to have to improve on," Saunders said. "And he will improve on it. He will really work at it."

Rubio shot just 36 percent from the floor last season, including 29.3 percent on three-pointers.

"He's kind of in between a set shot and a jump shot a lot of times," Saunders said. "That happens a lot when you're younger and coming up."

Adding a jumper could open up a lot of things for Rubio.

"That's his next step in the evolution of the point guard position," Saunders said. "Being a bigger scoring threat, being able to knock down shots, which will make the game much easier for him."

Larry Sanders feels a new sense of responsibility after signing a four-year, $44 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"This organization has put so much trust in me as a person, as a player, as a worker, as a leader," Sanders said. "That's definitely the role I want to take.

"It's not a spontaneous thing. We've been working in this direction for a long time. Now, them investing this faith in me is awesome. But it comes with a lot of responsibility and I embrace that.

"I've had my mistakes; I've had my ups and downs. All in all, I keep pushing in a forward direction and it's allowed me to get here today. It's the same direction I want to push this team."

Sanders is working to refine his offensive game.

"Everything on the offensive end, from the midrange shot to driving to the basket and being able to finish around the rim better," Sanders said. "And trying to facilitate more, open up the court a little bit, understand the offense better."

With injuries to Brandon Roy and Greg Oden that ended their tenures with the Portland Trail Blazers, the franchise has remained a fringe playoff team.

Damian Lillard was the NBA's Rookie of the Year last season and the Blazers have resisted trading LaMarcus Aldridge for younger players. 

"Paul Allen has never wanted to rebuild," says Neil Olshey. "He does not want to take three steps backward in order to take four steps forward. So we decided we were just going to have one foot in, and one foot out."

Aldridge is now 28, while Nicolas Batum is 25 and Lillard is 23.

"Something like 45 wins is OK with a young roster, starting a bunch of rookie scale guys, and when you have all this cap room in 2015," Olshey said. "But if you're capped out with no flexibility, hovering around 45 wins? That's not acceptable."

Goran Dragic endorsed the Phoenix Suns’ offseason moves, including the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe.

"I’m really excited with what they’re doing," Dragic said. "I talked with Ryan [McDonough] and Jeff [Hornacek] a couple of times. They told me what they're doing and how they want to do things. I think it's awesome."

McDonough and Hornacek have expressed optimism over a proposed plan to start Dragic and Bledsoe together in the backcourt.

"He’s a mini-Lebron James," Dragic said of Bledsoe. "He’s got that big strength so when he's in the open court, he’s unstoppable. Like a lot of fans know, I like to play fast basketball. When I get the ball to the other guy, he’s going to run. We’re going to score a lot of points."

Jason Kidd has supported Deron Williams since becoming the new coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and he laid out a statistical goal for his point guard on Sunday.

“I’m going to push him. I want the best for him,” Kidd said. “When we sit down and talk about goals, team goals and also individual goals, I’m going to push him and I want to get him back to double-digit assists.”

Williams hasn’t averaged at least 10 assists since 2010-11, which represented the fourth straight season he eclipsed that mark. Last season’s 7.7 assists per game was Williams’ lowest output since he was a rookie.

“You don’t want to take away from Deron’s freedom and creativity of putting pressure on the defense,” Kidd said. “And I thought he did a great job of that in the second half of last season. When he lost the weight, physically he felt better. His strength is when he’s in the open court."

Dorell Wright believes he will compete for a starting spot on the Portland Trail Blazers, but he admits a role as a sharpshooter off the bench is more probable and could further help the team.

"I know what I can do. I know what I can bring," Wright said. "But I see myself as a guy who comes in off the bench; knocking down threes, being a stretch-four."

Wright feels chemistry will be a major key for the Blazers.

"When you're coming off the bench, you gotta be ready right away, you gotta have 2-3 heat packs on your legs and be ready at all times," he said. "You gotta be ready, you always gotta be ready."