Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports: After claiming themselves "lucky" to land three likely contributors in last Wednesday's draft that will make an already young team younger, the Washington Wizards enter the free agency period trying to upgrade their roster, maybe by saying good-bye to some players who have served them well.

Beginning just after midnight, NBA teams can begin negotiations with free agents. Contracts can't be finalized until July 16 although parties can come to terms in principle.

The Wizards' main priority is re-signing free agent forward Popeye Jones, who spent the last two seasons in Washington and is considered one of their most valuable players. Since he is the Wizards' own free agent, he fits into the "Bird" free agent category, meaning Washington can spend whatever it wants to retain him without delving into the $4.6 million exception.

Washington will have competition for Jones, one of the team's best rebounders, defenders and, more importantly, mentors to young players. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks already have made it clear they will pursue Jones, who said last season returning to Washington is his first choice.

The Wizards might not be as aggressive in trying to retain Nesby, a small forward, since they drafted Jared Jeffries and Rod Grizzard and have significant interest in George, the Lakers' free agent small forward. However, Nesby still could be in the team's plans, particularly if the Wizards opt to pursue a bigger point guard in free agency.

Though it drafted 6-foot-3 Juan Dixon and will try him at point guard, Washington has targeted Minnesota's Billups and Golden State's Larry Hughes, who struggled making the transition from shooting guard to point guard last year, as point guard possibilities.

In making any trades or free agent moves, the Wizards will be conscious of next season's luxury-tax trigger, which could be as low as $49 million-$50 million. They also must make sure they are thrifty enough to have enough salary cap space -- at least $10 million -- to pursue the stellar crop of free agents in 2003.

San Antonio center Tim Duncan and New Jersey guard Jason Kidd head that list, which also will include Miami center Alonzo Mourning, the Clippers' Lamar Odom and a long list of other top-tier talents. After this season, the Wizards also will have the option of extending the contract of shooting guard Richard Hamilton, who appears to be in the team's long-term plans.

This year's free agent crop has a lower profile but does contain several decent players: Mike Bibby, Bonzi Wells, Keon Clark, Rodney Rogers, Travis Best, Walt Williams, Bryan Russell, Charles Oakley, Bruce Bowen, Billups, Hughes and George, to name a few.

Wyche also speculates that the Wizards will try to swing a deal for a point like Andre Miller or a small forward like Mike Miller.

Thomas Heath of the Washington Post reports: WorldCom Inc.'s admission that it fabricated $3.9 billion in profits is likely to have implications for Abe Pollin's Washington Sports & Entertainment group, and could lead to the MCI Center eventually getting a new name.

Washington Sports forged an estimated $80 million deal with the telephone giant in the mid-'90s, consisting of loans to help build the arena as well as payments to cover the naming rights.

The country's second-largest long-distance company, which purchased Washington-based MCI the same year the arena opened in 1997, is facing fraud charges brought this week by the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the false profits trigger a bankruptcy proceeding, which some Wall Street observers say is likely, Mississippi-based WorldCom could default on its naming rights payments to Washington Sports.

Sports marketer Dean Bonham of Denver specializes in naming rights deals and said "it's pretty clear that the MCI Center is probably going to be looking for a new title sponsor in the next few months."

Marc J. Spears of the Denver Post reports: A potential trade in which Denver Nuggets swingman James Posey would have been dealt for the Washington Wizards' 17th pick in the first round of today's NBA draft dissolved Tuesday.

The Wizards acquired the 17th pick Tuesday, trading guard Courtney Alexander to the New Orleans Hornets. Washington then spoke with Denver about dealing the newly acquired pick for Posey. The Nuggets, however, decided against the move since they consider Posey to be a better player than anyone available at No. 17.

Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said it's possible his client still could be dealt.

"There are a lot of teams that would like to get (Posey)," Bartelstein said. "(Nuggets general manager) Kiki (Vandeweghe) is not looking to just give him away. We are just going to see how this thing plays out."

In the first of what will probably be many trades completed this week, the Hornets and Wizards swapped a player and a pick. Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Courtney Alexander has been traded from the Wizards to the Hornets in exchange for the #17 pick in tomorrow?s draft.

The Hornets, with just one pick in Wednesday night?s draft, will get an experienced two guard in Alexander, who last year averaged 9.8 points in 56 games for the Wizards. He will add depth, size and scoring to their backcourt.

?We need a little more shooting especially at that two spot,? Hornets coach Paul Silas said, ?somebody who can knock it down with some size so he can guard the bigger twos. David (Wesley) does a great job, but we need help there.?

RealGM note: The Hornets used an existing traded player exception to receive Alexander's contract. The Wizards on the other hand, received a traded player exception worth about $1.4 million as a result of this trade.

Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that The Wizards now hold the 11th and 17th picks and could address their needs at small forward and point guard. They could also parlay the picks to move up in the draft. Washington also has two second-round picks (Nos. 39 and 40).

By moving Alexander, the Wizards helped create more space at shooting guard for Michael Jordan, who plans to move to the backcourt from small forward, where he played last year ? if he decides to play. Jordan, 39, has told team officials that he would be open to backing up starting shooting guard Richard Hamilton.

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune reports that power forwards will dominate the top of the draft, while point guards seem to be dominating the trade talks. Baron Davis, Andre Miller and Jamal Crawford are all the subject of talks as the draft approaches.

There were indications Cleveland's Andre Miller could be close to being dealt to the Clippers. Talks continued Monday about several possibilities, the most likely having Miller and the No. 6 pick going to the Clippers for Darius Miles and the No. 8 pick and perhaps No. 12. Cleveland would also be looking to unload some unwanted contracts in this trade.

The Grizzlies have shown interest in trading the No. 4 pick to the Clippers for their two lottery choices.

Talks heated up Monday, but the Hornets denied rumors about a deal involving Baron Davis.

Looking to move up as well to get a power forward was Phoenix, while the Wizards were said to be angling for guard DuJuan Wagner. That also produced talk in Washington that the Wizards planned to make another run at the Bulls' Jamal Crawford.

Michael Jordan practiced with Crawford last summer and has expressed that he would be interested in a big point guard like Crawford. The Bulls have said they do not intend to trade Crawford, and Washington has not made an offer yet. The Bulls could use another first-round pick this season, and the Wizards reportedly are willing to deal their No. 1 pick, which is 11th.

Overall, this draft looks like it could produce some top talent, especially at power forward. "It's not a draft of impact players, but I think it's pretty deep," Bucks general manager Ernie Grunfeld said. "It's a draft of younger players. It's strong at the top at the forward position."

Slovenian forward Bostjan Nachbar offered an impressive workout for Rockets coaches and scouts from the Raptors, Hawks and Jazz. But like the final step in Yao's negotiations, taking Nachbar could be out of the Rockets' hands. Several teams that have earlier picks are interested in him.

The pursuit of Yao moved to Chinese agent Lu Hao, who late Sunday began talks with the China Basketball Association that are designed to gain the CBA approval needed for Yao to receive a letter of clearance to play in the NBA.

The Shanghai Sharks reached an agreement in principle with Yao's representatives, Erick Zhang and John Huizinga, on Saturday and assured that they would offer their approval for Yao to play in the NBA.

At his Houston workout, Nachbar looked like a catch for a team using the 15th pick, and the Rockets need a small forward.

But several teams could be trying to move up in the draft to grab the 21-year-old. Of even greater concern, the 6-9 Nachbar is scheduled to work out today for the Wizards alongside Qyntel Woods and Jared Jefferies. Washington has the 11th pick and is also looking for a small forward.

John N. Mitchell of the Washington Times reports that Courtney Alexander is gaining some interest around the league. Even after a injury-filled season that saw his playing time dwindle.  "He didn't have quite the season that everyone expected him to have, but there's no denying the talent that Courtney has," said one Western Conference general manager who talked under conditions of anonymity.

The Wizards refused to comment, but the Washington Times confirmed that several general managers have admitted that teams are asking about Alexander.

It will not be easy to move Alexander unless he is packaged with another player, and that does not seem likely. Alexander has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $6.42million deal. Last season Alexander made approximately $1.42million, and next year's salary won't be substantially higher. As a result, the Wizards would have to put together a deal involving Alexander and another player to receive anyone of quality in return because the salary figures must be similar.

One possibility could be packaging Alexander with Jahidi White, a player who has drawn interest from Western Conference contenders looking for a player to bang with the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal in spurts. White has three years remaining on his four-year, $25million deal.

Teams know that in the right situation, Alexander can score. He averaged 17 points per game and won the Rookie of the Month award after being traded to the Wizards in 2000. But injuries and reduced playing time behind Rip Hamilton caused a dip in his numbers last year.

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports that the Pistons could trade their first-round pick. With the slim chance that they can find an impact player with the 23rd pick, they may have better luck trading the pick to a team looking for an additional first-round selection. As a result, President Joe Dumars is busy lining up potential trades to either get out of the first round or to land one or two second-round picks.

"We could trade the pick, no question," Dumars said. "We are going to wait and when the draft starts getting down to the 20s, we will have a list of five or six guys that we like. If those players are gone, we will look to move the pick."  

Dumars has already talked with the Wizards who could exchange two second-round choices for the Piston?s pick. He has also talkes with Atlanta who is owed a pick by Detroit from the Stackhouse trade. Dumars could offer the pick to the Hawks to complete the trade, but the Hawks, who currently do not have a first-round pic, have the right to decline. If the Hawks don't take the pick, the Pistons will probably convey their first-round pick next year, since they will be getting a probable lottery pick from Memphis.

The Pistons are still working out players in the event that they have to use the pick. On Monday, John Salmons from Miami, Jiri Welsch from Slovenia, Preston Shumpert from Syracuse and Boozer will be in. On Tuesday, Luis Scola from Spain, Jason Jennings from Arkansas State and Matt Barnes from UCLA.

The Washington Wizards and the Detroit pistons are talking about swapping draft picks. Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reveals that The Wizards and the Pistons have been involved in trade talks, with Washington possibly sending their two second-round picks (No. 39 and 40) to Detroit for the 23rd pick in the first round at next Wednesday's NBA draft, according to Detroit President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars.

If the Wizards gain Detroit?s pick, it would allow them to fill holes at the small forward and point guard positions in the first round. Junior college prospect Qyntel Woods, Indiana forward Jared Jeffries and Slovenian Bostjan Nachbar, who could all play small forward, appear to be the most likely candidates to be drafted by Washington with the No. 11 pick. Jeffries' stock is on the rise after a series of strong workouts, though, and he is expected to be taken by the Phoenix Suns at No. 9 or the Miami Heat, who hold the 10th pick, according to several league sources and agents.

The guards that may be available with the 24th pick are Dan Dickau, Frank Williams, Roger Mason and Juan Dixon.  

Washington plans to work out Woods and Jeffries for a second time Sunday or Monday and also will get a private workout with Nachbar, Fresno State's Melvin Ely and Stanford's Casey Jacobsen among others.

In an epic article, Michael Leahy of the Washington Post gives us a glimpse into Michael Jordan?s comeback season. Jordan?s secret to success is his competitiveness. Whether he?s in the NBA Finals, at the poker table or shooting around after practice, Jordan wants to dominate:

"In Chicago, the day after a January game there against the Bulls, the Wizards had just finished a practice at Grover's gym when Hamilton accepted Jordan's challenge to a shooting competition while the team bus waited for them. The competition dragged on. Ten, 15, 20 minutes. No player but Jordan would have dared to keep a team bus waiting. On this day, the contest involved shooting from midcourt. Hamilton went up several hundred dollars early, happily yelling, while the attendants, fetching balls, kept glancing at watches. Someone finally said: "Probably time to get going, Michael."

?No?, he said coolly.

Finally, Jordan started finding his range and hit eight of his last 13 shots to win more than $1,000 off the day's prey, now at last wrapping up. He grinned and whooped -- "coo, coo, coo" -- a signal that he had fleeced another pigeon, then pointed in a gesture of amused supremacy at the defeated Hamilton, who, turning his back, quietly walked to the back of the gym to retrieve his sweats, while a delighted Jordan fitted an earring into his left lobe and kept teasing. Hamilton never stopped walking. Jordan stared at Hamilton's back, calling out, "Rip, we'll do it again."