WHEN HE HEARS sports talk radio callers say blow up the Wizards, Washington general manager Ernie Grunfeld thinks back to the start of the season. Fans were "unbelievably supportive" of the Wizards' plan to rebuild with young players, to go about things "the right way." "The city understood that," Grunfeld said.
Way back then - it seems so long ago - the post-Michael Jordan Wizards were running and gunning, taking down Western Conference powers such as the Mavericks. Free-agent gym rat Gilbert Arenas was looking every bit the $64 million answer. Rookie Jarvis Hayes was proving he wasn't just legit but also a dynamic NBA player.
The more they won, the thicker the anticipation for the return of Jerry Stackhouse, who was only going to further juice the Wizards with his rim attacks and desire to prove the Wizards could be better without Sir Air.
Heck, before Arenas strained an abdominal muscle and Stackhouse's surgically repaired knee required more rehab time, the Wizards actually looked like they might sneak into the playoffs.
Now the Wizards (12-28) are hanging with Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta and Orlando at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, which means the bottom of the NBA. New coach Eddie Jordan sets goals for winning quarters now, not just games. In these dog days of the midseason, Grunfeld has to take a little time to remind people: Just because the Knicks can rearrange the entire face of their franchise - from general manager to coach to star player - in a New York minute, it doesn't mean Grunfeld's going to jump.
"Every market's a little different. In New York, their roster was older, built to win today. We have young players. The future is ahead. It's unfortunate with the injuries [we've had] to two key players. It's slowed the evaluation process down," Grunfeld said yesterday.
"I'm used to being in the playoffs every year. I'm very competitive, but I think you have to show a little bit of patience, which is not always easy. I think it would be foolish to trade young players for veterans just to try and win a few more games now."
Grunfeld, in his first year at Washington, understands as well as Isiah Thomas what's going on with the Knicks. How many NBA teams could take on $120 million in salary at the blink of an eye, as Thomas did by acquiring Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway from the Suns on Jan. 5? One. The Knicks.
