Jordan

Atop each of my shoulders sits a spirit. Each professes to only have the best interests of the Wizards at heart. But they are in violent opposition to one another. I really don't know who to believe.

Left shoulder, first.

"Patience."

Because you've only played a month of the season.

Because traditional powers in the East, like the Knicks and Heat, are shadows of their formal selves, no longer invincible. And because outside of Milwaukee, Toronto, Philly and (maybe) Orlando, the East is a bunch of Atlantas and Bostons, teams with whom you can compete.

Because you've got two young bigs in Kwame Brown and Brendan Haywood, and you know how long it takes bigs to develop. By the end of the year, they may help you win a few key games.

Because Rip Hamilton can't do a lot of things -- like defend -- but he can score the ball. Figure out more ways to get him shots.

	Hamilton isn't playing well for the Jordans, um, Wizards.

Because having The Man on your team still gives you a chance to win games just about every night on the schedule. Which, for a young team, is critical.

Because he still commands double teams and defensive attention, which will get your other players open shots.

Because if you're going to lose anyway, at least give the young players the opportunity to learn from and play with the best who ever laced up a pair.

Because he's still so smart, and understands the game so well, he eliminates a lot of problems on the floor before they even begin. And if the other guys on the team can't take the heat, so what? If they can't take the pressure of playing with him, do you even want them on your squad?

Listen to Jerry Sloan: "I think this league can always use guys (like him). Because somebody has to learn from him. All these guys that play the game of basketball ought to buy a VCR and spend time watching instead of watching Looney Tunes, or whatever they're watching. 'Cause they certainly aren't watching what's going on in the game of basketball. He doesn't have to dunk the basketball all the time. Pass it, move, and take what's given to you."

Because the people of Washington, who've waited forever to have anything remotely entertaining on a basketball court, deserve the opportunity to watch him play. Win or lose. Every night, he gives you something you probably have never seen before. He's one of the few guys that's actually worth the price of admission."

Interesting. Right shoulder?

"Trade him."

Not because he's 38.

Because he's 38 and he's the best player on your team. By a lot.

Because he's 38, and the core group of your squad averages around 23 years of age. They have nothing in common with him -- economically, socially, historically. There is no shared institutional memory. And it shows.

Because he's still a pretty effective halfcourt player, while the rest of your squad -- whatever it does -- does not play halfcourt offense well.

Because he's not as good defensively as he was, and there's no one on your roster that can cover for him.

ALDRIDGE'S RANKINGS

THE TOP 10 1. L.A. Lakers 2. San Antonio 3. Sacramento 4. Milwaukee 5. Philadelphia 6. Toronto 7. Dallas 8. Minnesota 9. Detroit 10. New Jersey THE BOTTOM FIVE 25. Atlanta 26. Cleveland 27. Washington 28. Memphis 29. Chicago THE MIDDLE FOURTEEN 11. Portland 12. Indiana 13. Charlotte 14. Orlando 15. Phoenix 16. Houston 17. L.A. Clippers 18. Boston 19. Seattle 20. Golden State 21. New York 22. Utah 23. Miami 24. Denver

Because Doug Collins, naturally, defers to him on just about every offensive possession. And the rest of the squad, just as naturally, resents it.

Because you are a month into the season, and not only have Rip Hamilton and Courtney Alexander regressed terribly, they're almost lost causes. He plays their positions. And you have no more idea now than you did six months ago whether either of these guys can be counted on down the stretch -- which is a waste of six months. You shouldn't make it a year. (By the way, I realize that the earliest day you could trade him would be Dec. 15th.)

Because the object is not to sell tickets, but to win championships. And your squad isn't going to win one. This year. Next year. The next year. The year after that. So why not get as much as possible for your most tradeable commodity?

Because your fans aren't stupid. They know this is an interesting exercise, like playing the piano with your feet, but like playing the piano with your feet, it has no practical application. They'll accept his departure, if it means legitimate hope for the future. But I'm practical; if you wait until the trade deadline, at least it gives folks two more months to get their butts in MCI Center seats.

Because he's only making $1.2 mil. There isn't a cheaper difference maker available in any sport.

Because you can make the following plausible (not realistic, I grant you) argument to Gregg Popovich: You've got Tim Duncan for another year and a half, and David Robinson for a year and a half. Which just happens to be the remaining length of his contract. Imagine the brain power when those three are on the floor! Would that be enough to get Tony Parker? Probably not. But you'll never know until you ask.

Because you can make the following plausible (not realistic, I grant you) argument to Geoff Petrie: You've got everything you need to challenge the Lakers except the most important thing: a guy who isn't awed by the Laker Mystique, who'll try to dunk on Shaq's bean and trade trash talk with Kobe. A guy -- maybe the only guy -- who can get into Phil's head. Would that be enough to get Hedo Turkoglu? Probably not. But you'll never know until you ask.

Because you can make the following plausible (not realistic, I grant you) argument to Billy King: Do you know how close you were last season? You punched the Lakers in the gut and they blinked. Then they gave the ball to the Diesel, and that was that. But what if Rick Fox had to really work on defense? What if you had someone with the size and the smarts to help out down low? (This would not be Derrick Coleman, by the way.) I know your team is built around AI, but he's smart enough to know how to play with this guy. Would that be enough to get Speedy Claxton, Matt Harpring and a future first? Probably not. But you'll never know until you ask.

Because even if you trade him, he'll be back in 18 months to reclaim his president of basketball operations position. Which he was doing pretty well at, anyway. And during those 18 months, you may have added Jason Williams or LeBron James or two or three other young studs to your roster.

Because it saves you and him the trouble of having to develop a graceful exit strategy. There is no way he would admit it, but this comeback, if not a mistake, was certainly not the right thing for this franchise. Not on the floor, anyway. No matter how it would end otherwise -- injury, re-re-retirement -- it wouldn't be good. This gives everyone an out.

I'm going back to sleep.

The Mailman's Plight
A little bit of truth, but a lot of hot air to all this Karl Malone business. Here's the skinny...

	Malone

Does Malone want out of Utah? Yes.

Has he wanted out of Utah before? Yes.

In fact, hasn't he asked out of Utah about a half-dozen times over the years? Yes. The only difference now is that he's at the end of his career, and if it doesn't happen now, it won't happen.

He has not told the Jazz he wants to be traded. He has not given the Jazz a list of teams for whom he would accept a trade. (He has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he has to give the Jazz his okay on any deal.) There has been no discussion between Utah and Dallas on anything in about six weeks.

Does Dallas want Malone? Yes.

Does Malone want to play for Dallas? Yes. Because they're closer than any other big payroll team to breaking through.

Would the Mavericks trade Juwan Howard for Malone? Probably.

Would Utah do a straight-up deal, Malone for Howard? No.

One, what is the benefit for the Jazz? Howard has two years left, not one. If he were coming off the cap this summer, you could make the argument that Utah was only starting its long-needed rebuilding project. But Howard's on the till for $18.75 million this season, $20.625 million next year. And two, if there's one thing Larry Miller is adamant about, it's not exceeding the luxury tax. Malone makes $17.5 million this season, $19.25 million next season. Now, the Jazz could get under the cap after the season if Stockton retires, or if Utah doesn't re-sign Donyell Marshall or Bryon Russell. But somebody has to play next season, and those somebodies will cost money. Hard to see Miller doing something that gets him closer to the tax, not further away.

The key question is this: Did Miller promise Malone he'd move him if the Jazz weren't a title contender? And is he now reneging on that promise? If he did, then Malone has a legitimate gripe. My guess is that Miller's now trying to downgrade the definition of "contender" to "playoff team," and the Mailman is balking.

Here's what I don't understand: if Malone genuinely wants out, why doesn't he say so publicly? Why doesn't he simply say 'I've given this organization everything I've had for 16 years. Now I'm asking it to give me a real chance at a championship. I'm not going to sulk or complain, but I want everyone to know that I'd like to finish my career elsewhere. With no hard feelings for anyone.' What, I ask, would be wrong with that? That's what Oscar Robertson did and Clyde Drexler did and Hakeem Olajuwon did, and nobody thinks any worse of them.