By now you've read many, many stories about Michael Jordan and the Wizards, why this team will win a lot more games, why MJ is the greatest player of all-time and how he'll fare, blah, blah, etc. But since we've done 28 other Summer Spotlights, and the Wizards are No. 29, here we go. If, after reading this, you're tired of Chris Whitney, Jahidi White and Christian Laettner, then you'll understand how Michael will probably feel in a few weeks.

	White led the Wiz in rebounding last year, and has an upside.

So as we conclude our 2001 Summer Spotlight Series, here's the deal with the Wizards.

The good: Look, Michael Jordan might average 30 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and lead what was a woeful team last year to the playoffs, or at least the brink. Or, he could put up lesser numbers, miss 20 or so games with assorted ailments, and the Wiz go 30-52. Who really knows?

But what we do know is that the rest of the Wizards aren't real good. This is a team that won 19 games for a reason. However, even without MJ, there was reason to think they would win more than 19 games. First, Doug Collins is the coach, and he has a track record of turning franchises around.

Second, Richard Hamilton, after a rookie season that impressed nobody, doubled his scoring average last year and has the look of a 20-ppg scorer right now. Hamilton remains a problem on defense, but when you score as little as Washington did a year ago, you let Rip go off and get the role players to do the dirty work.

Hamilton shouldn't have his growth stunted by you know who. After the All-Star break last year Hamilton averaged 22.7 points on .470 shooting, and .908 from the line, where he went 5.3 times a game. Those are big numbers. Courtney Alexander may think he's The Man, but Hamilton's closer.

After Jordan and Hamilton, there's little to like. But hey, Tyronn Lue is here, so at least those games with Philadelphia and Allen Iverson should be competitive.

	THE FACTS
	2000-01 record: 19-63, seventh in Atlantic, 14th in East Playoffs: none Team leaders: Hamilton 18.1 ppg, 2.9 apg; White 7.6 rpg Team stats (NBA rank): Points, 93.2 (18th); Rebs, 41.3 (22nd); FG %, .439 (16th) Current rotation: White C; Laettner PF; Jordan SF; Hamilton SG; Whitney PG; Alexander 6th man Spot in Camp Power Rankings: No. 18

The bad: The Wiz weren't a good rebounding team last year, and that shouldn't change much this season. White is a hard worker and has a wide body, but he's not a 7-footer, more like 6-9. If only Shawn Bradley had White's 290-pound frame...

Career malcontent Laettner is the power forward, and while you might expect some nasty remarks about him, he's a lot like the big men Jordan wanted around him in Chicago. Though the stats haven't proved it, Laettner is a heady player and solid passer, capable of scoring in the teens and grabbing seven or so boards.Yeah, you've been rooting against him forever, but he's only 32. He might not be a bad fit for this team actually. Heck, if Michael could deal with Rodman, well, you know.

The point guard situation isn't ideal, with backup Chris Whitney and Lue sharing the spot. Neither is a scorer by any means, or particularly proven at running an offense. Look for Hamilton, Jordan and Alexander to play together quite a bit. Also, the resident gunner on this team is a good one, as Hubert Davis could lead the league in threes if some team played him 35 minutes a night. Of course, Davis' opposing shooting guard would score 50 if he played that much. Not a good idea.

The ugly: What if this team stinks? Will Jordan's legacy take a major hit? Will young Kwame Brown, the high schooler who went first in the draft, be known forever -- if he doesn't produce -- as merely the last key player MJ drafted and not for his accomplishments? A lot could go wrong here.

Then again, look what has already happened to this franchise the last year or so. Rod Strickland, Juwan Howard and Mitch Richmond, with contracts approaching the net worth of Mark Cuban, are all either some other team's problem or nobody's problem -- but they aren't Wizards. Hamilton did emerge. Alexander might. And the plan is for Brown to eventually be Kevin Garnett.

The future: Even if Jordan only plays two seasons, Wiz fans need not give up on this team if things start out badly. Next season, when the Wiz have big bucks to spend on a top free agent, one who figures to join a lottery pick and Brown in a lineup hopelessly relying on Jordan and Hamilton, it should be a playoff season. Think about it: who wouldn't want to play with Jordan?

Unfortunately, Jordan -- um, the Wizards (we keep forgetting) -- will be judged on the amount of wins. This might not be the year to do that, but in a few years, sure.

So we asked you this question about the Wizards: Can this team effectively build around young players and eventually be successful?

Check the file to the right for selected responses.

Eric Karabell is ESPN.com's NBA editor.