Swengali: Garnett Is the Only Temptation

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THIS IS SHAPING UP TO BE a magical season for the Washington Wizards. Not only is the team's preseason goal of reaching the Eastern Conference finals possible, but it also appears more and more probable with each victory.

There's no team in the East the Wizards can't beat — and their up-pace, high-scoring style keeps them competitive against the far superior West. With such a promising outlook, Ernie Grunfeld, president of basketball operations, has two options: Go for it all now and make a blockbuster trade, or don't do anything and see how far great offense and chemistry will carry this group.

Doing nothing seems prudent. Gilbert Arenas is only getting better — a scary thought for the rest of the league — and this group plays very well together. The odds are Washington will advance far in the postseason.

That being said, there is one exception.

If Grunfeld can pry Kevin Garnett away from Minnesota in a package including Antawn Jamison, he'd have to take it. Jamison has been great for the Wizards since his arrival, and it would be tough to part with him. But Arenas and Caron Butler are untouchable, and the Timberwolves would need a star in return.

Garnett is still a force on offense and defense, and his thirst for a title might be the Wizards' missing ingredient. If Grunfeld can't get Garnett, at least he knows the Wizards are already in fine shape. That's a good condition to be in.

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