An era ends tonight when Michael Jordan plays his last ever game against his former team the Bulls, but the comparisons between the two organizations do not stop with Jordan.  Both sides have a young nucleus spear headed by prep-to-pro future stars who were taken in the same draft.  Chicago's duo of Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry have both been clicking as of late while there are celebrations from fans of Kwame Brown, the first overall pick of the 2001 NBA draft, when he gets on the court.

The reason that the high schoolers' are being treated differently relates to their teams' respecitve positions.  The Bulls chances for playoff action are gone while the Wizards, behind the heroics of none other than Jordan himself, remain on the outside looking in but still have a very strong opportunity to finish in the top 8 in the East.

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune believes that the Wizards' decision to win now rather than ween their youth for future successes - as the Bulls are currently doing - is hurting the franchise.  Washington simply does not have the talent to be a championship contender, yet they are placing all their eggs in the one basket in the hope of getting Michael Jordan into the playoffs one last time before he heads back to the NBA retirement paddock to once again graze.

There is a fine line between wanting to win now and developing young talent for future winning, and the response you get when asking which method is correct varies depending on who you ask.

But are the likes of Kwame Brown, Etan Thomas, Brendan Haywood and Juan Dixon suffering from their lack of court time with the Wizards taking a veteran stance?  Sure Dixon might be starting now through necessity with both Larry Hughes and Tyronne Lue injured, but Brown - considered the team's furure - he has gone scoreless in two games, sat out Thursday's win over the Rockets and is averaging 4.7 points in 15.3 minutes in the others since All-Star weekend.

"We've been patient all year with them," Charles Oakley said of the Washington youngsters. "I took my time eating my soup. The soup is gone. Now it's time for the main course. The appetizers, throw them out the window."

While minutes for Oakley and Christian Laettner have been way up recently as the Wizards make a push, Oakley now averaging 22.6 minutes over the last five games after rarely playing the first half of the season, the team still revolves around Jordan.  

While the team tried to limit Jordan's court time to prolong his season that has all changed since turning 40 earlier this month.  He is now averaging 19.7 points on the season, 30.6 in the five games. He's averaging 45 minutes since then and averaging 24.4 shots this month after just less than 20 per game in January.

Had Jordan not left the City of Chicago, moving into management then back into a playing role just as he did in Washington, then there would be no doubt that the Bulls Curry and Chandler would be in the same situation as Brown right now.  But as the Bulls duo excites the organization and the fans with their solid play and rapid growth, giving the team hope for the near future, are the Wizards hurting their future by bowing to their present, especially when Jordan swears that he will not play beyond the season?  It depends on who you ask...