Summer is improving time in the NBA. Freed of the grinding travel and the marathon season, players have an opportunity to work on their games.

Magic Johnson used summer practice sessions to become a great free throw shooter, improve his perimeter shooting and develop a hook shot. Larry Bird learned to shoot proficiently with his left hand and improved his ball handling. After searing losses to the Pistons and Celtics, Michael Jordan got stronger and worked on his jumper. Later, when he couldn't jump as well, he added that turn-around fade-away.

Courtney Alexander planned to do much the same last summer. He would build on his April Rookie of the Month honor, his 22 points per game average on 48-percent shooting over the 2000-2001 season's final month. He would use the bigger stage provided by Michael Jordan's return to showcase his skills.

But instead of going to the gym to work on his game, Alexander battled an illness. Fevers spiked to 102 degrees, and he suffered from vomiting, debilitating headaches, and numbing fatigue. Visits to doctors and hospitals were fruitless. His temperature spiked and plummeted without apparent reason, and doctors were stumped on the diagnosis.

"I couldn't pick up a basketball until August," says Alexander. "I didn't have time to prepare myself for training camp."

The symptoms have passed and not recurred, but the effects rippled. At training camp, he wasn't in peak physical condition, he wasn't mentally ready, and his basketball skills weren't all there either. Alexander and the Wizards anticipated a good season anyway.

"I expected a lot of myself," says Alexander. "I finished my rookie season strong, and I knew there'd be a lot of attention on the team because of Michael's return. I wanted to show the world what I could do."

Not fully prepared, he found himself struggling to fit into the system installed by new head coach Doug Collins and adapting to playing with Jordan. The season unraveled from there. He performed poorly in preseason, and even worse once the regular season began.

Instead of being one of the team's primary players, he piled up DNP-CDs and watched Collins use veteran shooter Hubert Davis instead. Once considered a co-equal with fellow swing man Richard Hamilton, Alexander sat while Hamilton drew praise for his lethal scoring.

"We had a lot of meetings," Alexander says of his frequent talks with Collins about how he could help the team. But nothing was changing and the season grew more frustrating.

When Hamilton went down with a torn groin muscle, Alexander figured to get an opportunity to play. Instead, Jahidi White fell on Alexander's leg in practice, and Alexander was forced to the injured list as well. Separated from his teammates, unable to contribute, Alexander watched the team win without him. He saw the flow on the court, the camaraderie off it.

"Being hurt gave me an opportunity to reflect on the season," says Alexander. "I got to look at things with a different eye."

As his ankle mended, and the team pushed itself solidly into the playoff race, Alexander examined himself, the Wizards' season, and his role with the team.

"I was quick to point the finger at others early in the season," Alexander says. "But I was to blame. I brought this on myself."

He steadfastly refuses to use the summer illness as an excuse for his performance, convinced that with a different attitude, he'd have still been able to contribute to the team.

"Doug told me that MJ's return wouldn't affect me," Alexander says. "I knew what he wanted me to do ? play hard, be unselfish, and throw myself into the fray. But, at the beginning of the season, I wasn't mentally strong enough."

Sitting on the sidelines, seeing the team do well without him, and feeling the burn of his own unmet expectations, Alexander asked himself what he wanted out of professional basketball. And he made some decisions.

"I could have dwelled on the first 40-45 games, or look forward to finishing strong," he says. "It doesn't do me any good to remain in the tank."

So he went out and did what Collins asked. His game was less than fluid at times, but the results were better. After averaging just 5.8 points on 41.9-percent shooting before the All-Star break, Alexander averaged 12.8 points on 49.4-percent shooting. As a starter, he averaged 14.3 points on 49.7-percent shooting. The numbers weren't great, but Alexander was playing within the team concept and began to work on the defensive end as well.

Against Orlando in early March, with both Hamilton and Jordan missing from the lineup, Alexander carried the Wizards to a 107-103 overtime victory. He out-dueled Tracy McGrady, pouring in 32 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and handing out four assists. For that game, Alexander was the best player on the floor. It was his best game of the season and a tantalizing glimpse at what he believes he can do nightly in the NBA.

Wait 'Til Next Year

His improved play helped restore some of his confidence and established a foundation for future seasons, but it wasn't enough to keep him in Washington. Despite assurances from management that he would not be traded, the Wizards sent Alexander to New Orleans for the 17th pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, which they used to acquire University of Maryland star Juan Dixon.

The deal is a gamble for the Wizards. They've traded a redundancy ? both Alexander and Hamilton play the same position ? to bring more balance to the roster, but there's great risk for the team. Alexander has every physical tool required of an NBA player ? size, athleticism, and basketball skills. He's 6-6, weighs 205, and led the NCAA in scoring while at Fresno State. He has proven he can score in the NBA.

Dixon stands 6-3 and weighs just 165. He's unspeakably quick and he can shoot the ball, but there are questions about his ball handling and whether he has the ability to overcome his size to be productive in the league.

The danger for any team trading a talented youngster is that they've given up on the player too soon. Were Alexander's struggles a sign that he'll fail, or a wake up call to work harder and get better?

Anyone who has achieved excellence in their field has had to overcome adversity. Talent and ability does not assure greatness. Countless basketball players with skills and athleticism have failed to make an impact in the NBA because they could not or would not do the work required.

The nature of athletics creates adversity. There is constant competition ? for jobs, for minutes, for opportunities to perform, and ultimately for championships. Sports lends itself to short term observations. Guys who experience early failure get labeled busts. Those who make mistakes are criticized for lacking character, and often no amount of work can shift that view.

Alexander has been slapped with labels in his brief career. One Dallas assistant said he was "Isaiah Rider with less talent and better manners." A disappointing 2001 training camp and a sub-par second season had many calling him a bust ? and worse. Entering his third season, Alexander has been lauded as a prot?g? and knocked for his inconsistent play. But labels describe only a moment in time, and fail to capture the ability of any person to develop and change.

Getting ready for next season is Alexander's only priority this summer. His mid-season soul searching helped him set career goals and create an offseason plan. While most of his points came from mid-range jump shots last season, he's working to develop a reliable stroke from the three-point line.

"I've always been a scorer," says Alexander. "I can score from anywhere on the court. But I have to do a little of everything offensively. Shoot the three, drive, hit the open jumper, get to the free throw line."

His workout program is designed to increase strength and flexibility while improving his vertical leap and quickness. He's doing drills to improve his defensive footwork and positioning.

Alexander is also working on his mental approach to the game ? doing visualization exercises, and learning self-evaluation tools to assess his own play and mindset. A big part of that is knowing what he wants.

"I aspire to be a great player for a long time in this league," says Alexander. "I learned a lot about mental approach this season. It was an educational year. I won't have a slow start next year."

Alexander will have his chances in New Orleans. While feeling stung by the trade, he recognizes it as an opportunity to prove his worth as a pro. If he plays as well as he hopes, the Wizards, Mavericks, and Magic will all regret trading him.