LeBron James. James worked out with Jordan in Chicago last August, when Jordan was getting in shape for his comeback. ``He's a very talented guy,'' said Jordan, who played at Gund Arena last night with Washington. ``I think he's going to continue to get better at that young age. He's very talented, but obviously he still has some learning to do. The potential is there, and that's something to keep the motivation and the fire burning. If he continues to work hard, he can very well end up on this level. I don't know how quickly he's planning to do that.'' There has been much speculation that James, a junior, will enter the NBA draft straight out of high school.
HAYWOOD MAKES DEBUT -- Wizards center Brendan Haywood, drafted by the Cavs in June, made his NBA debut last night. After missing the first 12 games with a thumb injury sustained in the preseason, Haywood was activated Monday. After the Cavs took Haywood with the No. 20 pick, he was traded to Orlando for center Michael Doleac. Later in the summer, Haywood was shipped to the Wizards. ``It was good both ways,'' Haywood said of the deal from the Cavs. ``I wasn't excited to be coming to Cleveland and they weren't excited to have me.'' Haywood didn't get to face Doleac, who missed his third consecutive game with a sprained left ankle. Cavs coach John Lucas is hopeful Doleac will be able to play tomorrow against Atlanta.

JORDAN MEMORIES -- Before the game, Lucas recounted some of his favorite Jordan memories. While coaching Philadelphia in the mid-1990s, Lucas screamed at a 76er having trouble guarding Jordan. ``I yelled, `Stop letting him do all that (stuff),' '' Lucas said. ``At the next dead ball, (Jordan) came over and said to me, `What makes you think he's letting me do that?' '' Also while coaching the 76ers, Lucas allowed Kobe Bryant, then a schoolboy in the Philadelphia area, to work out with the team. ``When Chicago came in, I had Kobe come in early to introduce him to Michael,'' Lucas said. ``He said, `It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jordan.' I said, `You're going to be in the league next year. You can't say that.' (Jordan) looked at me and started laughing.''