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Grunfeld to stay the course with Wizards

The Washington Wizards are happy where they are. Owner Abe Pollin believes his franchise has a strong foundation with All Stars Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, and is headed in the right direction. Now it`s turn to reward the person who the team`s steady progress and strong foundation are attributed to, President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld.

Grunfeld signed a multiyear contract extension, three years into his existing five-year contract. The terms of the extension were not made available. "Ernie has done an outstanding job in his tenure with the Wizards and is most deserving of this extension," Pollin said in a statement. Wizards coach Eddie Jordan has also signed a new contract this summer, a three-year, $12 million extension. Key players, including the two All Stars, are signed at least through the 2007-08 season.

Signing Arenas, trading for Jamison and many other wise moves by Grunfeld are certainly a positive change from past Wizards trades. Those include sending Chris Webber to Sacramento for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe, and drafting Kwame Brown straight out of high-school. Only two players remain from the Michael Jordan-led team that went 37-45 in the 2002-03 and preceded Grunfeld. Now it`s continuity time for the Wizards.